VOL- xxxvii
Huselton's
Holiday Slippers and Shoes,!
Seasonable and sensible —Acceptable and economical gifts nat
n.ake gbd and promote comfort whereverbes to wee. An
selection of High Class Footwear at my Popular Money-saving Puces.
FOR MOTHER
Buy a pair of vatm Felt Shoes
or Slippers. 50 ct to $1.25.
Patent Leather or Kid Dress
Shoes. 1 1.00 to $3.
FOR GRANDPA
Buy a pair of nice, wide, com
fortable Felt Slippers to sit be fore
the fire with — to sl.
FOR FATHER
Buy a pair of warm, comfort
able Slippu —soc to Si.so —or
fine dress shoes, 4>i 50 to $2.50.
FOR THE BABY
The cutest, and most pleasure bringing thing you can buy for
THAT Ha BY is a Red Felt Romeo—i ur Trimmed. Mother has
to wait till baby is asleep before she dare take them trom her. A\ e
have wee bits of sizes.
B. C. HUSELTON.
Batler*» Leadln* Shoe Reuse. Opposite Hotel Lowry.
KiCkCl S Footwear J
Extremely large stock of winter footwear at away
down prices.
If you are in need of boots, shoes or slippers of any
kind call and see us and we will suit and please you.
JHOLIDAV SLIPPERS!
Have you been thinking of Xmas, we have a large
stock of Holiday slippers —al' the new and latest
patterns —at very low prices.
LADIES FINE SHOES.
"SORO3IS," The New Shoe for women —The
masterpiece of the shoemakers art and standard of
the wond. High or medium cut box-calf, fine
dongola, enamel and patent le; ther, button or
lace in li^ht or heavy soles.
Cushionet turn shoes unequalled for their comfort giving and
long wearing qualities —ail styles.
Complete stock of The Nettleton fine shoes for men in the)
latest styles.
Large stock of Gokey's shoes—High cut, hand-pegged box
t>e boots and shoes for driller!. Our line of school ,h»es '■> com
plete Ookry's hii { li-»:ut -opoer toe sho-.-s far boys and highlit
heavy ki,» shoe.- t»r gir' W.t wi -h »■» cdi your specia. ath itij>;i »
o.ir i .rnn-ly Same' t- 1k t f i : KI/i and KUHP.HK goods which -. e
bou. Nt early. -A«. are j .spared «<» ofler >' »u sot:i.i great bdrga. s.
Large stock of Ladies an Gent's and Ladie. and Chil
dren's fine Jersey Leggins. Full stock of sole leather and shoe
makers supplies. Sole lea'h t cut t>.■ any amount you wish to pur
chase. High iron standi vith four lasts at 50c.
Sample Counters Filled with Interesting Bargains.
JOHN BICKEL,
2f SOUTH MAIN STREET. - - BUTLER, PA
W I k/j
jv j I Uuf 1 W/jFbj jJI purpose of spending money. They 11
/ Irl
Alf| A ' suits for the money expended. Not
/ > llf ! JW- St\ J cheap goods but goods as cheap as
JJ£ZZ/ L,|l 3 they can be sold for ; nd made up
tfrF* Wk N properly. If you want the correct
H 111 t /- 'binf; at the correct price, call and
' " \ yLAOjnv. I ] j J 1 examine our large stick of FALL t 1
\T' ill if ANL) WINTER WEIGHTS— V
\T yjfm -W i LATEST STYLES, SHADES
\ 1 || I AND COLORS.
*" II K E 0 K
Fit and Workmanship Guaranteed.
G. F. KECK, Merchant Tailor,
142 North Main Street, Butler, Pa
C. E. MILLER.i
Makes a Grand Offer to the Trade.
A GREAT REMODELLING SALE.
We Must Have Money, We Must Have Room.
We are mak ; :-g a big change in our building. New basement
new front, another story and a large addition on the rear. Our large
and increasing trade makes it necessary for us to make this change,
and to make this change we need money and room. Our tall goods
are all in and our building is packed from cellar to roof. While we
don't prosposc to lose any money on these fresh, seasonable goods,
we intend cutting our profits so as to make this large stock move
quickly. To our old trade we just have to say to them, we are going
to close some goods cheap; they know what it means.
TO OUR NEW FRIENDS.
We wish to say that when we advertise a sale of goods it it
genuine and the trade knows it and approves and profits by it. Wt
wish to impress on your minds that just now we arc having a Great
Sale of Shoes, just such as you need al this time of the year. Hcttei
take advantage of this sale.
C. E. MILLER.
/CHRISTMAS \
? PER HUMES—.. >
p Yon could not please w.i/ie people better than to neleet :i trift /
C from onr perfume line. We have beautiful packages from 25 cts \
/ up- each bottle iu a fancy box. \
p In our bulk gixxlH are the richeHt and choicest odor* here C
C are a few of thnin - Queen of Violet, Palo Alto pure La France /
J Rose, Yernulis, Queen of Carnation, California Violet, Marpo*a /
p Lily, Wild Crab-Apple. Sweet Pink, etc. We invite yon to call. p
O H MANA
FOR SISTER
Buy a Pair of fine evening slip
! pers, 50c, 75c and sl.
Heavy street and skating boots, j
' $1.50 to $2.50.
FOR BROTHER
Fine kid or plush slippers, $1 1
to $1.50, Patent leather or enamel
! dress shoes, s>3 to $3.50.
Don't You Want to Buy
That Aur tie or Grandma of yours
a pair of nice, soft, vvaim, woo'cy
! shoes or Siippers. Iry here at
50c. 75c, $i and $1.50.
THE BUTLER CITIZEN.
Kootf 's PHI&
Are prepared from Na
ture's mild laxatives, and
while gentle are reliable
and efficient. 1 hey
Rouse th& Liy&z*
Cure Sick Headache, 8.1-iousness,
iousness, Sour Stomacn,
and Constipation. Sold
everywhere, 25c. per box.
Prepared by C.I.HOOU ci Co.,LoweU.Mas 3.
CATARRH
LOCALDiSEASE
and is the result of co':'- and Mrf - s MaSuk cCOU^
sudden climatic changes. IWf M
For your Protection i
we positively state tiiit t - A'
mercary or any other i.-r-
Ely's Cream Balm
jg acknovved'ed to be t! err st t*ioron::h care for
Nifal Catarrh, Cord in J '• 1 end Hay >evi r of t;ll
remedies. Itopem wd c'oaiuM th6l.val |'' ~\
allays pair. a l .a inflamnv.ion. heal* the r.-«. pro
tects the membrai e from cot.ls, re-tor"* the
of tap'* l andprce'l. IV.ce. •■-. a: I'm or t y m . 1.
KLV BRC/THJJKS, 66 Warren Mitel, I.c.v York.
T^ciNigy
Dangerous Kidney Diseases.
Celery King has cured me of kidney dis
ease. The doctor feared Bright's disease, and
tried many remedies that gave me no help.
Celery King has made me as well as ever in
my life, and it seems almost as though a
miracle had been wrought la my case.—Jen
nie O. Reicbard, Springtown, Fa.
Celery King cures Constipation and Nerve.
Stomach, Liver and Kidney disca-sea. 4
iMiefTaYiiigs bank
Ht.itler,
Capital - f60,000.C3
Surplus and Profits - -
JOS. L PURVIS President
J. HENRY TROUTMAN Vice-Preaident
WM. CAMPBELL, Jr < *> ti«r
LOULS B. STK:S Teller
DJRKCTOKS—Joseph L. 'irvlh, .1 tie pry
Tro'rtnia ,W. D. Brandon. W. .< RM in .. H.
f'HiiDbell.
The Butler Savings Hank Is the Oldest
Banking Institution. " Butler County.
Genera! banking business transacted.
W'e solicit accounts of ./ll producers, mer
chants, fanners and others.
All bjsiotss entrusted to us wilt receive
pr'imyt attention.
Interest i-a'd on time deuoslts
TH
Butler County National Bank,
Butler Penn,
Capital piil in
Surplus and Profits - f6c>, CLC.O
los. Ilartmaa, President; J. V. Ritts,
Vice President; John G McMartin.
Cashier, A. O. Krug, Ass"t Cashier.
A fe'eniTul ban Kin;' »r,m«ntcs! •<'
Itit' rn-j'. pat'J on lIIM
M<>r««-y i K-ru-ii on ap|jruve<i 'urliy
\\V invite you to open an account will! this
fe*nk. 1
1)1 itwCT )IJS--Hon. -li/sei'lt llartmaii. ilu'
W.S. W*ldnw. hr. .s. M Hoover 11. Mr-
Pwi'-n. y. 1 1 ' <.: 1 i-i !. M»:!I 1..-silt i'
Ha/.lett, M. ! i:i- iii-1, >» . H. lairfci". 11.-'.rrj
Hi-aslcy. I)r W • :•< n.-iii-- B. r v.-is
s« tl,. \v. .1. y.:n :. . J. v. I.llls. A. L. Belber
TH K
Farmers' National Bank,
EUTLER, PENN'A.
CAPITAL PAID IN, £100,000.00.
Foreign exchange Imught a.n*l v>'d.
Special attention glv<ll to collections.
OFFICERS:
JOHN YOFNKINS Presldent
JOHN IM'MI'IIF;EV Vice I'rt slrlent
('.. A. If A ILK V « ashler
K. W. HI N'(iIIA M Assistant < slii. r
J. F. HL'TZLEK Teller
DIRECTORS.
.Toliii Ynunklus. I». I. I 1 1 ..
Ahrarin. C. N. Boyd, W. F. Mrt/ji r, Henry
Miller, John Humphrey. Tlios. Hays, Levi
>l. Wise and Francis Murphy.
Interest paid on time deposits.
We respectfully solicit v<>ur business.
Christmas Presents.
A very short time until Christmas.
Have you thought of gifts y° u W >'l be
called upon to make in order to brighten
somebody's Christmas. It vwll pay you
to examine our line of rich Diamonds,
Jewelry, Pine Cut Glass, Silverware that
wears, Novelties in Silver and Gold'
Clocks, Canes, Opera Glasses, Ring*,
Chains, Charms, Gold l'etis, Manicure
Sets, Hair Brushes, Ilat Pins, etc.; also
Cameras, Mandolins, Guitars, Violins,
Edison and Columbia Phonographs at
prices from $5.00, which is the lowest
orices tie in veil tots will permit.
R. L. KIRKPATRIGK,
Jeweler and Graduate Optician
Next to Court House.
WHAT FOR CHRiSTMAS
;
/< f
k ''- v - '• i
uke-&v y<is >
f-183
Is it a watch brooch? bracelet? mani
cure set? toilet set? pearl-handled knives
and forks? solid silver table cntlery? or
plated flat ware? watch chain? finger
ring? fancy clock? tea set? cuff buttons?
hat pin? scissors? vases? cnt glass? or a
hundred other things?
I have them, and would cheerfully
show yon my stoak.
Pick out what you want and I will
keep it for yon till you want it and tell
no one.
CAKk H. fceiGHNGR,
JEWELER AND OPTICIAN,
209 S. Main St. BUTLER PA.
' ADVERTISE I\ I HE CITIZEN.
BUTLER PA., THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 1900
"cTJw. .V . a. JV . * _ V . s» - % - o> - ■ • » - =* -"•» • •>
|( JOHN TOPR PIRATE ||
♦ v ; By Weathjrby Cliesney ani Alick Munro. I
i . 1 ■ • • mmmm-. ?
; T
• V t OOPYKIOHT. MOO. BV WT-\HIEHBV CHESSET ASD AXJCK KTSISA ;
■o • * UXL'jTItATIONS UV H. C. CO T JL.TAS. I
! • \
*> -1- <•-«
CHAPTER XVI.
Tliat telltale flash came
just a moment too soou anil put an end
to any hope of surprising the Span
iards by a rush from the darkness. The
other sis Englishmen were released ns
fast as our swords could cut their lash
ings, and the hand of us made for the
interrupted songsters round the tire.
Fortunately for us, few of the Span
iards were armed, and before our fierce
onsit they gave way at first like a
flock of frightened sheep. The ten
prisoners had seized whatever weap
ons they could lay their hands on—
swords, daggers, logs of wood even—
and were hacking and buffeting right
and left like maniacs. But the Span
iards began to rally, and as the alarm
spread re-enforcements came (locking
from the cave. And those, of course,
were fully aimed.
We were hi a tight place.
".Tack, Jack!" ! heard Alec sliout.
"Loose Willie Trehnlion and then run
the boat down! The rest of us will
keep these mo.<<]uitoes hack! Quick,
though, for the lives of us all!"
Hitting out right and left. I got clear
and waded into the water, hut it was
a full minute before I managed to set
our old iHHitsv.a-n ssd-ift IV was sob
bing like a ! y t. <•:!.' - I: !-'irl in liis
excit 'ii.ei t n:iil tears of sheer joy were
chcsinr «:-:e ::!i»>ih« r down ll.e fuiTows
of his cheek
"I can't ta::<'. Master Tnpp!" lie
cried ns the i, : thcug which held i'm
up was severe-! "The list: r {.:•> :.;a<!e
my legs as limp a pad; thread Leave
me an save your own skia. It's no
use uiy trying I i.iu. t just drown in
my own (i ;th »' -.'aler But thankee
kindly all t,:e same."
"Not yet W ; l!''\ You're heavy, hut
not too heavy I r .lack Topp to carry;
so we'll ji ide you out of it. Be
sides. the water will help to keep you
up."
With that I hoisted him on my back,
holding him with my left hand and
keeping my sword arm free.
We did not gain the boat without
trouble, and my sword streamed afresh
before we reached !ier. In went Willie
plump on to the floor hoards like a
sack of grain, and desperately I strain
ed every mrscle to get her afloat. Inch
by inch it ivas done, while the fight
surged nearer and nearer to us. Every
man of the English was far too busy
to come and help me, but at last I got
her into four feet of water. Hashing
back. I joined in the furious battle,
shouting to our lads to eain the shore
as each man could.
One by one they scrambled into the
boat, and the Spaniards followed shoul
der deep info the water But they
could not totreh us fheto. Two hand*
were lopp. i off a3 they clung to the
gunwale, and then a few vigorous
shoves wilh the paddles took us into
deep water
"Ilasta inannna, Senor Don Miguel
del fcs.sattsiU'u. late or Whiiby." sung
out Willie Trehalion. raising his round
head with a great effort above the gun
wale. and then we shot Into the shadow
of the opposite shore out of sight of the
Spaniard: and lay 011 our oars to count
heads and examine our damages. There
were V. men in the boat. Where were
tiie other two?
"Davy Griffiths Is gone," said one of
the men. "I seed 'im, with a foot e'
smoking steel showing through his
back, boat out the brains o' the chap as
put it there."
"Joe tlie <'ooper is killed, too," said
another. "He an the Spaniards' cargo
lntendant fell foul o' one another an
wrastled on the ground. The don had
a dirk, Joe nothing but his hare hands.
The don carved Joe's hide into a fish
ing net, an .foe tore the don's throat
out wi' his teeth."
"It was a warmish corner while it
lasted."
"Aye, an we'se all more or less
scrattod. You've a rib there peeping at
the starlight."
"That's bo. An you've a nasty hole
in that nether arm."
"Tim there lias half an ear shredded
away, an Jan Pengony's countenance
is opener than ever natur' made it."
"Where's the little cordwainer?"
"Sorely wounded, poor lad. He's ly
ing senseless here by Willie Trehalion
In the bilge. This here clip on his~head
needs a surgeon's needle an pack
thread to calk it sound again."
"Aye, an Sam's beside him with a
hole in the ribs. Sam's done, I'm think
ing."
"Let me bind this rag round your
thigh. Master Topp. (Jot that cut in
the last ru*h. did you? You're bleeding
like a pi;; with a slit weasand."
"Captain Iceland, not scratched? The
wonder o't'. tf<»w did you do it, sir?"
"No fault o' the captain's," put in Wil
lie Trehalion, "for 1 watched him. No
fault o' theui Spanish devils neither.
He was ever where the blows was the
thickest, an they rained them on him
like autumn leaves in a hurricane."
"Good luck armored me," said Alec.
"Come, lads, out oars again iind give
me one. Willie, can you manage to sit
up on the stern thwart and steer? I've
shipped the rudder."
"Aye, aye, captain! Or row, either, at
a pinch. I'm ulgii all right again now,
though but for .Master Topp I should 'a'
had to stop beside the post. They lash
ings had shrunk so wi' the obiter that
tny feet was like a dead man's. Where
shall I make for, captain?"
"You know the island that shields
the harbor mouth V"
"Yes, captain. Shelter Island we
called it."
"It's steep, too, on this side, but there
should be a sloping beach to norrard.
Make round for there aud see If you
can't put us ashore. Now, lads, give
way with a will."
The night was pitchy dark, but the
boatswain's solitary eye pierced the
blackness and steered us on an arrow's
course till he made the Carrack rock.
Then, bearing away a point to the west
ward, he guided us by the direction of
the ocean swell and by the fanning of
a light westerl** breeze which had
again sprung up toward what he judg
ed would be the tall of the Island. We
heard surf pounding upon It before we
saw a rock, and drawing on cautiously
inshore, coasted along In search of a
landing place. The tide was just upon
the top of it'- Hood, and not an inch of
foreshore could we discover till we
reached the north end of the Island, for
up to thsit point the coast was bound
by black, rugged rocks that shot down
sheer into the water. Hu* here we came
upon a .-loping bench and ran the boat
up on it, K' ttlug her three parts tilled
in the heavy surf, for the ground swell
was running straight in. However, as
the boat did not get staved and as the
wetting was rather refreshing than
otherwise, we thought ourselves very
lucky in our fortune. At any rate we
wer° free.
"Now," said Alec after wounds had
been dressed as well as circumstances
would permit and we had thrown our
weary bodies to rest on a bed of short,
dry moss, "who can make a tracing on
the chart of »he future?"
"I should like another cut at the
dons, captain, an with a better weapon
in my hand than a charred wood bil
let," said one of the men promptly,
and u deep voiced assent hummed
round the assembly.
"Tlie.v hain't got much worth taking
in that cave o' theirs," said Willie Tre
halion, "but there should be tidy pick
ings on the old carrack There were a
gould crucifixion in the after cabin, an
a tale was going about that Don Miguel
always carried his private hoard in
the locker under his berth."
"What say you. Jack?" said Alee to
uie in a whisper.
"Have at 'em whenever we get a
chance," I replied briskly.
"Nosing the plunder, eh, old sea
thief?" he said, v.itli a laugh, and then
in louder tones for ail to hear: "I m
with yon. cine and all. in not letting
the do:: < rest !n peace. What's your
plan. Willie?"
-i;. h: re an recruit till we are
sound." replied the boatswain, "an then
cat !i s!it in uappl.ig > me night in their
cave an ■ 'iioke them like badgers '
"1 f( said Alee, "they will keep
too good a watch t<x be trapped like
that !V.:t ivMh our lads"-
"What other lads, captain?" asked
half a ■!:>;;« voices eagerly.
"Has no cue Udd how we rose on
the Spaniards In the -."illey and after
taklir- her 1;■ storm were wrecked
anions the breakers?"
"No. eaptain :.;:t it's brave news.
How many o" you are there?"
Alec gavr 'hem an account of all that
had liefr.llen us and told them the
nai.tes of the lads who were saved.
"And now." he aid when he had tin
Ished. "launch me tiie -boat, and I'll
take this fair wind across to Galley is
land and bring them back with me."
"Best take a seeonl baud, captain."
"No: he would only be another to
bring bacl . and the load will be heavy
enough anyway The boat has her
mast and sail stowed along the
thwarts, and this breeze will hold long
enou.-rh to carry me over."
So we rM the boat down, waded out
and helped her through the breakers
and then returned to our moss beds,
where, in spite of our wounds, we slept
sounder and more comfortably than
we hail yet done sin;-e first we fell Into
Ine i Mil.!- of ilv > ; :-"iiiar:U. many
months ago. at the i -lit by the moun
tain torrent Ah. me! Many a brave
lad tlir.l was full of life and hope on
that day was uoiv asleep beneath the
waves. Our search for EI Dorado had
not brought us much hi-*k as yet. but
we still hoped. And when men have
hope, who shall say that any quest is
vain?
CHAPTER XVII.
Waking when the morning sun was
high in the heavens, we found him they
called the cordwaiuer lying stark and
stiff. Poor lad. he had better stuck to
his cobbling bench and left adventur
ing in the western seas to tougher bod
ies and more contented minds.' For In
life he was ever grumbling and com
plaining, as Is often the case with those
of his craft, and in death lie made but
a thin and weakly corpse. We gave
him the best burial we could, digging
the grave with sword blades and piling
it high with sea worn bowlders, and
then set ourselves, those of us who
could walk, to hunting for breakfast.
The search was not marked by any
overpowering success. Our island was
sparsely wooded with low scrub, but
Its parched surface bore no fruit trees.
Birds there were in plenty, but we
could not catch them. And so we had
to be contented with a meal of shell
fish, of which fortunately the rocks
yielded tin inexhaustible store. At first
we hoped to ha v.- been able to cook
these, for many of us had seen the In
dians light a lire by sharply rubbing a
small penci. of wood along a larger
block, and we knew that Willie Tre
halion, though he never acquired the
true heathen dexterity, had often suc
ceeded in Imitating them. Now, how
ever, we had not the proper sort ot
timber, and the various makeshifts we
tried refused even to smolder. So, as
one of the Cornishtnen said, "We had
e'en to fancy ourselves liakey fish an
swallow the baits raw."
The chief tiling, however, which
made it Imperative that our stay on
the Island should IK? brief was the com
plete lack of fresh water. Search high,
search low, we could find neither
stream nor spring, and had It not been
that there were a few rain filled pools
lying here and there among the rocks
we should hardly under such a sun as
now beat down upon us have lived out
the day, for from sea water no man,
be lie alchemist, be he wizard or be he
honest mariner, lias c\er extracted n
drinkable fluid, nor ever will, say I.
After breakfast Willie Thehalion and
I had a talk.
"There's half n gale blowing from
the east'nrd. Master Topp, an like to
come on harder," said he. "An there's
too heavy a sea running for a deep
laden boat to crrvw without swamping,
"There'* hull a yule blowing from the
ctixt'nrd. Master 'Topp.
let alone that if they tried to beach
her she'd be knocked to noggin staves
in less time than I'd take to down a
mug o' ale. So we needn't expect
Captain Ireland over today, nor yet for
two more days mebbe."
"I'm afraid you're right," said 1.
"Wei', we can only wait."
"Master Topp, a lot can be done in
two days or even in one. 1 thought o'
that yesterday when I heard your plov
er's call from the cliff. 1 knew that
your old friend Dun Miguel meant ei
ther to hang tue or to drotind me by
inches. I'd heard him say as much.
Now, hanging's quick an easy work
when both trees au ropes is handy, but
drouning by inches needs a rising tide,
an that wouldn't be till nightfall. An
so, thinking as them who 'peewhitted'
might be in small force an might like
darkness to help them, 1 just bully
ragged the Spaniard into letting me
wait."
"It was a smart trick, Willie," said
I admiringly, "though at the time I ad
mit I thought it madness."
"Men's wits do smarten. Master
Topp. when a clever dodge may mean
the difference between staying in this
world an going to the next before the
proper time. Mind you, 1 wasn't to
know that 'peewhit' came from an
English throat, but it was worth chanc
ing it anyway. I knew there wasn't
uo plover on the island, so it must be a
signal o' some sort, an as the dons
didn't seem to notice it 1 reckoned it
was meant for me. Do you know how
far we be from the main?"
He plumped out this question with
such a jerk that 1 fairly started.
"I heard some one say 200 leagues,"
said I. "But why?"
"That was said to fool the Spaniards,
as it's every English mariner's bound
en duty to do whenever be sees a
chance But we bain't 200 leagues
away nor 20."
Again hi* shut his mouth like a trap,
evidently with the inteution of impress
ing this piece of information upon me.
I nodded and waited for him to go on.
"These here islands. Master Topp. is
on the highroad between Europe an
the main Every ship as sails from
an to one or the other passes through
this channel inside o' 'em. Now. see
here, this is the point I'm shaping a
course fur. There's a tall hill at this
end o - the l>ig island where tTio Span
iards' cave is. an when 1 was up
above just now searching for food I
seed a man within 20 fathom o' the top
o' It."
"Likely enough," said 1. "You can't
expect the Spaniards to stick like moles
in their cave all the time."
"Master Topp. that man had a fagot
on his shoulders."
"Well, Willie?"
"Well!" echoed Willie contemptuous
ly. "Can't you guess what it means?
Why. they've seed a ship in the dis
tance. an hoping to see another they're
making ready to signal her whenever
she heaves in sight."
"Why." said I, glad that there was
a chance of getting rid so easily of our
troublesome neighbors, but for the
present keeping that gladness to my
self. "if they want to go we can't stop
'em."
"We must stop 'em. Master Topp.
They know we're here. I've seed 'em
watching us. An if they gets hold o' n
shit> we shall have the whole brood
down about our ears in the twinkling
o' a handspike. Don Miguel bain't
the build to forget men as has got to
wind'ard o' him in a squall. Don't you
believe it?"
The boatswain was right. We could
not afford to leave the Spaniards in
pence.
"I'll come with you and look at tills
hill for myself," said I.
"But your wounded leg?" suggested
Willie doubtfully. ,
"Pooli! A mere gnat bite. The stitY
ness is wearing off already."
And off we trudged, though truth to
tell I found it no easy matter to limp
along, and laid ourselves down in the
scrub grass above in full view of the
larger island.
The northern coast was high, green,
steep and without foreshore and put
me in mind of the piece between Scar
borough and Whitby. The harbor
showed tide left yellow beaches on ei
ther hand, with clear open water in the
middle, while right before us, almost
within stone's throw it seemed, lay the
great hill.
The like of it I have never seen be
fore or since.
It was a forbidding pile of stone
standing out boldly in its barren black
ness against the rich greenery of the
palms beyond and towering nigh on
2,000 feet above the fallen wave worn
rocks that fringed its base. Nowhere
could the eye discover a trace of vege
tation on its steep and frowning cliffs,
and from the seaside at any rate it was
a citadel that would baflie the nimblest
scaler. Its black heights were too des
olate for even the ocean fowl's perch;
Its hateful crest could well have shat
tered a ghoul or vampire.
The very clouds seemed to shudder
and draw in their gauzy bodies as they
scurried past its hungry lianks.
But after a mere glance at the moun
tain's sullen precipices the eye fixed it
self Immovably upon the summit, for
there lav a wonder of the world.
That the thing had been built by
hands was plain, for even at our dis
tance we could see the joints and su
tures between the stones. But by what
manner of hands? Surely of giants or
of devils, for the size of the blocks was
such that no human hand could have
laid them. Each course was as high
again as a tall man, yet there were
eight courses. Each stone's length was
twico its height, yet there were 20 of
them lu the side that faced us. A fig
ured coning overhung the wall by an
arm span, and at the corners were
huge carven monoliths representing
rampant serpents, whoso outstretched
necks and gaping jaws pointed to the
four cardinal points.
Gnome's temple, giant's pleasure
house or magician's eyrie it had stood
there Jesting the winds through the
dim ages of the past, an everlasting
monument to its forgotten founders.
And now, as Willie Trehalion had
said, the Spaniards were laying wood
for a signal fire upon the uppermost
pinnacle. I could see two lusty fellows
doing the work and a third, a little
bowlegged man with a bright steel bas
sinet on ills head, giving directions. I
recognized that our lives hung on 'lie
chance of our being able to drive them
away, but I saw no means of doing it
and said as much to Willie.
"Fight the devil wl' brimstone, Mas
ter Topp, a» you'll choke him. The
dons practices witches' craft, say you?
Then witches' craft shall be the word.
See that round stone before 'ee, sir?
Well, hear It speak. It's got a message
for you."
And to my horror and amazement the
stone began in a high cracked voice to
bid me send the boatswain across to
the raouutaiu so soon as ever it got
dark and then to trust him to settle
with the Spaniards. "He's my very
good friend, Is Willie Trehalion," said
the stone, "and as such the knave dons
will tumble over one another In their
hurry to escape from him."
"Now, Master Topp?" asked Willie,
with a grin.
But I was all In a sweat with fright.
"Avaunt!" I said. "Get thee behind
me, Sathanas. Domlue in mauus
tuas"— And there I stuck, for my
Latinity had grown rusty with too long
keeping.
"110, ho! Mister Topp. smooth your
hair again. Willie Trehalion doesn't
dabble In tli black arts, it's naught
but a trick. See, I keep my mouth
Closed so an.,speak fr<<ni the back o' my
gullet so It took me many a day's
hard practice to learn the trick, but by
keeping it secret it has served my pur
nose a-manv times already au tuebbe
will again Anyway it will keep the
Spaniards off that hill as well as would
a regiment of arrjuebusiers."
"Will it?'*sald I. pretending to doubt
whether it would, for now that I knew
that was only a trick I was not a little
ashamed of my alarm.
"Aye. that it will! Sure as it fright
ened you. Master Topp. So, by your
good leave. I shall swim across under
cover o' the darkness—see. the water is
quite smooth: those reefs to seaward
break the waves—an stow myself away
iu some cranny to wait for the fagot
carriers in the morning."
"But if they catch you?"
"If they catch me," replied Willie
carelessly, "there will be dead men on
Cave Island. I shall take my sword."
"Four arms are better than two. Wil
lie. though one of those two does carry
a hook I'll come too."
"Best not. Master Topp. Your great
carcass would take a power o' hidin,
an that hole in your leg will get angry
if it's carried about too much. Besides
if the plot falls it is better that one
should be gastados, as they dons call
it, than two."
"Nevertheless 1 shall come. Two
may succeed where one would fail, and
as for my leg it can still deal a kick
that most men would be unwilling to
stand against. And If I'm too big to be
hidden in the building I'll find a covert
in the nearest thicket and be ready to
make a diversion from the rear if
you're attacked. So no more objec
ions I intend to go."
We waited with some impatience till
nightfall, and then, bidding the other
lads fell Alec when he came all that
had befallen, slipped down Into the wa
ter We had few preparations to make
for our swim, as the only clothing of
which we could boast was a pair of
trunks apiece, and those gashed with
tealer slashes than a tailor makes.
The sea was warm, and, striking out
leisurely so as not to tire my wounded
leg too much, we crossed over and
coasted round the foot of the cliff, seek
iug it landing place. We found none
till we were well beyond sight of Shel
ter island, and theu, coming to a shin
gly beach, we landed and lay quiet on
the sand for awhile.
The night was thick as a quickset
hedge, and so, as there was small dan
ger of the Spaniards spying us, we
wandered somewhat from the straight
track on the chance of finding food, of
which we were sorely in need, and in
this we were wonderfully successful,
for after a little search we came across
a rare grove of bananas. Next to the
discovery of a thicket of roast beef
and October ale no windfall could have
been more providential, for the banan
as not only served to fill our empty
stomachs, but at the same time gave
us food which we could carry away for
future needs. So, each bearing a brace
of the huge yellow clusters, we took a
straight path toward the hill.
The ascent steepened as it rose and
finished in a well defined stair hewn
from the living rock. At the top a
doorway lay immediately before us.
We passed its threshold and found our
selves within walls as perfect as the
day they were built, though how the
courses had been raised to their posi
tion unless by magic puzzled me even
to guess. There van no rctof nor trace
of any. The floor was bare save for
wind borne rubbish and a great stone
table in llie middle which looked ns
Hiougli it miglit once have served as an
altar in whatever devil worship went
on here In bygone days. But no spot
could we see where a man could hide.
Save for a slanting footway that ran
round 'wo walls and gave access to the
summit the whole Interior was as aus
terely plain as the coldest Imagination
could make It.
After a brief examination of the In
terior of this puzzle in stone we went
aloft by the slanting footway to throw
the Spaniards' pile of fagots over the
cliff and then set about exploring the
exterior.
At first the dull light showed us noth
ing but a smooth, almost polished pave
ment. but on close scrutiny we found
an inequality in the surface near the
tail of the great carven serpent which
reared itself at that corner of the build
lug which most effectually commanded
the approach from below. A little bur
rowing discovered a hollow, which
turned out to be n narrow alley Just
wide enough to admit one at a time.
We cleared away the rubbish with
which it was choked and then entered.
It led up a dark winding stair in the
body of the reptile and brought us aft
er a hard climb to a tiny chamber in
side the head. The gaping jaws form
ed a sentry box, from which we could
command the whole of the path from
the lower ground, so, confident in the
strength of our eyrie, I lay down to
rest for n space while Willie watched.
We bad not long to wait. Scarcely
bad I relieved the boatswain and begun
my turn of watching when a couple of
men broke out or the bush below and
began to climb the steps on the hillside.
I motioned to Willie, and together we
watched their advance. Now we should
see what Willie's witchcraft could do.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Willie allowed the two Spaniards to
get half way up the hillside unmolest
ed, and then lie broke out. With a
shrill laugh which echoed to and fro in
the gullet of the serpent and out
through the fanged Jaws in a very cat
aract of discordant sound, he raised a
din which startled even me, though I
now knew the secret of It.
The Spaniards stopped, gazed at one
another with scared faces ami looked
as though the movement of a loaf
would make them »urn tall and fly.
Their ears told them that the din came
from the .' tunc serpent; but, then, who
ever heard of a serpent laughing? Not
since the days of Mother Eve had such
n tiling been, ami so, plucking up their
courage again, they continued on their
way. But at the first step the serpent
spoke afresh.
In the best Spanish which Willie
Trehaliou could muster It called them
scurrlle knaves and cowards and a va
riety of other choice names, In which
the boatswain had a true sailor's flu
ency, and when they were thoroughly
scared as who would not have been In
a like case?—lt bade them 'bout ship
and run if they wished to live another
hour.
And that these two doughty Span
lards promptly did. thereby making
Willie rub ills hook gleefully and I my
two hands, for wo thought we had ef
fectually frightened them and all their
comrades to whom they would tell the
tale Into leaving the hill alone for the
future.
But there Is a saying, "Never put
value on a ship until you have broken
into her treasure room." We had reck
oned without Don Miguel, for scarcely
had another two hours passed when a
band of "20 armed men emerged from
the bush below. The serpent had rout
ed two. Would it rout 20. with the nl
chemist captain to lead theui?
At the head came l>oti Miguel, and
with him the bandy legged little chap
with the bright steel bassinet whom
we had seen the day liefore from Shel
ter Island, nod a couple of pace* behind
these two were the rest of the band,
tmong whom we recognized the two
doughty champions whose flying hacks
had given us a little while tx>fore so
much satisfaction.
As the party drew up In the open
Willie Trehalion saluted them with a
shrill mocking laugh, which had the
effect of making the rank and file turn
round as if preparing to bolt. But the
two officers dealt such hearty buffets
right and left with the flat of their
swords that the fellows had evidently
thought that the danger of being run
through by the fiery Hon Miguel was
a more pressing one than that of being
devoured by a mere stone serpent.
They stood their ground, therefore; the
five arquebusiers uuslung their crutch
es and, blew their matches, the two
bowmen fitted an arrow apiece, aud
the rest crammed their bonnets well
iown over their foreheads aud waited
for they knew not what.
"Come up, good senores all," croaked
the serpent's grating voice, when Don
Miguel gave the word for advance.
"Come up and defile this holy court
and commit any iudignity that pleases
you. Come and build your signal fires
on my wall and make my stones ring
with your impious cursing. 11a, ha, ha!
Pluck up your faint hearts, caballeros.
I will not hinder while you work your
wicked wills. Batter down these stones
tnd hurl tliem into the sea if you wish.
I will not harass you iu the work, but
afterward—then—ha, ha, ha!"
The serpent said no more, but the
pause anil the wild yell of laughter
were sufficiently suggestive.
The Spaniards stood for a moment
aghast. He of the bassinet was appar
ently the most soared of the lot, for his
bandy legs shook visibly tinder hint
and his sword clattered to the ground
as he clasped his hands and began to
call upon the saints to shield him. Had
he been in command every man would
have used his heels as soon as his quiv
ering muscles gave him strength to do
so. But Don Miguel was different. He
stormed, he cursed, he ground his yel
low teeth, he all but foamed at the
mouth in his frenzy of rage, and yield
ing to the greater terror of the two
each man stood his ground.
"Miserable coward!" yelled Don Mi
guel at his lieutenant. "What do you
fear?"
"The devil," said the bandy legged
man, taking off his bassinet and wiping
the perspiration from his brow with
the sleeve of his doublet.
"The devil, you poor fool! Where's
your wit? Is not the devil clever be
yond all human learning?"
"Aye, surely. We believe so," replied
the other, crossing himself devoutly.
"Good! Then how do you account for
his speaking such villainous Spanish as
came from up yonder? Full half of the
words were not understandable, and In
those which did bear some faint resem
blance to Castiiian there was, or my
ears deceive me, a strong flavor of the
barbarous English tongue. Bah! Don
Sancho, you're little short of a pol
troon."
"Hard words, Don Miguel, and I may
call upon you to prove them," said the
other sullenly.
"Do it then. My sword is ever ready
to back up my tongue. But first follow
me up this steep, and if I see you be
have as n man against the English
devil wh«m ! wHI unearth for you per
haps I will take back part of what has
been said. Forward!"
And up they came with all their fol
lowing. The serpent sent down a per
fect rain of warnings and curses, but
they were not to be stopped again.
"Well," said I, when from sheer lack
of breath Willie Trehalion had ceased
his outcry, "they've got the better of us
now, I fancy. Don Miguel will soon
find the entrance to our snail's home.
What are we to do, Willie?"
"There's two ways o' getting at a
snail's body, Master Topp," replied
Willie sententlously. "One is by boil
ing the shell, an the other Is by crush
ing It. Don Miguel can do neither."
"A pinch of salt or a whiff of smoke
will make him show his horns."
"Don Miguel bain't able to get nigh
us to plant the salt—leastways I pities
the man as tries to come up them
stairs, an as for the reek they may
build as big a fire as they like below,
but we shall always be able to get
fresh wind at the chimney top here."
"And with our store of bananas we
can stand a considerable siege on short
rations? Exactly so. But I was not
thinking of .our own skins. I was fig
uring out how we might manage to
trap Don Miguel, and now I think I see
a way. You noted a small dark cell
just at the foot of the stair leading up
here? Well, my plan Is this: You stay
where you are, and I'll go below and
hide In that cell. Don Miguel will en
ter—if he doesu't come of his own ac-
Atthc head came Don Miguel.
cord, I'll venture to send him a hall of
Invitation—he will pass me and go up
the stair. Then I shall step out and
deal with all who try to follow, and as
two men cannot advance abreast It will
be an easy enough task. As for the
senor commandant, we have him be
tween two swords and ought to be able
to take him alive."
"Master Topp," said the boatswain,
saluting with hook and forehead, "your
brain's sharpening right wonderful.
I'he first Jacket o* honest ale that wets
Hy Hps shall be drained to your health.
But," he added eagerly, "let me fill the
cell an hold the lower alley."
"No. It Is my plan and so my choice.
You have the post of honor, for it will
he yours to tackle Don Miguel, and a
tough customer you'll find him. But do
not kill him. Willie, If you can avoid
It."
H'm! I'm thinking I shall thrust
fuanl plate deep. Master Topp. You
would yourself If you'd suffered one
hnlf o' what I have."
"Still, spare him. He's of more worth
to us alive than dead at present Aft
erward"— I stopped. (Jreat heavens,
it was of Inez's fnther that I was
Ipeaking thus!
"Aye, afterward!" growled Willie.
'Afterward. Master Topp! There'll be
a bitter reckoning when Captain Ire
land comes. You may lay your last
tester ou that. But In the meanwhile
I II thrust as daintily as the don will
let me."
I picked my wny down the winding
of t li<* pit KMIK>* lii tlie Berpont's body
with the lutentlon of finding out what
the Spaniards were doing lip above nud
If puMsllilu of euticlug them to come
No. SO
down from the wall and attack me la
the narrow path. But when I reached
the entrance I heard the voices of l>on
JSuncho aud a couple of others Just
above me, so I crept into the cell to lis
ten.
He first of all suggested to the sol
diers that they should go first, but they
hung back and seemed inclined to
argue the question. Now, the riiacm
was far too uncanny for the bandy leg
ged don to enter himself, so he settled
matters by sending off one of the men
for the superior otiieer, while he him
self pluckily remained on guard with
the other.
Presently Don Miguel came and,
suapping out a few caustic words
about poltroonery, cowardice aud the
like, dropped, sword in hand, through
the opening and strode along the alley.
It would have been easy to run him
through as he passed had 1 been so
minded; but. hoping that Willie Treha
lion would take him at his leisure and
with a reasonably whole skin, 1 lay
quiet and let liim pass.
His followers trailed on leisurely
enough, and their leader must have
climbed the greater way up the stair
before I 6tabbed the first of them. The
second played me a couple of passes,
»nd by the time he rolled over Don
Sancho, who came nest, was in full
flight down the passage. I sped after
him, but he was too quick for me and
sprang up among his fellows. The
whole crowd then made threatening
demonstrations against me, but not a
hero of them would accept a civil invi
tation to come down and have it out
man to man.
It was just like a bear pit. I was the
bear at the bottom, who could not get
at the yapping hounds above without
being slain, while they did not dare to
descend and bait me. And 80, seeing
that one of them had unslung his ar
quebus and was fixing its crutch and
blowing his match for a shot, 1 left
them to amuse one another and went
to see how Willie Trehalion had fared
with Don Miguel.
Their struggle must have been a
short one, for when 1 came up to the
chamber in the snake's head 1 found
the Spaniard lying on the floor with
the squat figure of the boatswain
perched on his s' )mach. The victor had
a bare brown foot on each of his ene
my's arms, while in his only Land he
held, with significant Intention, Don
Miguel's own Jewel lillted misericorde.
It was a most refreshing sight
[TO BE CONTINUED.]
W AN INNOCENT MICROBE.
A microbe tailing through the air one day
In * lazy, listless sort of a way
Mused to himself as he loafed along.
And this was the gist of his microbe song!
"It occur* to me, and I think I'm right
(For he was a philosophical mite),
"That in this fair world it's given to all
Some life work to do, be lie great or small,
"And whatever Job a stern fate may send
You've got to hustle to keep up your end."
Then smiling a smile in his innocent way,
He quietly sailed through a field of bay.
When the homy handed sons of that farm
Ilad raked over that ha; ami stored their b»rn,
They ceased from their work, from Its toil u4
strife,
And fought hay fever th« rest of their life.
Then he paused awbile where the south wind
blows
ted breathed hU sweet breath on a blooming
rcsa.
A youth and fair maid chanced to pass near by;
The youth plucked the flower with a blush and
sigh.
Now they snuiHe and sneeze from morn to mom.
Cursing the day that that rose cold was born,
And every year at a certain time
They pack up their "duds" for a northern clime.
The next thing be spied was an orchard fair
As he floated on through the balmy air.
A boy rushed from school on his homeward routs,
And ids eager eye caught the ripening fruit.
That boy has left school; no gripe longer mars
His Impromptu flight to the shining stars.
As he buzzed along toward the setting sun
He thought to himself of the work he'd dons
And gently remarked, as upward bs whirled,
"After all, I've made some noise In the world."
Then murmured with snimalculish glee,
"What a racket I'd made were I sized like a Heal'
—Chicago Times-Herald.
Timely Criticism.
"It does seem strange, Emma, that
with 17 clocks In the house given to ua
us wedding presents you are never
ready ou time!"—Lustlge Blatter.
According? to the iliilc*.
A visitor In Paris was seated at a ta
ble In one of the high priced restau
rants In the exhibition grounds think
ing of various things as he read over
the bill of fare and observed the prices.
"Thunder!" he exclaimed to the wait
er. "Haven't you any conscience at all
in this place?"
"Beg pardon," replied the haughty
servitor.
"Haven't you any conscience—con
science—conscience? Don't you under
stand?"
The waiter picked up the bill of faro
and began looking over it.
"I don't know If we have or not. If
we have. It's on the bill; if we aln t,
you've got to pay extra for It Them's
the rules, sir." —Spare Moments.
I.lke n Man.
Soon after the conscript law was
passed by the Confederate congress
Captain Slnek was appointed enrolling
officer for the parish of Claiborne, with
orders to have Its provisions duly exe
cuted. His manner of execution was
the reverse of that suggested by his
name and created a lively sensation
among the "bomb proofs," who, find
ing the pointed arguments of Ills mus
kets Irresistible, moved rapidly and In
a right 1 in»> toward the front. Not long
after Ids arrival my sister had occasion
to \Jslt nil old lady whose son was no
toriously of the peace persuasion. She
soon missed his familiar presence, and
the following conversation occurred:
"Mrs. , where Is John?"
"Gone to fight for his country, child."
"Indeed. I thought he was one of
the exempts."
honey, Cappln Slack don't
know no exempts. The other day I see
his men n-galloplu down the road. I
hollered to John they war cornin and
told him the ehimbly was a good place.
'Twasn't no use. though, for they found
him quicker than a cat does a mouse."
"Well, Mrs. , what did John do?"
"Do? Why, he came down and 'list
ed like a man."—Lost Cause.
The genhbnrds worn by Russian offi
cers nre made of papier uiache.