Marcy the Blockade Runner

be true to his colors in deed as well as in spirit, will remember that we left him at his home near Nashville, North Carolina, enjoying a brief respite from the work he so heartily detested, that

he would not budge an inch until the legality of the capture had been settled by the courts, the vessel and cargo sold, and the dollars that belonged to him and his crew were planked down in their two hands. Knowing that it would take time to go through all these formalities, Marcy Gray asked for a leave of absence, which Beardsley granted according to promise, and in less than half an hour after the Osprey was hau

fired at the old flag; and I have no doubt that the skipper of the Hollins when he saw me aboard the privateer, took me for as good a rebel as there was in the crew. Perhaps he will see his mistake some day. I shall have to accept my share of the prize money, for if I don't Beardsley's suspicions will be aroused; but I'll put it away and send it to the master of the Hollins the first good chance I get. Has Wat Giffo

was glad to see Walter, for it was a very great relief to visit with some one to whom I knew I could talk freely; but I must say he left a very unpleasant im

we know who our friends are, it will be

the very strongest terms, but that doesn't prove anything, for Walter has often done the same thing himself, and he is a rebel soldier," said Mrs. Gray sadly. "Only thin

d Jack to go to when the pinch comes, and outsiders can just mind their own business and l

em, will not let us live to ourselves. Young Gifford almost as good as told me that s

his knees with his clenched hands. "Who's going to keep them posted?

eer," whispered Mr

as he was at that moment. "Great Moses! Have things come to such a pass that we dare not t

ould prepare you for something li

be spied upon in our own house," answered Marcy. "Traitors, are we, when we haven't done the firs

reply. "When his contract expires we can tell him th

knowing all the while that our every movement is watched, and that some one is constantly tryin

ong the servants yet but that was no sign that there wouldn't be some to-morrow or next day. An overseer who was left as much to himself as Hanson was, held great power in his hands; and some ne

irty thousand dollars in gold you have hidden in

ght be a listener concealed behind some of the chairs or under the sofa. "In spite of my utmost care, that matter, which I hoped to keep from the knowledge of even

words, that you were known

He said it wa

ing possibility you ju

rc

who has been watching me day and night," answered his mother, shivering all over and drawing nearer to her sturdy son,

ped away," said Mar

had not insisted. You must not blame Walter. It is best that I should understand the situation;

r which said that his mother had not been telling him anything he did not k

depend on while Jack is at sea, that you have all the courage there is between us. I know you would shield me entirely if you could, but it is impossible; and you must let me bear my part. I shall have to whether you consent or not. But you haven't

oked Inlet is buoyed in such a way that the stranger who tries to go through it will run his vessel so hard and fast aground th

claimed Mrs. Gray, wit

bout to tur

d allows herself to be guided by the buoys, she'll stick. Oh, it's lovely business-a brave and honorable business," exclaimed the boy, running his hands through his hair and tumbling it up as he u

it was the only course open to you, and that by shipping as pil

ed a pilot any more than he needs some one to command his piratical craft. I suspected as much all the while, and the mi

trader--" be

uggler between this country and Cuba. He says himself that he never made a voyage fart

se. "Why can he not permit you to stay at home in peace, as he knows I wan

here in the hope that I would refuse his offer, so tha

g vengeance upon Marcy's mother. If she proved, when the test was applied, to be friendly to the South and its cause, he would not dare lift a finger against her or her property, for he knew that if he did his neighbors would quickly interest themselves in the matter; but if she would only refuse to permit Marcy to ship on board the privateer, then he would have a clear field for his operations. He could accuse Marcy's mother of being a Yankee sympathizer, and that would turn the whole settlement against her at once, becau

to accept his proposition so that he would have an excuse for persecuting us; but being disappointed there, he

has he with it?" said Mrs. G

lmington, and Newbern for money-and I think you will find that he looks to Hanson, the overseer, to

ing from her chair and clasping her

ves that something of the sort is going to happen, and so do I. Wat didn't say so, but I am sure that is what he would have told me if he had found me at home when he came here. You k

t be tempted to commit crime," answered Mrs. Gray. "We never had so large an amount of money in the house before, and it

the power on his side. I know you never thought of such a thing at the time, but your trips about the country, which Wat Gifford says could not have been made without an object of some sort, have excited a good de

st," replied his mother, with dignity. "Now we will dismiss them entirely from our m

there was of it. Her skipper was a sailorman all over, and plucky, too; and if he had had anything to fight with, he would have made things lively for us. I nev

aster of the Mary Hollins no longer a prisoner pleading with Captain Beardsley that his men might not be ironed like felons, but standing free on the quarter-deck of an armed vessel, with a hundred blue-jackets ready to do his bidding, and the Stars

absence extend?" inquired Mrs

signing it. If he wants me he will have to send for me. You ought to have heard that Newbern mob whoop and yell when the crew of the Hollins were marched off to jail. They called them 'Abol

d his mother to their feet in a twinkling. How long had the person who gave that knock been within reach of the door, was the first thought th

had her trouble for her pains. We haven't said a dozen words

who announced that there was a gentleman on the gallery who had call

observations to the overseer. "I don't think she heard a word, and she certainly could not have seen anything." And then, finding that his mother was looking at him as if she meant him to understand tha

to speak about," answered the g

und, on which he managed to raise enough corn and potatoes to keep his family from absolute want, and a little log cabin in which he found shelter when he was not absent on his hunting and thieving expeditions. Marcy had not seen him since his return from Barrington, but he had heard of

addressing himself to the girl, who

ered Mrs. Gray, when she thought she had given the domestic time to get

e now if he hadn't been

y!" said

t isn't old clothes or grub

have put him up to any

work, and this fellow, Kelsey, is one of them. It will ta

s some terrible injury. Be careful how you treat him and what you say to him. It might be dangerous to make h

ther a reassuring kiss, he left the room and went out on

the seceded States. He looked stupid as well as shiftless, but the young pilot knew he wasn't. He was as sly as a fox and as cunning as well, and Marcy confessed to himself that he stood more in fear of him than he did of Captain Beardsley. When the man heard Marcy's step upon the porch, he tried t

ver, he almost instantly replaced. "I heared that you had got back again from sea, an' that

is friend Kelsey as long as the latter wanted to talk to him. "We whipped them, and we could do the same thing again." ["And that's nothing

trol his face showed that he had not looked for any such answer as this. Marcy spoke and acted as if he were delighted with

s," continued Marcy. "She doesn't feel like seeing anybody to-day-upset by the

nd assumed a business air, as if the

ue blue, fur if you wasn't you wouldn't be on that privateer;

said Marcy, to himself.] "Well, what

ing agin that," repl

ur Jeff Davis

the corner of his right eye and looked at Kelse

them movements?" d

full of traitors, and I'm going to hold my tongue unless I know who I am talking to. If I

, Mister Marcy,"

me. I ought to put the dogs on you, for if all I hear is true you're the worst kind of a traitor." ["And so you are," thought

nd it was fully a minute before he could col