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THE LOG
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CABIN
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She was just in time; for, as she came near the tree,:Edward
Pemberton rode up from the opposite direction at the full speed
of his noble horse. ™
Leaping from his saddle, and throwing his bridle over a knot-
ted limb, the young hero hastened to the spot where Fanny
stood trembling with eagerness to tell of his danger and Lord
Dunmore’s:plans, and she hardly waited for the usual kiss and
words of endearment, so great, in her eyes, seemed his peril.
“Do not fret, my, darling Fanny,” he said, with a sunny smile.
“T shall not hurry to cast off a line on account of any party that
_ Lord Dunmore cansend. And, in truth, I think I would like
to teach this Mr. Spenco Sturges a lesson. You hate him—so
do I. If he comes to the Rattlesnake before she is ready to go to
sea, he may get hit. You shall hear from me often. Maude
knows all abont this tree, even to our post-office here.”
As hé spoke he placed his hand inside’a small hollow in s
large limb, just as high as he could reach.”
“Should you want ‘to send or receive word from her a note will
. not remain long here, that is directed to her, for she will ride
out every fair day, by my request.”
“And I will see her as often as I can.
love. Once more farewell!” ~
Her arms were about his “neck, lips pressed lips a little mo-
ment, and then she fled away through the grove toward her home,
while Edward Pemberton mounted his horse and rode back far
more leisurely than hee came.
Now, Heaven bless you,
« ~ CHAPTER IV.
. THE ATTACK.
sO / The moment Edward came back to the mansion‘ and acquaint-
ed his father with Lord Duumore’s plans, as detailed by
* Sturges, messages were sent in cipher to. a cordon of true men
- who were instructed to watch Dunmore and his emissaries, .and.
‘ to signal any movement, so that the patriots might not be taken
. unprepared, and could also know-what force was coming upon
them, and by what route.
This done, the restof the evening was spent pleasantly in the
old mansion, but all retired rather early, for at dawn Edward,
Jack Clewline, and last, Pompey, were to start for the schooner,
which was to be put in commission the moment her young cap-
tain got on board.
It was late in the afternoon when they reached the vessel, leay-
ing their horses with some of’ Mr. Pemberton’s own men in the
vicinity.
Edward was received by his second officer, anew man, but
evidently a good one. Mr. Clifton and the crew were speedily
mustered aft on the flush quarter-deck to meet their new com-
mander, and hear his commission read.
The flag, not yet unfolded, was now bent on the halliards by
Mr. Clifton, who stood ready to hoist it when the word was
given, and then Captain Ned Pemberton handed his commission
to Jack Clewline, as his first officer, to be read.
In an instant, when the document was unfolded!every hat
was off, while in a clear, manly tone, Jack Clewline read the
> commissicn and appointment, which made the Rattlesnake a
- Provincial vessel of war, and Edward Pemberton, Esquire, her
commander. -
The instant after, ata signal from Clawline, up went the flag, 1
“and asit floated from the mast- head, three times three of the
heartiest cheers greeted it and the proud young commander.
“I am glad we havea fall moon; it will be as bright us day,
should Danmore’s men pay us a visit!” said Pemberton to Clew-
line, two days later, when, with the doctor, they sat down to sup-
per for the first time. -
Clifton had charge of the deck; fora commissioned vessel is
never left a moment without charge.
The first watch, commencing at eight, to run till midnight,
had been set about an hour, and Mr: Clewline, its officer, was
walking the deck, when his quick eye saw a rocket riging above
the trees in the direction of Culpepper Court Honse,
Quickly calling the captain, who was walking on the other
side of the deek-in conversation.with the delighted doctor, to
whom he talked fluently in his own tongue, Clewline announced
what he had seen.
Instantly every man was called, armed, and then told to go be-
low and wait for a signal ‘before showing themselves, All
lights were put out on deck, and the cabin closed so none could
be seen below. Meanwhile two more rockets, one green, the
other a deep red, went up.
Ned instantly ordered his quartermaster to send .up a deep
: red, which signified to his friends that he was on the alert.
‘ And now the deck.of the new schooner, was occupied only by
its four principal ‘ oflicers—Captain Ned, Clewline, Clifton, and
Doctor Le Berte.
' For over an hour, watching quietly and talking in low tones,
“Will no one speak one kind word before I am murdered in
they remained thus undisturbed. Then allat once a tremendous
crashing, splashing, and splurging were heard, and any quantity
of loud ‘complaints and oaths.
The party who approached were crossing a bayou, a swampy
creek, over a bridge prepared for their reception. And a mussy
time’ they had of it in the mud and water before they got*
through. But at last some mounted, but the majority on : foot,
some thirty persons in all, approached the vessel, as she lay broad.
side to, moored against the bank.
“Ho! Is that the schooner Rattlesnake?” cried a man, whose
voice, though husky and hoarse from much cursing, Ned Pem- .
derton instantly recognized as that of Spence Sturges.
The party had halted back in the shade of some large trees .
and their faces could not be seen: . ’
“Suppose she is! What is that to you? Do you seek service,
on her?” cried Ned Pemberton, in his’own natural tone, stepping
out in full view of the moonlit deck.
“No; but we seek a rebel about your size,” said Sturges.
“Then come and take him,” said Ned, quietly, as his officers
ranged up alongside of him.
“They haven’ t got a crew yet.
cried Sturges. ut
“Lead the way. Yow’ re cap’n,” said one vot the men.
“Come on, then, we’re ten to their one,” cried Sturges,’ and
drawing a sword nearly as long as his own lank body, he strode
toward the vessel.
Purposely Pemberton and his friends fell back to the quarter-
deck, and encouraged by their supposed retreat, the royalists
sprang on board.
“Surrender, you young whelp, or I'll cut you down,” roared
Sturges, looking back to see that his men were close to him.
At that instant Ned gave a shrill whistle, and in a second up
flew the main and fore hatch, and the cabin door came open,
and the royalists found themselves surrounded by nearly double
their number of well-armed men, while old Pompey, making a
dash for Sturges, wrested his sword from him, tossed it over- ~
poard, and then coolly choked him down on deck, and sat on his
ody
“Oh, murder! Take him off. The dirty nigger is 1 squeezin’’
the life out o’ me!” groaned the unfortunate leader of the royal-
ists, while his men, surprised and terror-stricken, threw down
their motley armamertof weapons and shouted for quarter,
Laughing at the ludicrous figure. they made, Pemberton told
Clifton to take them all ashore under a‘ guard of twenty men to |
ashed which had been nsed to shelter stores.
“TI pity the dupes of this infamous wretch Sturges,” ho said.
“Iwill make their punishment as light as'possible.. But for
him, death itself would be mercy to what I have in store for
him. He has christened me ‘RATTLESNAKE Nep,’ and he shall
feel my fangs.”
“Mercy! Merey! Good Mr. Pemberton, mercy!” moaned the
unhappy wretch. / .
“IT am not, good Mr. Pemberton. I am ‘Rattlesnake Ned!
You have tried to tread on me, and now I shall bite. Doctor,
get your instruments at once. My heart burns to {put this in-
famous scoundrel to the torture. He shali learn what ® rebel
about my size'can do.”
“Oh, gentlemen, plead for me!” shrieked the miserable wretch.
Jump for ’em, and take ‘em,”
cold blood!”
“IT command here. Words are useless. You must suffer.
Pray while you can,” cried Ned, in a voice so stern and cold that
poor Sturges felt himself doomed.
“Tl go ‘right back and never come near you again,” he yelled.
“Oh, do let me go! I’'ll.give you every horse, and hound, and
gun I’ve got.”
‘Miserable cur! Your weight in gold would not buy you one
minute of reprieve. The doctor comes; now prepare to know
what fate rebels can deal ont to enemies so dastardly as you.”
‘Ah, hal Oui! Certainement, ze doctairecomes. Hold fast
zat rascal man tillI take from him his skin all alive!” cried Le
Berte. :
With one yell of agony poor Sturges’ fainted.
é
ty
CHAPTER Vv.
‘ PUNISHING A TORY.
1 “Quick, now, doctor, apply the preparation! !” cried Ned Pem-
verton.
In an instant, with a sponge, Le Berte washed the face, hands,
and neck of poor Sturges with a strong solution of nitrate of
silver, and old Pompey, with a cry of terror, saw the face of the .
white man turn as black as his own. .
‘The doctor, calling for the scissors, ent off the hair of his vie-
tim close to the head all over, and the: sponge was applied as
freely to the scalp as it had been to the face and neck, ‘Lhe