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The Brussels Post, 1927-1-26, Page 7l 1`+ vt let Yr THE BRUSSELS POST 13LOOD . d By Man, SABATINI he C ie esl e S{o rEverTold Po inspect then came Governor Steed, After him, in the uniform of a colonel of the Barbados Militia, rolled a tall, corpulent lean who tow- ered )read and shoulders above the Governor, with malevolence plainly written on hie enormous yellowish countenance. At itis side, and con- trasting ottlly with hits grossness, moving with an easy stripling grace, "came a slight young lady, in modish riding -gown. The broad brim of a gray hat with a scarlet sweep of os- -Melt plume shaded an oval face upon which the climate of the Tropic of °Cancer had made so impression, so delicately fair waie its complexion, Ringlets of red -brown hung to her shoulders. Peter Blood caught himself searing, in a sort of amazement at that piq- uant face, which seemed here so out of place, and finding his stare return- ed, ire shifted uncomfortably. He was in no case for incpoction by such dainty eyes as these. Nevctholese, they continued to inspect )rim with round -eyed, almost childlike wonder and pity. Their owner touched the scarlet sleeve of her companion. Th.^ Colonel plainly gave )ger no more than half his attention. Ma little beady eyes were fixed- upon fair- haired, sturdy young Pitt, who was standing beside Blood. The Gover- nor had also come to a halt. "My dear Colonel Bishop, it is for you to ,take first choice and at your own price. After that we'll send the rest to auction." Colonel Bishop nodded his acknow- ledgment and advanced alone to- wards the rebel -convicts. Before the young Seeiersetshire shipmaster he came to a halt, and stood an in- stant pondering him, "Fifteen pounds for this one." The master of the convict shin made a gesture of dismay. "Fifteen pounds! It isn't half what I meant to ask for him." "It is double what I had meant to give," grunted the Colonel. They bargained .and Pitt was taker. at twenty pounds. . ---N\is• "1 think I know you, sir," she said. Peter Blood Post himself in unpro- fitable speculations. He was in no snood foe conversation, nor was Pitt, who aatood dumbly at his side. To Pitt, this separatoin was the poignant clirnax of all his sufferings. Blood noticed that the girl was speaking to Bishop, and pointing up the line with a silver -hilted whip she carried, Then slowly, they came until the Colonel was abrewet of Blood. He would lave passed on, but that the lady tapped his arm with her whip, "But this is the man I meant," she said. "This one? Bahl A bag of bones. What should I do with hint?" IIe was turning away when Cap- tain Gardner interposed. "He may be lean, but he's tough: tough and healthy. When half of them were sick, anti the other half sickening this rogue kept his logs and Letterheads Envelopes Billheads And all kinds of Business Stationery printed at The Post Publishing House. We will do a job that will do credit to your business. Look over yetis, stock of Office Stationery and if it requires replenishing all ns by telephone 81. The Post Publishing lions` doctored his fellows. Say fifteen pounds for him, Colonel, That's droop enough." There alae a chuckle from Gov• er•nor Steed, "You heat, Colonel. Trust your niece. Her sex knows a ratan when it seer ono." And he lunghed. Ilut he laughed alone. A cloud of annoyance wept across the face of the Colonel's niece, Jeremy Pitt had almost ceased to beenehe. "I'11 give you ten pounds for hint," said the Colonel at last. Pater Blond prayed that the offer might he rejected. For no reason that he could have given fou, he was takn with repugnance at the thought of becoming the property of this gross animal, and in some sort the property of that hazel -eyed young •;•irl. But it would nerd more than repugnance to save him from his des- tiny. A slave is a slave, and has no power to shape his fate, Peter Blood was sold to Colonel Biihop--n disdainful buyer—for the ignomin- ioue sum of ten pounds. CHAPTER V. ARABELLA BISHOP One sunny morning in January, about a month after the arrival of the Jamaica Merchant at Bridgetown Miss Arabella, Bishop rode out from her uncle's fine house on the heights to tit northwest of the city. She was attended by two negroes who trotted after her at a respectful distance. Reaching the sumintt of a gentle, unsay slope, site met a tall, lean mag dressed in a sober, gentlemanly fashion, who was walking in the op- po,,ite direction. Miss Arabella drew rein. "I think I know you, sir," said she. Her voice was crisp and boyish. It arose perhaps from an ease, a darectPiess, which disdained the arti- fices of her sex, and set her on good terms with all the world, To this it may be due that Miss Arabbella had reached the age of five and twenty not merely unmarried but unwooed. She used' with all men a sisterly frankness. The stranger came to a standstill upon heing addressed. "A lady should know her own pro- perty," said he. "My property?" "Your uncle's, leastways. 1 ant called Peter Blood." She recognized him then. She had heard that this rebel -convict had been discovered to be a physician. Governor Steed, who sufferee damn- ably from the gout, had borrowed the fellow from his purchaser. Pe- ter Blood bad afforded the 'Governor relief, and the Governor's lady had desired him to attend her for the megrims. Mr. Blood prescribed for her and she lead conceived herself the better for his prescription. Af- ter that Colonel Bishop had found out that there was more profit to be 'niadc out of this new slave by leav- ing him to pursue )tis profession than by setting hint to work on the plan- tation, ".If some other planter hal bought me," Mr. Blood explained, as he thanked her, "it is odds that the facts of my shining abilities might never have been brought to light." "I perceived' you interest when your uncle bought mc. At the time i' resented it." "You resented it " Thera was e cha{'llenge in her boy1slt voice. '11 have had no lack of experien- ces of this mortal lirfe; but to be bought and sold was a new one, and I was hardly in the mood to love my purchaser." "If I urged you upon my uncle, sir, it was that I commiserated you." She proceeded to explain herself. "My uncle May appear to you a hard man. They are ell hard men, these planters. It is the life, 1 sup - P100. But, there are others here who are worse." "This interest in a stranger , " he began. Theyu changed the direc- tion of his probe. "But there were others as deserving of commisera- tion." "You did not seem quite like the others," "I am not," said he. "Oh!" she stared at him, bridling a littler "You have a good opinion of yourself." "On the contrary. The atharci are ail worthy rebels. 1 ata not." "Faith,.. now, it's a long story," said he, " A.nd one perhaps that von would Prefer not to tell?" Briefly on that he to her. told lc it r. "I'Iy God! What an infamy " „he cried, when he had done, "Oh, it's a sweet country England under Ring James! There's 210 need •to commiserate use further. All things considered I prefer Ilarba- dos, Here at least one can believe la God, "Is that so ditlicult elsewhere?" she asked hint, and she was very grave. "Men make it so," She t.ioved' on. flet- fegroee sprang up, and went trotting after her, 1t was 0 fair enough prospect, hr, reflected, but it wa,, a prison, end, in announcing that he prefer- red it to England, he had indulged that almost laudable form of boie - ing which lies in belittling our m's. Icdvcntures. Of the forty-two who had been landed with him from the Jamaica Merchant, Colonel Bishop had pur- chased no less than twenty -live, The reinahvier had gone to lower plan- ter.;, some of them to Speights- town, and others still farthe_ north What may have been the loc, of the latter he could not tell, but among Bishop's slaves Peter Blood came and went freely, and their lot he knew to be a brutalizing misery. If their labors flagged, there were the whips of the overseer and his men to teeieken them. Trey went almost naked; they dwelt in squalor and 1',ey were 111 -nourished on salted meat and maize dumplings. To curb insubordination, one of them who had rebelled against Kent, the brutal dverseer, was lashed to death by negroes under his comrades' eyes. Occasionally Peter Blood eaw Miss Bishop, and they seldom "tet but that _he paused to hold him in conversation for some moments, ev- incing her interest in him. Though the same blood ran in her veins as in those of Colonel Bishop, yet her's was fres of the vices that tainted her uncle's, for these vice were not natural to that blood; they were, in his case, \acquired. Her father, Tom Bishop, (that same Col- onel Bishop's brother), had been e kindly, chivralous, gentle soul, who, broken-hearted; by the early death of a young wife, had abandoned the Old World, and sought an anodyne for his grief in the New. He had come out to the Antilles, bringing with him his little daughter, then five year. of age, and had given him- self up to the life of a planter, He had prospered from the first, as men sometimes will who care noth- ing for prosperity. Prospering, he had bethought him of his younger brother, a soldier., at home reputed something wild. He had advised him to come out to Barbados; and the advice which at another season Wil- liam Bishop might have scorned, reached him at a moment when his wildness was beginning to bear such fruit that a change of climate was desirable. William came, and was admitted by his generous brother to a partnership in the pr isperous plantation. Some six years later, when Arabella was fifteen, iter fath- er died, leaving her in hag uncle's guardianship. As things were, there ware, little love between uncle and niece. But she was dutiful to him, and he was circumspect in his be- haviour before her. CHAPTER VI SYMPATHY One day, towards the end of May, there crawled into Carlisle Bay a wounded, battered English ship, the pride of Devon. She had been in action off Martinique with two Spanish treasure ships. One of the Spaniards had fled from the com- bat. Steed, after the fashion of most colonial governors, gave the Pride of Devon shelter and every facility to careen and carry out repairs. But, before it came to this, they fetched from her hold over a Score of .English seamen as battered and broken as the ship herself, and, to- gether with those, some half-dozen Spaniards in like case. These wounded men were conveyed to a long shed on the Wharf, and the medical skill of Bridgetown was summoned to their aid. Peter Blood was ordered to hear a hand in this work, and, partly because lie spoke 'Castilian (and 110 spoke it as fluent- ly as his own native tongue) and partly because of his inferior con- dition as a slave, he was given, the Spaniards for his patients. They were shunned, however, by all those charitably disliosed inhabitants of Bridgetown who flocked to the im- provised hospital with fruit and flowers and delicacies for the injur- ed English seamen, Rising suddenly from the redress- ing of a wounalr a task in which he had been absorbed for some mom- ents, .110 maw, to his sarpr'ise, that one. Indy, detached from the gen- eral throng, was 'Placing acme plan- tains and n bundle of Succulent sug- ar cane on the cloak that served rt c of one ' his patients i is for a coverlet. 1 ) Peter Blood stood at gaze a moment. !The lady, turning now to confront I him, hoe lips parting in a smile of recognition, was Arabella Bishop, "The man's 41 Spaniard,' said he, ill the tone of one who eurrects a nliiapprehenelon. Site frowned and t stene1 at him a Moment, with in• creasing' haughtiness. "So 1 pert eive. But he's a hum- an being bone the less,," 001.l she, "Your uncle, the colonel, is of a dit)'er,•ntl opinion," said lb! when 1tca had reeoverr.d "He regard, then as vermin to he left to lie end lan- guish and die of their fe:,turingg wounds." "Why do you toll me this?" "To warn you that you may be in- curring the colonel's di plet.ure, if he had had Iiia way, I should never have been allowed to dress: their wounds," "Anel you thought, of course, that I must he of my uncle's mind?'' "I'd not willingly he rude( to a lady, even in my thoughts," said he. "But that you should bestow gifts on them, considering that if your uncle came to hear of it—",He paused, leaving the sentence unfin- ished. "Ah, well; there it is!" he concluded. • "The man's a Spaniard," said he. "First you impute to me inhum- anity, and then cowardice. Faith! For a man who would not willingly be rude to a lady even in his thoughts, it's none so bad." Her boyish laugh trilled out, but the note of it jarred his ears this time. He saw her now, it seemed to him, for the first time, and saw how he had misjudged her. "Sure, now, how was I to guess that—that Colonel Bishop could have an angel for a niece?" said he recklessly, for he was reckless, as men often are in sudden penitence. "You wouldn't, of course. I shouldn't think you often guess aright." Without another word or so much as another glance at Peter Blood, she swept out of the place. Peter fetched a sigh. CHAPTER VII. PIRATES There was, too, a new hope. There were two doctors in Bridge- town, both freemen, and they were feeling the rivalry of this new rebel - convict slave, whose earn ngs for services went to Colonel Bishop. To rid themselves of his rivalry, they' proposed to Peter Blood to finance his escape from the island. He en- listed his good friends, including Jeremy Pitt, whose skillful seaman's knowledge must be needed to guide the sloop which they were to pur- chase. But the plan miscarried in that Kent, the overseer, suspected Pitt, and Colonel Bishop ordered Pitt to the stocks, where he had him flogged soundly. Even while Jeremy was being pre- pared for the lash, the colonel look• ed seaward and saw in the roads, standing in for the shore before a gentle breeze that scarcely ruffled the surface, a stately reel -hulled fri- gate, fiying the English ensign. So leisurely an advance argued a mus- ter indifferently acmiainte.l with these waters. The colonel withdrew tv1ion itis passion had been satisfied by Pitt's punishment, and there in the stocks Peter found )tint, and set about giving hint succor as a doc- tor and as a friend. Pitt's pillory seemed to end all hope of escape. It was' now Peter's hope to ,save Itis friend from death. And, while he staunched the flow of blood, his thoughts grim and hopeless as they were, Were interrupted. He: felt the shadow of Colonel Bishop upon hint. "What the devil are you doing here?" Mr: Blood turned to face him, aid 000)' that. swarthy 00nntean00 (which indeed, by now was tanned to the golden brown of. 0 half-caste Indian) ac made gescended. "Doing?" said he blandly. "Why the unties of my office." "I said he was to have neither emeat nor drink until I Weisel l it." "Sure,- now, I never hoard yo." For an instant the colonel was i too amassed at Itis impudence to e speak. Thent "If you're alive when my blacks have done with you, perbap you.'11 wine to your senses." He SWUM!: to 1(18 nr .toe$ to issue an order. But it was neve, i,,: url, At )hat moment a terrific rolling thus dercap drowned hi-• vole:, and shook tete very air. Cabinet Lshup jumped; his negroes jtunpenl with him, acid 20 dill even the apparently- imperlerrhable Mr. )Blood. 'Peen ter. four of them stated ton;+.t.he r :+•a- wards. As those men stared from tet • •nsl- nonce on which they stood, not yg•t understanding what had taken place. they saw the Itriti,11 ,jack clip from the main truek aur), to replete the flat; of England, soared the gold and crimson banner of Castile. „Pirates!' roared the colonel, and again "Pirates!, CHAPTER VIII. SPANIARDS The, stately ship that had been al- lowed to sail so Ieisur"ly into Cate lisle Bay under her raise colr"•., was a Spanish privateer, coming to pay- off ayoff some of th•• heavy debt piled tap by the predaceous Brethren of the Coast, and the recent defeat by the Pride of Devon of two treasure ;)al - )cons bound for Cadiz. It happened that' the galleon which weaned in at mare or less crippled condition was commanded by Don Diepo de Espin- osa y Valdez, who was own broth- er to the Spanish Admiral Don Mig- uel de Espinosa, and who was also a very hasty, proud )and hot-tein- pered gentleman. He had succeeded so well in his intentions that he had aroused no suspicion until he saluted the fort at close range with a broadside of twenty guns. And now the gaping waschers in the stockade on the headland be- held the great ship creed forward under the rising cloud of smoke, her mainsail unfurled to increase her et -eying way, and go ebeat (dee,- hauled to bring her larboard guns to bear upon the unready fort. With the .crashing roar of that second broadside, Colonel Bishop went off at the double, despite his bulk and the heat, his negroes trot- ting after him. And then into the stockade, pant- ing and sweating, came rent lot. lowed by, the best part of a score of plantation workers, armed with mus- kets and hangars and some of them equipped with bandoleers. By this time the rebel -convicts were coming in, in twos and threes,' hay.ng ab- andoned their work upon finding themselves unguarded and upon scenting the general dismay, Kent paused to fling an order to those slaves. "To the woods!" he bade them. "Take to the woods, and lie clone there until this is over, arpl we've gutted these Spanish swine." The s)avt es would bete obeyed him on the instant hut for Mr. I:lood. "What need for haste, and in thi heat?" Hueter he. Ile 100, OW'- PridnglY c"ul, they thought. "May - there'll be et, Deed to t:alt., to the woods at a11, and, anyway, It will lie time enough to do so when the •,ausiatrcis are master's of the town.,, The Janding was contestee by the, militia and by every island.. caap- ably of bearing arms; with the fierce resoluteness of men who know that no qualrtu1' was to be exp'eted 11t defeat. Thu Spanish commander knew hie business. Having gained the advantage of a surprise blow, his guns turned now upon the open space behind the mole, where the 81 L 1�• tau• "It's hoping I am ye're fit to meet your Maker." incompetent Bishop had marshalled his men, tore the militia into bloody rags, and covered the landing nor- et•, wh:-h were making th, ,hore in their own boats. By sunset two hundred and fifty Spaniards were masters of Bridge- town, the islanders were disarmed, and at Government House, Gover- I nor Steed, supported by Colonel 1.Biehop and some lerser officers were being informed by Don Diego, of !the sum that would be required in ransom. For a hundred thousand pieces of eight and fifty head of cat- tle, Don Diego would forbear front reducing the places to ashen. And what time that sauve and courtly commander was settling these de- tails with the apologetic British Governor, the Spaniards were smashing and looting, feasting. drinking and ravaging after the hicl- , ecus manner of their kind. DR. WARDLAW Mr. Blood, greatly daring, venter- Honar graduate of tete ontarie 4etertnely IniZe, Dav and night calls, Office o armor? ed down at dusk- into the town. snonrnull,Ethel. WEDNESDAY, JAN. 20, 1727. What he saw was fetching him in � . ha..ic. 1(0.11•vtr- •r• x1 fa<,t1ut 1' o a that hell acrain, when in a narrow .etrcet a girl hurthed into 1(101, wild-eyed her unbound hair streainune• behind her as she ran. After her, laughing and cursing in a breath, mune at. heavy -booted Spaniard. Almoi he wee upon her, when suddenly Ali. Blood tot in his way. The doctor had taken a sword from a dead man's gide some little time before and armed himself with it ag:,lust an elm' ", ney. (To Be Continued), NOSINESS MOS 'THE Industrial Mortgage and i Savings Company, of Sarnia Ontario, aro prepared to advance money on J'lortgeges 01' good lands. 1'„rare dealring money on tarn mortgages will please apply t0 Jaynes Cowan, s:eaforrh, Oat. , who will far his, rates and other partiet,iars. The Industrial Mortgage and Savings Oompany C. C. RAMAGE, D.D.S., L.D.S. BRUSSELS, ONT. Graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons and Honor Graduate Uni- versity of Toronto. Dentistry in all its branches. Office Over Standard Bank, Phone 200 AGENT FOR fire, Automobile and Wind Ins. .COMPANIES For Brussels and vicinity Phone 647 JAMES M'FADZEAN Agent Howick Mutual Fire Insurance Company Also Hartford Windstorm and Tornado insurance Phone 42 Box r Taraberry Street, Brussel JNO, SUTHERLAND & SOH LIMITED "XS Gerazpir p; RI a D. ,M. SCOTT PRICES MODERATE For reterenres oonsnit any person whose sales I have officiated at, Phone 2628 T. T. M' RAE M. B.. M. C. P.. A S. C. U. O. H., village or Brussels. Physician, Surgeon, Atcoachenr Office, at residence, opposite Dtelville Church, William street• 1r. N. ffB.i otaar3 BARRISTER, SOLICITOR, CONVEYANCER, NOTARY PUBLIC LECKIE BLOCK - BRUSSELS lad i or th Selling is orth Te1li g V Advertise what you are doing. Advertise what you expect to do, Advertise your old Foods and prove them, Advertise bio lr newlgoo Is and sell them before they get old Advertise to hold old trade. Advertise to get new trade. Advertise when business is good to7make it better. Advertise when business is poor to keep it from getting worse. Advertising is not a "cure -fell,” Advertising is a preventative. Advertising does not push, it pulls. Advertising to pay must be consistent and persistent.