Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 74: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE FETTERS OF IGNACO. 67 mustn’t be any if; it’s our only chance for escape. You know the way, and aS soon aS we are anywhere near the harbor let me know so that we cam pro- ceed cautiously.” The words had hardly been uttered when both men caught sight of an advancing party about two hundred yards away. The dusk of evening was already on, and it was impossible at that distance to distinguish the nature of the party, but it was perfectly clear that one carried a rifle. He and his companions were just emerging from a grove, and there was no telling how many there might be behind them. _ SO ‘Heavens and earth!” exclaimed Edwardes, “ what you told the Don must have been true. The blacks certainly have organized a general insur- rection, and there comes the party that you pretended we were going out to attack.” ‘It looks so,” muttered Crenshawe. They had halted, and, following his example were lying flat upon the ground. “ Like the others,” continued Cren- shawe, “ they have induced at least one guard to join them, and that is the fellow with the rifle, I suppose.” . “ Shall we shoot? ” . ‘‘ No; let’s take the chance that they will pass us and go on to the mansion. We don’t care now what they dothere. After they have gone by ‘No blacks there,” exclaimed Tony suddenly. Both the whites looked more sharply at the advancing party. It did seem as if the boy were right. The men were not dressed in the rude costume worn by the slaves, and their motions were different. They were coming slowly, too, and apparently the entire party consisted of no more than half a dozen. “Perhaps,” whispered Crenshawe, “ they are the crew of the Don’s vessel. They may have heard the firing, and are on the way to see what is the matter.” | “ No,” returned Edwardes, “ the harbor is so far off that the sound of firing could not be heard there.” For a few seconds after this, the three watched eagerly. Then suddenly Crenshawe rose with a shout and ran directly towards the party, waving his hat as he went. His companions followed, overwhelmed with surprise to see him meet the leader of the company and shake hands with him. Crenshawe repeated this operation with every member of the party, and was talking eagerly with them when Tony and Edwardes came up. ‘They are survivors of the Grand Republic,” cried Crenshawe joyously. “ This,” indicating the man with the rifle, “is the bos’n and the others are members of the crew. Tell me, boys, how did you get to shore and how long have you been here?” “ ‘We made land about three hours ago,” returned the boatswain, “ after knocking about on a life raft from the time the ship went down. We were just on our way inland to see if we could come to some settlement. A black ruffian met us on the beach ” The fellow paused, glanced doubtfully at the rifle he carried, and then at the weapons carried by Crenshawe and his two companions. “ You seem to be armed to the teeth, Mr. Crenshawe,” he concluded. “You needn’t hesitate to tell us what your adventure was on the beach, 99 GOGO