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The Seaforth News, 1933-02-09, Page 6'TH'URSDiAY, FEIBRUARY 9, 1433.. ais ,�I tntpaftili.enit Yi =ht• u E HAEN Johnson. (Continued from last week.) The great . bonfire that we rreade roared and crackled, sending .out a most cheerful heat and light. Under that genial breath the color came slowly black to madam's che'e'k and lip, and her heart beat more strongly, Presently she turned under my hand, and with a sigh piliowed her head up- on her aria and went to sleep in that blessed warmth like a Tittle child, We who had no mind for sleep sat there beside the fire and watched the sin sink behind the lo'w black line of the mainland, now plainly visible in the cleared air. It dyed the waves blood red, aped shot out one long ray to crimson a single floating cloud, no larger than a man's hand, high in the blue. Sea birds, a countless multitude, went to and fro with harsh cries from island to marsh, and marsh to island. The marshes were still green; they lay. a half moon of fantastic shapes, each parted from the other by pink water. Beyond them was the inlet div- iding us from the mainland, and that inlet was three leagues in width. We turned and looked seaward, Naught but leaping waves white -capped to the horizon, "We touched here the time we went against the French at Port Royal and St. Croix," I said. ""We had heard a rumor that the Bermuda pirates had 'hidden gold here. Argall and I went over every foot of it." "And found no water," questioned the minister, "And found no water." The light died from the west and Prem the sea beneath and the night fell. When with the darkness the sea fowl ceased their clamor, a dreadful silence suddenly enfolded us. The rush of the surf made no difference; the ear heard it, but to the mind there was no sound. The sky was thick with stars; every moment one shot, and the trail of white fire it left behind melted into the night silently like snowflakes. There was no wind. The moon rose out of the sea, and lent the sandy isle her own pallor. Here and there, back amongst the dunes, the branches of a low and leafless tree writhed upward like dark fingers thrust from out the spectral earth. The ocean, quiet now, dreamed b'e- neath the moon and cared not for the five lives it had cast upon that span, of sand, We piled driftwood and tangles of seaweed upon our fire, and it flamed and roared and broke the silence. Dic- con, going to the landward side of the islet, found some oysters, which the roasted and ate; but we had no wine nor water with which to wash them down, "At least there are here no foes to .fear," quothmy lord. "We may all sleep to -night; and zooksl we shall need it!" he spoke frankly, with an open face. "I will take one watch, if you will take the -other," S said to the minis- ter. He nodded. "1 will watch until mid- night." Lt was long past that time 'when he roused me from where I lay at Mis- tress Percy's feet. 1 should have relieved you long ago,"'I told him. IHe smiled. The moon, now high in the heavens, shone upon anct softened his rugged features, I thought I had never seen a face so filled with tend- erness a'nd•hop'e and a sort of patient power. "I have been with God," he said simply. "The starry skies and the great ocean and the little shells be- neath my 'hand,—'h'o'w wonderful are thy works, 0 Lordl What is man that thou art mindful of him.? And yet not a 'sparrow faslleth" II rose and sat by. the .fire, and he (Laid himself dawn upon the scrod be- side me. "Master Sparrow," I asked, "have you ever suffered thirst?" • "No," ;he answered, We spoke in low tones, lest we sho.tik1 wake her. patches with a fine 'bushy ruff, and Diccon and my lord, upon the other swung from one ragged shoulder a side of the fire, 'were sleeping hew-cloakof grogram lined with taffeta, ily. "I have," I said. "Once 11ay upon a field of battle throughout a suninier day, sore wounded and with my dead horse across my body. I shall forget the horror of that lost !field and the torment of that weight before I -for- get the thirst," "You think there is no hope?" "What hope should there be?" He was silent. Presently he turned and looked at the I{in'g's ward where she lay in the rosy light; then his eyes came back to nine, "If it conies to the worst I shall put her out of her torment," I said. He bowed his head and we sat in silence, our gaze upon the ground be- tween us, listening to the low thun- der `of the surf and the crackling of the fire. "I love her," I said at last. "God help mel" He put his finger to his lips. She had stirred and opened her eyes. I knelt beside her, and asked her how she dial and if she wanted aught, "I: is warm." she said wonderingly. "You are no longer in the boat," I told her. "You are safe upon the land. You have been sleeping .here by. the fire that we kindled." An exquisite smile just lit her face, and her eyelids drooped again. "I am so tired,' she said drowsily, "that I will sleep a little longer. Will you bring me some water, Captain Per- cy? I in very thirsty." After a moment I said gently, "I will go get it, madam." She made no answer; she was already asleep. Nor did !Sparrow and I speak again. He laid himself clown with his face to the ocean, ands II sat with my 'head in my hands, and thought and thought, to no purpose. CHAPTER XXI In Which a Grave Is Digged. 1W'hen the stars had gone out and the moon begun to pale, I raised my tierce from my hands. Only a few glowing embers remained of the fire, and the driftwood that we ihad col- lected was exhausted. I thought that I would gather more, and build up the fire against the time when the others should awake. 'The driftwood lay in greatest quantity some distance up the beach, against a low ridge of sand dunes, Beyond these the islet tapered off to a long gray point of sand and shell. Walking toward this point in the first pale light of dawn, I chanced to raise my eyes, and be- held riding at anchor beyond the spit of sand a ship. 1I stopped short and rubbed my eyes. She lay there on the sleeping ocean like a dream ship, her masts and rigging black against the pallid sky, the mist that rested„upon the sea en- folding !half her hull. She might have been of three !hundred tons burthen; she was black and two -decked, and very high at poop and forecastle, and she was heavily armed. My eyes traveled from the ship to the shore, and there dragged up on ,the paint, the oars within it, was a boast. At the head of the beach, beyond the line of shell and weed, the sand lay piled in heads. With these friendly hillocks between me and the sea, I crept on as silently as I might, until I reached a point just above the boat. Here I first heard voices. I went a little further, then knelt, and, part- ing the long coarse grass that filled the hollow between two hillocks, look- ed out upon two men who were dig- ging a grave, They dug in a furious 'hurry, throw- ing the sand to left and right, and cursing as they dug. They were pow- erful men, of a most villainous cast if countenance, and dressed very odd- ly. O'n'e with a shirt of coarsest claw - las, and a filthy rag tying up a brok- en head, yet wore velvet breeches, and wiped the sweat front his f ace with a wrought handkerchief; the other topped a suit of shreds and One the grnund, to one side of thein, lay something long and wrapped in white, As they dug and cursed, the light strengthened. The east changed 'from gray to pale rose, from rose to a splendid crimson Shot with gold. The mist lifted and the Sea burned fed. 'Two boats were lowered ' from the ship, and came swiftly tolward the point. ''`.Here they are at last," .growled the gravedigger .with the broken head and velvet breeches. 'They've taken. their time," snarl- ed his companion, "and us two here on this d -t1 island with a dead man' the whole .ghost's hour. ,B'oardin'g a Ship's nothing, but to dig a grave on the land before cockcrow, with the malt you're to put in it looking at you! Why couldn't he be buried at sea,decent and respectable, like other. folk?" "'I't• was !his will',—that's all I know," said the first; "just as it was his will, wihen he found he was a dying man,' to come booming away from the gold seas up here to a land where there isn't no gold, and never will be. Be - like' he thought he'd find waisting for him at the bottom of the sea, all along from the ILu• ''a' eas to .Cartagena, the many he sent there afore he died,. And Captain Paradise, he says, say's he: 'It's itll crossing a dead mart. (We'l'l obey him this once snore' " "Captain !Paradise'!" ,crie'd he Of the ruff. '"Who made him captain?—curse thi•m! His' fellow straightened 'himself with a jerk. "Who made him cap- tain? The ship will make him captain: 'Who else should be cap'tain?" "Red 'Gill" , "'Red Gil!" exelairned the other. "I'd rather have the Spaniard!" "The Spaniard would do well en- ough, if the res't of us weren't Eng- lish. If hating every other Spaniard would do it, he'd be English fast en ought" The scoundrel with the broken' head burst into a loud laugh, "D'ye re- member the bark we took off Porto Bello, •O'hol Oho!" The rogue with the ruff grinned. "I reckon the padres remember it, and find hell easy lying. This hole's deep enough, I'n•1 thinking," 'They both clambered out, and one squatted at the head of the grave and mopped his face with his delicate hand'ke'rchief, while the other swung his fine cloak with an air and dug his bare toes in the sand. The two boats now grated upon the beach, and several of their •occup- ants, springing out, dragged them tip on the sand. "We'll never get another like him that's gone," said the worthy at the head of the grave, gloomily regarding the something wrapped in .white, 'That's gospel truth," assented the other, with a prodigious sigh. ''He was a man ,what was a man. 1:3e. never stuck at nothing. Don or slave, man or woluan, good red 'gold or die= ty silver, it was all 'one to him, But he's dead and gone'!" "NOW,If 'we •had a captain like 'Kir- by," suggested the .first. 'Kirby keeps :to the !Summer !Isles," said the second, " "Tisn'•t often n'ow. that he swoops down as 'far as the Indies." The man with the broken head 'aughed, "When he does, 'there's a noise in that part of t'he world." "And that's gospel truth, too," swore the other, with an bath of ad- miration By this the .score or more •who• had come in ,the two :boats were .half -way up. the 'heath. IIn !front, side 'by side, as each conceding no inch .of leader- ship, ,walked three men: a large man, with a villainous face much scarred, and a huge, bushy, dark reit beard; a tall dark man, with a thin fierce 'face and (bloodshot eyes, the !Spaniard by his looks; and a slight man, with the face and bearing of an English gentle- man. The -men behind them differed O0 whit 'from the two grave -diggers; geing es scoundrelly of 'face, as great of strength, and as curiously attired, They carne straight to the open. grave, and the dead man (beside it, The three who seemed of -most importance disposed themselves, still side by side, at the head of the grave, and ;their following took the 'foot, "It'•s, a dirty piece 'of work," said Red Gil in .a voice like a :raven's,, "and the sooner it's done 'with, and we are aboard again and booming hack to the IIndie, the '.better ail like it, 'Over with him, brave boys!" "Is it yours to give 'the word?" asked the 'slight man, w:ho was dress- ed point -device, and with a finical ni:cety, in black and .silver, (His voice was"1'ow and clear, and of a some- what melancholy cadence, going well with the pensiveness -of Inc.deeply fringed eyes. "Why shouldn't .1 give the word?" Brawled 'the personage addressed, adid ingwith an oath, "I've as good a right to give it as any man,—nt'aybe a better rights" "That would be scanned," s'aid he on board will throw' tip,t'beir . caps. Let us bury the dead, and then 'diet choice be made of one of us three, each of whom has claims that "might be put forward"— He broke off and picking up a''elel'icate :shell began !to study its 'pearly spirals With 0 Render, thoughtful, 'h'alif-pleased, !half-mel'aln' choly countenance. ITbe gravedigger with the wrought handkerchief looked !from. him .to. the rascal crew massed at the loot of the grave, and, 'seein'g bus ''own 'sen'ti- men'ts mirrored ' in 'the Ic'o:u'niten'ances iolf not a few, snatched the bloody clout from his !head, waved it, .and .cried out, "Paradise!" !Whereupon allose a great conlfusi'o,n, ;So.m•e 'b:alwl1ed Inc! Paradise, some for Red !Gil, a .few for the lSpaniafd. The two .gravedigge'rs locked 'horns, and a brawiny devil •wiith a woman's mantle swathed about :his naked s1bouldens drew a knife, and made 'for a 'paretisan of 'blue Sp'ani'ard, who in his Turn skillfully interposed between !himself amid the attack the (body •af a ibawiinig ,well-wisher ito Red lGi1 'who in hes turn 's'killful interposed be- tween himself and the attack the b'o'dy of a 'ba'wl'ing well -wither to. 'Red .011. The man' in 4black and silver tossed aside the shell, rose, and entered the lists. With 'one •hand :he ,seized' the gravedigger of the ruff, and hurled him apart from him Of the velvet breeches; with the other 'he presented a dagger with .a jeweled hall at the breast of the ruffian with the wo- man's mantle, .while in 'bones that would :have 'befitted Astrophel :p'lain- ing of ,his lave to racks, woods, and streams, he :poured forth a flood ,of oils!, singular, .and 'filthy oaths, such as would have disgraced. a Damp fol- lower. His interference was effectual. The combatants 1 ell 'apart and the clamor was s'til'led, whereupon the gentleman of contrarieties at 'once re- sumed the gentle and indifferent mel- ancholy of maturer and address. "Let us off with the .old love before etre are on with the new, gentlemen," he said. "We'll bury the dead first, and choose his successor afterward, decently and in order, I trust, and with due su'b'mission to the majority." "I"11 fight for my rights," :growled Red Gil. "And 1 for mine," cried the Spani- ard. "And each of us'll back his own man," muttered in an aside the grave- digger with the broken head. "The one they called 'Parad'ise sigh- ed. "I't is ,a 'thousand pities that there is not -amongst us some one of merit so pre-eminent that faction should hide its head before it, But to the work in 'hand, gentlemen." They gathered closer around the yawning grave, and some began to . lift the corpse, As for me, 11 withdrew as noiselessly as an Indian from my lair of .grass, and, hidden ' by •'the heaped-up sand, unade off 'across the point and down the beach to where a light ,curl of smoke showed that some one was mending the fire I lewd• neglected. flit 'was !Sparrow, who alter- nately threw on driftwood and sea- weed .and spoke tomadam, who sat at his feet in the blended warmth of fire and sunshine. Diccon was' roast- ing the remainder of the oysters he had .gathered 'the night before, and my lord stood and stared wtih a frowning face at the nine -mile- distant mainland. All turned their eyes upon me as Is came up to the !fire: "A little longer,'Captain 'Percy,'and we would have 'had out a search war- rant," began the minister cheerfully,. "Have you been sbuilding a 'bridge?" , "If S build o,ne," T said, "it will be a perilous one enough, Have you looked seaward?" "We wakened but a minute agone," he answered. As he spoke, he straight- ened his great form an:d 'lifted his face from the 'fire to the blue sea. Diccon, still on his knees at his task, looked too; and my :lord, turning from phis contemplation of the distant kingdom of A'ccoanac; and 'Mistress Percy, one hand shading her eyes, the slender 'fingers- of the +other;sttilll immeshed in her 'long dark hair which. she had been braiding. They stared at the ship in silence until my lord laughed, "Conjure us on 'board at once, cap- tain," h•e cried. "We are 'thirsty." II drew the minister aside, "I am go- ing up the beach, beyond that :point, again; you will one and all stay here, 11 I 'do not come back, do the best you .can, and sell 'her life as dearly as you can, 111 I •come Ib'ack,—you are of the pensive eyes. "Gentlemen, we have here the pick of .the 'ship, For the captain that these choose, these quick of *it and have been a player; look that you take the elle I give you." II returned to the !fire, and be •fol- lowed me, amazement in his face, "My Lone Carnal," ;I said, "I must ask for your sword." !He started, arid. his 'black 'browws. drew together, "Though the fo'dtunes•' of war have made me in some sort your 'captive, sir," he said at last, 'an'd' not without dignity, "'I .do noir see, upon this, isle to,Which we are all prisoners, the need Of so strong testi- mony to t'he abjectness of My condi- tion, nor !deem 'it generous"— "We will speak of ,geoerosi'ty anoth- er day, my ford'," I 'interru'pted, "At present II ant ,in a 'hurry. That you .are my p'ris'oner is ;verity enough for .me, but .not .for (others. 'I m'u'st have you 'o seeming as well as in. truth. .M'ore over, M'aste'r 'Sparrow is weaponless, and I trust need's disarm an enamy to arm a'frienad. (I !beg that you will give what else we .must take." II -le looked .at Dncdeon; ' but ;Diccon stoiod' .with his •:face to .the sea. I thou'gh't we !were to have a struggle, and 'I w'a's sorry for- it, 'bust my lord could and did add discretion 'to a valor that I never doubted. ;He shrugged his ;Shoulders, 'burst into a laugh, and 'turned to Mistress Percy. "What can one -do, lady, when one is doubly a pnisoner, prisoner to 'num- hers and to ,be'au'ty? (E'en 'laug'h at Tate, and make the best of a 'b'ad job, Here, sir! Some day it shall be the point l" Hedrew his rapier .from its 'sheath, and presented the hilt to ire, I took it with a bow, and (handed it to Spar- PROFHSBIOINAL CARDS Medical DR. 11. H1.GIH. ROSS, Physician and Surgeon. Late of London Hoe. pita!, London, England. Special• attention to diseases of the eye, ear, nose and throat. Office and , resi- dence behind Dominion Bank, Office Phone No. 5; Residence Phone 104. The .'King's ward had ,risen, and now leant against the bank ;Of sand, her long dark hair, !half braided, drawnover either shoulder, •her face marble white between the waves of darkness. "I do not know that I shall ever come back," I said, 'stopping before her, "May I kiss your hand before I go?" Her lips moved, but she slid not speak. I knelt and kissed her clasped hanais. 'They were cold to my lips. "Where are you going?" she whisper- ed. "Into what danger are you go- ing? I-- I—take me with you! It rose, with a laugh at my own folly that could 'have rested brow and lips an those hand's,and let the world wag. "Another titre," I said. "Rest in the sunshine now, and think that all is well. Old will be well, I trust." A few minutes later saw me al- most upon the party gathered a'bou't the grave, The grave had received that w'hic'h it was to hold until the crack of doom, and was now being ra- pidly filled with sand, The .crew of deep-dyed villains worked or stood or sat in silence, but all looked at the grave, and saw me not. As the. last handful of sand 'made it level with the 'beach, I walked into their midst, and found myself 'face to face with the three candidates for the now vacant 'cap't'aincy, s" --Give you good -day, gentlemen," 'I cried. "Its it your captain that you bury or one of your crew, or is it .only pesos and pieces of eight?" CHAPTER XXII In Which S Change IMy 'Name and. Occupation "The sun shining on so much bare steel hurts my eyes," 1 said, "Put up, .gentlemen, put upi Cannot one rover attend the funeral of another without all this crowding and display of cutlery? ill1 you will take •the trou- ble to look around you, you will see that 'I 'Nave 'brought. to The ob'sequie's only myself." One by one cutlass_ and sword were lowered, and those who had drawn then, 'falling somewhat back, spat and swore and laughed, 'The man in black and silver only smiled gently and sadly. "Did you drop from the Hue?" he. asked. "Or did you *come up from the sea?" "I came ant o!f .it," I said, "My ship went down in the storm yesterday. Your 'little cockboat yonder was more fortunate," I waved my 'hand tow- ard that ship of three hundred toms, then twirled my mustaches and stood at glaze. "Was your ship so large, thein?" demanded Paradise, .while a murmur of ,admiration, larded with oaths, 'ran around the circle. CTo 'be .Continued.) A DOLLAR'S WORTH Clip this coupon and mail, it with 81 for a sia'weeks' trial subscription to THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR Published' by Tar OHRIaTIAN SCIENCE PUBLISHING SOCETY Boston, Massachusetts, II. S. A. In' it rou wnl 8nd the daffy goad news of the world from its Usa • special writers, da well 50 departments devoted to woman', Snd ehndren'e latereata. 0000ts; mUS10, nancel edocntloca radio, etc You roll be glad to dolcome Into your homeyso Senrioss an dial aro of pence and vrohlbltlon. And don't. miss Snubs. our Dog, and the eundlai and the other features. THE CHRISTIAN 801EN0B 'MONITOR, Back Bay Station, Boston, Mass. Pleasesend me a six weeks` trial subseri1tion. I enclose one dollar ($1). JJ o fide ?ate,,' s1 (Town) (State) '. rF1 •n..,A, N} - _. s.A.A.A.I,.e.L.A,.w.'- S �-. �..0 . OJJ (Name, *Isaac print) (Address) IDR. F. J. BURROiVVS, Seaforth. Office and residence, Goderich street, east of ,the United Church, Oorluler for the County of Huron. Telephone No. 46. • DR. F. J, R. FOIRIST.ER—Eye, Ear Nose and Throat. Graduate in Medi: cine, University of Toronto M. Late Assistant New York Ophthal- mic and Aural Ins'titut:e, Moorefield'e' Eye, and Golden Square throat 'hospi- tals, London, England. At Conner ercial Hotel, Seaforth, 3rd- Monday in each month, from 11 ant. to 3 •pan. DIR. W. C. SIPROAiT.—Graduate of Faculty of Medicine, ' University of Western Ontario, London. Member of. College of Physicians and Sssr geons• of Ontario. Office in rear of Aberhaft's drug - store, Seaforth, Phone 90. Hours 1.30-4 p.rn„ :7.30 -9 p.ln. Other hours by app'ointm'ent. Dental' DR. J. A. M13NN, Successor to. Dr. R. R. Ross, graduate of North- western University, Chicago, I11.,' Li- centiate Royal College of Dental Sur- geons, Toronto. Office over Sill's' hardware, Main St., Seaforth. Phone 151. DR. F. J. B'ECH'ELY, graduate Royal College of Dental Surgeons, Toronto. Office over W. R. Smith's grocery, Main St., Seaforth: Phones, office 185'W, residence 185J. Auctioneer. IGEOIRIGIE ELLIOTT, Licensed Auctioneer for the County of Huron, ;Arrangements can be made for Sale Date at The Seaforth News. Charges moderate and satisfaction guranteed. WATSON ' AND RLIDni REAL ESTATE AND INSU'RANCE AGENCY (Succssors to Janie'. 'Watson) MIN ST., SIEAFORTfI, ON'T. All kinds of Insurance risks effect- ed at lowest rates in First -Class Companies, THE NicKILLOP Mutual Fare Insurance Ca® k1AIR1M AND ISOLATED TOWN PROPERTY, O iN L Y, INSURED Officers - John Bennewies, Brod- hagen, president; Jas, •Connolly, 'God erich, Vice -Pres.; D. F. McGregor, Seaforth No. 4, 'Sec.-Treas. D:ireotors—Geo. R., McCartney, Sea - forth No. 3; Alex. Broadlfoo't, ;Sea - forth No. 3; James Evans, ISeafor'tiz No. 15; IRobt. Ferris, 'Blyth No. 1; Jas. Stholdice, Walton No. 4; John Pepper, lhrucefaeld; William Knox, Londes- borough. Agents—Jas. Watt, Blyth No. 1; W. E. lI`Iim'chley, ISealort'h; J. A. Murray, Seaforth No. 3; W. J. Yeo, •Olitnton No. .3;:R. G. J•armuth, Bornholm Auditors — Jas. 'Kerr, ;Seaforth; Thos. Moylan,,Seafortb No. 5. Parties desirous to :effect insurance or transact other business, will be promptly attended to by applications to any of the above named: officers ad- dressed to their respective post offices. The Man With Asthma, almost longs for death to end his suffering. He sees ahead only years of endless torment with intervals of rest which are themselves fraught with never ceasing fear of renewed attacks. Let 'him turn to Dr. j. D, Kellogg's ' As - thine Remedy and knonw what ocm plete relief it can give. Let him but`, use it faithfully 'and he will,: find his asthma a thing of the past. Send us the names o'f'your visitors, Want and For Sale Ads, 3 tithes 50ct.