Pittston Gazette

              } Oldest Newspaper in the warning Valley. PITTSTON, LUZERNE CO., PA., FRIDAY. JANU vRY 15, 1£97. A Weekly local anil Family Journal. There was a smart wabble of sea on, and the boat danced friskily alongside. The sailors sprang into tbe main ohains and clambered with tbe silent hurry of shipwrecked men over the rail, Mr. Matthews staying to oall out to Commander Boldock, "Will you take this boat, sir?" bowed his neaa in nis nanos. have tuktii ujj ju mo u j . i, «.:• r arrival. If, on the other hand, you give trouble, wo will tire a belief through each of your scurvy brains and fling your scabby bodies overboard." tbe snap of tlie released bowline, tne headlong shaking of jib and staysail sheets and the shearing boom of the thunder making spanker a nightmare of confusion. But these men knew what to do, and Captain Benson himself never put his ship about with a sharper eye for the moment of command than Shannon.key then sat down, with his legs dangling in the hatch. "I am of opinion," said the commander, after contemplating him for a minute or two, "that a glass of bright red Jamaica would do you more good than wine." opened. Present ly snanuon ana rsum, with grinuing faces, banded one op. "Feel tbe weight of it," oozed Barn. ' 'Feel it, Trollope. Ocb, murder, that I had it in England safe!" "No, you will drink him down here," shouted Weston, who was tbe most excited of tbem all. They found the filing tough work in that sweltering hold. Hand after hand seized the rasps and drove the grit of the iron with fresh blood and breath into the thick links. "Gentlemen, yon may make me a pirate, bat yon cannot make me make a beast of myself," said the little Dane, fondly fanoying that this as a stroke of morality woald please. William said, husky and slow, "If we turn to, will you give us a paper signed by tbe principals in this business, saying as how we was forced along with yon against our wishes?" "I would thank you for it, sir," said the mate, looking up. The chest was small, bat its weight was as persuading as a glimpse of its contents woald have proved convincing. One by one the boxes were hove up to the eager group above, big and little. Captain Trollopewent into the cuddy to look at the clock. It was 20 minutes to 12. He started and stepped quickly to Captain Benson's cabin, and taking tbe old man's sextant out of its case went on to the poop. ' 'Aye, she is a good boat. We'll hoist her aboard." Boldock went to his cabin and returned with a bottle, took two glasses from tbe rack, and into each poured a second mate's nip. Water was then added, but before tbe mate drank he, in a broken ▼oice, thanked the commander for receiving him and his men and for the gentlemanly and handsome usage he was now giving them. Tho commander bowed and smiled and drank the other's health and leaned against a stanchion and poised his ruddy tumbler, which came and went in blood red flashes in his hand as the swing of a sun dart in the skylight struck it "Catch him!" bowled Trollope. "There's plenty of provisions and some wine and spirits in her, sir," song op Mr. Matthews. "What are you afraid of?" said Captain Trollope. "Full for stays!" he had sung out to Mr. Burn, and then, while the white brine gushed at the cutwater with a pleasant roar of freshening wind aloft, he had made that quiet motion with his hand to the fat man, and round came the bark, shivering into the breeze and upright as though startled and bridlins. She was on the port tack Boon, the yards braced fore  triced out, sheets of fore and aft canvas flattened in by jigger and song and main tack bowsed down to that moving chorus, "Whisky, Johnny." William's throat howled in this musio, and even Harry the Dane felt as though he was going to enjoy himself. Shannon, Johnson, Cavendish and Hankey sprang for the man amid a roar of laaghter. Tbe Dane shot with the speed of an arrow forward and vanished in the forecastle. The revelers, however, did not go farther than tbe oabin door, and when they returned to the table Masters, after drinking another glass of champagne, rose and went on deck. As rapidly as their weight allowed, the ohests were oonveyed aft and plaoed in a row beside the skylight. "Of a man-of-war," hissed 'Arry. "We'll have them—well have them all. Pray come on board." "There's no man-of-war down here," said Captain Trollope. "We shall be out of this ship in the inside of a fortnight, the booty distributed, and every man on his own hook, I hope." "Beg pardon," said William at the wheel. "Am I to be kept standing here all day? Seems to me I've been steering the blooming booker a month." The ten men ranged themselves abreast of the chests. Hankey brought chisels and hammers from tbe forecastle, and Captain Trollope called upon him to open the first box. Mr. Matthews, with a pale, funereal oountenanoe, watching his chance, got into the main chains, and, with the leisureliness which spirits sunk to the suicidal degree will sober the limbs to, made his way over the tall bulwarks. "You shall ba «tlieved," said Captain Trollope. holding by the companion natoh, to the admiration of Mr. Hardy, and when she had gained the deck Commander Boldock let go her hand. "How inach are we to get out of the job?" said William. With the skill of a carpenter Hankey drove his chisel. The iron bands yielded, tbe lid was lifted, and then the beast in every breast sent forth an exultant roar. Tb~~ were gentlemen who did not need to io*k very olose or long to know what a ndgget was. fiat no man offered to touch the fiat, flush surface of broken ore, yellow, pale, dull, more like the dried runnings of soap, broken into twisted bits than the metal that glitters in the golden pound and sparkles on white arms and whiter necks. CHAPTER XVI. THE MATE'S BOAT. "She's no jammy steer, either," said the man, sullen with fatigue. "Where's that 'Arry gone and 'id himself? Couldn't he oome aft and relieve a man#'' All night long aboard tbe brig a mart lookout was kept. Boldock was of opinion that tbe Queen was not above 80 or 40 miles ahead of the Wellesley. She was going right ahead, he oonjeotuied, by the circumstances of the girl having floated in a bee line to the brig's cutwater. He was of opinion with Mr. Hudy that when the ten men rose to seine the Queen they would no' find tbe Md an easy walk. They might be worsted, In which case there would be loss of life mare or less considerable, and Boldock, whose imagination was tolerably active, figured the Queen rounding up in tbe wind and lying all aback helpless, Benson shot down, her mates dangerously wounded, and piratic passengers and seamen of tbe bark bleeding about tbe decks in dying agonies.Meanwhile the five seamen, observing Miss Mansel, had oome to a halt and were dodging and ducking at her as they shouldered one another in 20 inimitable postures. "If it's put so, I'm done," shouted the Dane. "Touching it'll be hanging. Gi' me that paper William asks for, and I'll work for you." Mr. Masters, passing oat of the caddy by way of the quarter deck, gained the poop and stood at the lee rail, clasping a backstay, with his gaze fastened upon the magnificent lights shaking and feathering under the sun astern. Davenire caught sight of him, bat pursued his dignified walk to and fro without giving him heed. They wean singing a jolly song in the caddy, a rattling good song with a hurricane chorus for a dogwatch in tbe northeast trades outward bound with a shipload of homesick hearts. Masters did not seem to bear the chorus, yet it Bbonld have fitted his mood* Tbe two lines the moat distinctly roared out were: "I feel now that I am alive indeed,' she said as she looked aloft with a bright glance and then smiled at Boldock. "Where can they intend to carry that ship?" said the commander in a musing, lamenting voice. "An island is in their scheme. The lady heard them name it. Unhappily the name's gone clean out of her head." "You shall have it," said Captain Trollope after a pause. "Now go forward and keep quiet and do what you're told. This is to be a laughter loving ship. No groans are to be beard aboard the Qneen." Jrtwt then the small figure of Harry rose chrough the fore souttle with a pipe in its mouth. He was about to seat himself with his arms folded. "It is ladies' weather—very charming," said the commander. "Let me seat you." "Smite me dark if it ain't she herself, Joel" said Tom. "Deucedly well done, Shannon!" exclaimed Trollope, mopping his face as be stepped on to tbe poop. He led her to the folding chair, and Mr. Hardy laid a rug over her knee«y She smiled with gratitude at both men. "No, no. She's too tall. She ain't got tbe other's color," muttered Joe. ' 'She's what they call her factotum—her identical.""Lay aft, you, Harry, and relieve tbe man at the wheel," roared Trollope, with a voice of tempest "My notion's this," said Mr. Matthews. "I thongbt of it while in the boat, and it's confirmed by what Miss Mansel overheard. They'll sail the Qaeen to some rock or island in a little visited sea, and after getting the treasnre ashore they'll wreck the ship. Meantime the brigantine they talked of will be in attendance or expected. If in attendance, I reckon they'll transfer the chests at once to her. There'll be jealousy and suspicion, and throats may be cut." The commander rolled up his eyes hopefully. "It is avast sum," continued the mate. "Two bandred and eighty thousand pounds' worth of ore and dust It sickens my soul to think of such a conspiracy, and we so blind—Benson so blind." A number of the fellows sprang up the ladder and congratulated Shannon, while the two seamen went the round of the deck, coiling up the ropes. "This is a little ship after tbe Queen," said she. "Where is this fine wind driving us?" Trollope stopped and whistled. "By George!" said he, "we've forgotten old Benson." The fellow looked idly a minute; then putting his pipe into his breeches pooket came along to leeward very slowly. ' 'It's the girl who was lost, bet your blooming boots," exclaimed a third seaman of the Queen. "See that big knob there, Caldwell?" said Masters, smacking his lips with affected admiration. "How many murders could a man get done for the worth of that lump?" " We are bound to a part of the ocean where there are rocks and shoals whose position is improperly shown on the charts. That done," continued the commander, "we shall then proceed to survey certain islands. We then return to Sydney. We are at present off our course." "No ceremony, I hope," said Daveuire."Shall we break out the gold?" said Trollope. "Don't you mean to work?" said Trollope, approaching him fiercely. Mr. Matthews dropped laboriously on to the deck. Instantly Tom called out: "An old sailor, a gentle toss, and tbe song of the bubbles he makes shall be his requiem," exclaimed Captain Trollope."Certainly," exclaimed Davenire in his towering way. "The sooner the better. Here's Masters all at once taken a spirit crushing notion into his headgot a fit of it like a sickness, all about Hankey being made a fool of by Poole." "Oh, yes, I said I mean to work," answered the Dane. "I'm not going to tear my shirt We're all gallus pirates "There's Miss Mansel, sir." "Rat you and your moralizing!" answered Caldwell, turning his gloomy eyes slowly upon the other. Then oheer up, Sam; don't let your spirits go down. There's many a geU that I know well who's waiting for you In the town. The mate was slowly walking aft to the commander when, bearing these words and seeing the lady, be baited as thoogb withered by a lightning dart Miss Mansel made an effort to approaoh the astonished man, exclaiming, "It is I indeed, Mr. Matthews—Miss Mansel —none other." "A very pretty fancy," said Mt. Weston. "Shall we bury him in his hat?" On a sadden Da venire, breaking into a grant of a laugh as though some fancy bred of the song had tiokled him, oroned tkedeck: "Bosh!" shonted Hankey. justify the second mate." "Let's 4 'Shut him up and nail him down and try the next," said Captain Trollope.So a smart lookout was kept for any shadow of ship blotting the stars of the nonzon 01 mat nan nigm, tut nuj uiu® or crimson ball of distress spangling the dusk with a sailing oonstellation. But nothing showed, and when the dawn broke the sea stretched a bare breast, ■allow to tbe sulphur light northeast "Itwill be bard upon me," said Miss Mansel, "to return to Sydney. I have no money. The little I bad was in my box in the Queen. All that I possess in clothes, books, keepsakes and other things was in that ship. I suppose they are lost forever." "And make a Quaker of a churchman?" said Masters, who, speaking those words, paced off to the wheel and stood beside Shannon, looking at the ?ard. He sprang off the poop and others followed. Trollope and Davenire were detained by a lond shout from the wheel. This was dona One after another the chests or cases were opened and examined and carefully reclosed, their own spikes and screws securely resealing them. Every box was filled with nuggets or dust. "Oar find this morning don't seem to have given yon muoh soul, Sam," said he. "The chaps want to sing you into sweeter spirits. Why do you bother yourself and as about the women in the boats? Too don't kill this sort of oattle with paper knives, do you?" "I'm all right. What's wrong with me? I was glad enough this morning. One can't keep one's jollity fixed as though it was a weathercock you can nail," said Masters, folding his arms and turning his back upon the sea to lean against the rail. "Well, I am babbledI" whispered Mr. Matthews to himself in one of the dee nest breaths his lungs ever fetched, and he went straight np to her. "It isn't your ghost then, hey?" he exclaimed, taking her band with a half note, almost comic, of blnbbering in bis voice. "Well," said be, so astonished that his eyes met in a squint as he looked at her, "this, to be sure, is among the miracles. Yon here 1 'Tis enough," said he, turning upon the commander and letting go the girl's band, "to make the whole previous business feel like a nightmare out of which the second mate's going to call me to stand my watch." "I say," bawled Mr. Bnrn, swinging bis stont shape off the spokes, "are you beggars going to break out the gold?" "It's deuoed unlucky that this wind sboald be heading us," said Trollope, waking out of some moody fit of musing and addressing Davenire, who leaned to leoward next him. "If it draws another point more easterly, we muff 'bout ship" "We shall not allow snch considerations to be a trouble to as," said the commander stoutly, a brave smile making bis wide sunset of face as engaging as if be were handsome, "on so bright a day as this, and with the memory of your deliverance as green as yesterday morning can let it be." He smote his forehead and struck his thighs and gave way to many other gestures expressive of helpless wrath. "We are pretty well off for small arms, I think, Mr. Stnbbins?" said the commander. "Yes." When the last of the boxes had been examined and carefully reclosed, every man Jack of the men went over them again, beudfag, peering, probing with eye and nose, so to speak, to make sore that the lids were as safely fastened and each case as taatly iron girt as when it had been lifted oat of its plaoe below. Then one by one the cases were lifted and conveyed into the cabin that had been ooonpied by the Stores. Here tbey were stowed and secured with a sailorly touch against all risk of fetching away. "I'll step on deck," said Boldock, "and see what my people are about. Meanwhile I reoommend you to lie down and sleep.'' "I must have a hand in that job," Vied Burn. "There are too many of us," exjtlaimed Davenire in a low voice of disgust"The natives'll find as well off enough, I dare say, sir," answered the boatswain, with a grin. "When are the watches to be settled?'' said Davenire. "About a dozen of muskets, I think, and twice that number of cutlasses?" CHAPTER XVII THE WATCHES. The Queen, heeled by the breeze, was slanting south close hauled. On the far sea astern winked a tiny star of sail— "Hi,there! One of your sailors lay aft to the wheel for a spell. D'you hear?" sang out Trollope to the two seamen, who were close togotner coiling ropes over pins. She hnng her bead, touched by tbe rebuke, and her eyes filled with tears. "Whenever the men like. Suppose we say now, at once," exclaimed Trollope. "It's not the custom, I believe, but it'll be convenient in our case, for some must keep the deck while the rest cat, and a watch should be set" "Ton might like to bear me tell an extraordinary story of tbe sea," said tbe commander in bis deep and plaintive voice. "AH bands should have tbe news. It may engender some deviation. Bat if we can recover a noble ship, the lives of a number of passengers and a little mountain of nuggets from tbe remorseless clutches of ten broken down gentlemen whose ideas of humanity are exemplified by their conduct toward the lady whom we picked up yesterday morning, all bands of us, Mr. Stnbbins, will deserve well of our country." "That's about it sir." Davenire thrust his immense hands into bis breeches pockets and listened to the singing with a half smile and a faoe crimsoned by the light. The Dane's posture was instantaneously mutinous. It is wonderful with what eloquence a sailor can express his feelings with his figure. With a silent swing of the head he can raiso the darkest of the passions aft! He can be speechlessly insolent to the very temptation of murder. William hung baok a moment, then came along on sturdy legs and took the wheel. "Was that aof" yelled the Dane, whipping out hi* sheath knife. one of the boats; the others were out of sight The hour was five bells in the morning—half past 6. He beckoned to Caldwell and called to the rest Mr. Johnson stepped out of the galley to listen and observe what passed. Eight of the ten assembled on the poop, Johnson being forward and Shannon at the wheeL "I am heartily sorry for you, sir," said Boldock. "Mr. Hardy, let the men get the stuff out of that boat and hoist her aboard. Stow her forward. She is a good boat. And you will tell me that they have seized tbe Queen, sir?" said he, turning to Mr. Matthews. now aboard here. I can be hanged along with the rest of you without a-gitting more share of the plunder than what's in promises." "Siuoe Shannon didn't walk in his sleep," continued Masters, "what on earth was his object in going to the flying jib boom end and howling there? On the very ere of the attempt—it wight have been death to us." It was plain that the ten men had prearranged their duties, for as the ship washed onward, her yards handsomely braced forward, bowlines out, jib and staysail sheets well aft, everything suggesting the mariner's band, you saw Mr. Walter Shannon in his shirt sleeves at the wheel hanging by the spokes in a sort of dodging posture, shooting quiok looks out of bis full eyes at the weather leeches; the wake ran away from him straight as lines of railroad—indeed, he steered well. Also you saw Captain Henry Trollope walking the weather side of the poop He paced as Captain Benson used to, but he lacked the skipper's nautical looks. He stepped like a sentry whose box stood by; his large mustache and erect carriage gave him too military an air for the satisfactory equipment of a deck whose familiar oocupant bad rolled to and fro on Benson's curved legs and who had dangled arms like empty sleeves. Also in the door of the galley The last man stepped oat, Captain Trollope looked the door, and, swinging the key on bis forefinger, exclaimed: "Go aft and take that wheel or I'll kill you," said Trollope, with his eyes on fire. "Now, lads, I hope I've advised wisely. Look now. In a moment of disaster all this gold means but a jump, fiat in the hold where it was—hey?" "You're always right, Trollope," exclaimed Hankey, palling the wool oat of his whiskers, "fiat suppose the other oabin keys should happen to fit?" "Lay aft, you two men!" Bang out Trollope to the seamen, who loafed with an air of discontent and uncertainty in the forecastle door. "We're going to divide ourselves into watches, and want you with us. " "What a fool yon are!" exclaimed Daren Ire, stiffening his figure and looking Masters fnll in the faoa "What do yon mean by that?" said Masters, letting his arms fall. "Was that so?" yelled the Dane, whipping out his sheath knife and leaping three feet high as he sprang backward."Rose upon us this morning and sent every mother's son adrift," replied the mate, with a bewildered look at Miss Mansel. "Bat bow do you happen to be here?" "Nothing off, my lad," said Mr.- Burn in a cheerful, oozy voice, and he bowled forward, gaining the quarter deck by tbe steps in a couple of jumps. He then gave the boatswain tbe story. Xr. Stnbbins listened, with a faoe doll with wonder, bead bang as be trudged fay the commander's side, month open, eyes askew, lifting at tbe jolly, hot flaming countenance beside him. "It's about the rommiest looking job m ever I've heard tell of,"said the boatswain. "Passengers tool Cuddy a-doing tbe forecastle work 1 My, now! If Jack don't mind bis eye, he'll lose his reputation. Ten bash nippers of a oompany and not a sailor of tbe ship in the job! Well, all lean say is let Jack mind his eye." "We're too few for "em," said William, moving at once, "and they means to reward us." Trollope was upon him in a heart beat The torment of his iron grip dropped the knife out of the Dane's grasp. The thing flew overboard like a gleam of light through the open rail at Trollope's kick, and now it was for Harry to bowl for mercy. He was not spared. "I have bad to handle you foreigners before!" shouted Captain Trollope as he kicked and beat the man from one part of the deck to the other. "This is what is good for you! The wages you sign for starve the English seaman 1 The British forecastle is full of you! You will vat any beastly meat and drink any beastly drink, and when you have saved English money enough you go homel" The big man grinned a grin thai quickly vanished. The bright light lay dnll upon the wine glaze in his eye, but he waa by no manner of means tipsy. The young lady bad sunk into a chair, and tbe commander and Mr. Matthews stood beside her. Captan Trollope descended with cold dignity. Some of the men started and looked strangely around tbe cuddy. "You'll find it a tight jam of wool," said he, "and no machinery to lift it with. Off with those hatches anyway." "Try 'em," growled Da venire. "By Peter!" muttered the Dane, following in bis wake. "I'd not stir a hand for tbe villain if it wasn't for that tam big scoundrel who is stronger than any traveling giant that ever I saw in my native laud or elsewhere, and who would smash me like a cockroach soon as look at me." The keys bad been replaced when the people were liberated to enter the boats. They were quiokly removed and tried. Not one key was like another, and tbe men breathed again. "Tney called me from my cabin, caught me by tbe throat gagged me and dropped me into the sea," answered tbe girl, beginning to tremble. "There's something happened," said Masters, "which Burn and I of all the fellows know nothing about. I insist on my rights as one of yon. What's this secret?" The ten gathered about the main hatch. It was a moment awful with expectation, suspense and crowding sensations. They lifted tbe tarpauling and raised the hatch cover, and all drew to the edge and stared with furious anxiety. Tbe wool came high, but not flush with the hatch. A number of water casks were 6towed on top of it, athwart The men bobbed and peered. "Who did it?" said Matthews. "You'll find that poor little beggar with the bunged eye dead at the wheel," said Burn. "Give me the key, and I'll relieve him while he has life to crawl forward to die." "I believe—I could not swear—it was Mr. Davenire and Mr. CaldwelL " "Ah! What?" rejoined Da venire with a slow, exasperating smile. "Was Miss Mansel made away with by any of yon?" He led her to the folding chair. Bat this, fortunately for the commander's sensibility, be did not observe. He was gazing earnestly at the sea ahead. "We found ber floating," said tbe commander. ' 'Such things bave been beard of, but a jockey would call them top weight among the preservations." When they got upon the poop, ten men stood together. Trollope removed himself a little way and said: "The two seamed shall know how it stands with us. I'm captain, not because I'm a sailor, bat because I'm a navigator." The commander ottered three or (oar "ha, ha's!" like deliveries through a ■peaking trumpet. Trollope, grinning behind bis mustaches, said with a glance at tbe cabin clook, "It happens to be your watch below." The rousing chorus of "Cheer Up, Sam," swept through the skylights and died oat over the sea in the wind. "It would be a prodigious satisfaction," said he, "if yon could recollect the name of the island. Was it"— and he named a great number of the islands of the Polynesian groups, including reefs and barriers. "Ob, the rogues, the wretches, tbs accursed villains I" cried Mr. Matthews, turning an enraged faoe toward the sea over the bow. "What did that fellow Poole say?" exclaimed Burn. "And it ain't known, I allow, where they're going to carry the ship to, sir, if they sucoeed in seizing her?" said Stubbins. "What right have yon to question me in this fashion, pray?" said Davenire, with a dull flash in the glaze of his eye like a signal of lightning and storm in a hot oorner of heaven. "Whatever happened benefited you anyhow— left you with • free oonscienoe and the privilege of finding your share of the booty without any rust of blood upon it Hey I Ain't that enoogh for yon?" He rolled his big form as though he was going to throw himself into a fighting posture. "Ah good a sailor as that little obap there, Trollope," said Da venire, pointing to the Dana "It's down there somewhere," said Hankey, and quick as lightning putting his hands on the ooamings he dropped on to the wool. Johnson, Westoc and Masters followed. All the while he was shouting these words he was thumping and kioking Harry most unmercifully. The Dane's nose streamed, and one oye was sunk in a great liver colored swelling, when Trollope rushed him, breathless, to the wheel. "Is it the port watch that's oome round again?" said Caldwell sourly. "Give me the key. I'll take the wheel" "How long have you been adrift?" said the commander. "The lady says she heard them speak of an island. They pronounced the name. Unhappily she cannot recollect it; also she heard them speak of a brigantine and one Saunders. That's intelligible The vessel will rendezvous off the island to receive the booty out of the ship, which the scoundrels will probably wreck." "Stop till I brag, sir," exclaimed Harry with a shrug, very pale and very uneasy as he gazed at the bard, resolved faces about him. He received it, pocketed it and disappeared."It was that of a person. It was—it was"— She strained her memory with closed eyes and then said, "It will come." "Sinoe 6 o'clock this morning." "Where are the others?" asked the girl. "Lend's a hand to shift these casks," shouted Hankey. "If it's anywhere, it's behind here." "I don't know. We were four boats. Poole, who was to leeward, slacked his sheet and went away, and the others followed, thinking, I dare say, that he had a sail in sight. The boats can't be far off." "Mr. Davenire is mate," continued Trollope,"and Mr. Shannon"—he looked round at the wheel and Shannon nodded, hearing him—"will bead the starboard watch. Every man stands his trick saving myself. Should Mr. Shannon have the helm, I stand bis watob. Now, gentlemen, will yon divide yourselves, or shall I choose out two watches?" "Stand you here and obey orders!" he roared in the beaten wretch's ear. "Flourish another knife, and we'll drop you alive overboard!" CHAPTER XIX. THIS DUEL. "The necessity for your remembering it," said the commander, bowing and smiling with an air of fine, old world, quarter deck gallantry, "will give me the best excuse in the world for keeping you on board the brig." A merry company went to dinner that day on board the Queen. None merrier was probably afloat in any hour of that year. Eight seated themselves. Captain Trollope insisted upon keeping the deok. Caldwell remained at the wheel. Davenire jumped into the bold. The casks were seized and rolled to leeward. They had been the midship casks of the row, and abaft them you would have seen the shaft of the mainmast but for a sort of bulkhead of fresh white plank solidly affixed to a floor. It looked as the men saw it, a bulkhead. Hankey dropped on bis knees and crawled into the gloom. In a minute he shouted. His ■bout rang loud and triumphant, "I know the law. I will have my revenge. I need but to wait," muttered Harry, trembling from head to foot with a sort of drunken shivering. "You should have come afore," said William, and that slow and sturdy inan, bestowing uo more sympathy on the Dane than that remark oonveyed, trudged forward and was presently to be seen smoking bis pipe on the forecastle, watching the doings aft, and no doubt wondering when they were going to cook some dinner for him. "It'll fc*a wonderful piece of order, ing, sijffitoaid Mr. Stubbins after a pause, ''something proper to make a man thoughtful in his prayers, if so be It should happen that the young lady the men think drowned dead soould be the binstrument of delivering them into the bands of justice." "If those ten men seize the bark, sir,' •aid Mr. Hardy, "they'll surely not attempt to carry her round the Horn." When Boldock heard this, he went below and returned with a binocular glass, which he gave to a man, who climbed with it on to the main royal yard and searched the bright, shivering waters in all directions, but he oould see nothing to report "Did Caldwell do it?" She glanoed at her dressing gown and looked with some oonfusion away. "Go and ask him, yon"— But whatever tbe ugly word was to have been Da venire swallowed it down, contented himself with looking it and strolled off to windward with a haughty gait of oonsoions booziness. Then, lurching aft, be planted himself alongside William, on legs wide apart, and seemed to listen to the singing in the cuddy. Before they sat down some of the gentlemen saw to the wants of the two seamen forward. Burn and Weston carried to the forecastle a quantity of meat and ship's bread, some cabin delioaoies and two bottles of champagne. They found the brace of sailors in the gloomy forecastle sitting close beside each other. The Dane held his head in his hand and was evidently in pain, and William was saying that everything must oome to • hend—even this blazed voyage wasn't a-going to last forhever. For his part he thought it not unlikely, now them ooreys had found what they bad embarked for to steal, that they'd get the boat over and scuttle the ship, leaving them aboard to tell no tales. Thus was he murmuring when Barn and Weston entered with their burden at good cheer. The two seamen sat quiet, astounded by the sight of the wine. Then William imiled, bat no determinable expression could visit Harry's plowed op face. " Why," said he, reading her thoughts and beginning to strut up and down within easy chatting distance, "if I oould get hold of their place of rendezvous, we might fall in with the Queen herself. Then all your property would be restored to yon. We may presume there would be somebody on board fit to take obarge of the vessel to England." "Choose us out," said Caldwell. So to the port watch there went Mark Davenire, Dike Caldwell, Peter Johnson, Isaac Cavendish and William. The starboard watch was composed of Walter Shannon, Paul Hankey, Patrick Weston, Alexander Burn, Sampson Masters and Harry. Trollope, by heading the port watch, balanced the working strength of the two parties, In fact, the ship was as strongly manned as she had been under Benson, saving that these men were by no moans all of them sailors. "A boat is little, and the sea is big," said Boldock. "All the people may be aboard a vessel whose topmast cloths are just out of sight of that fellow up there, and which, therefore, has no more existence to us than anything lying or not lying in the river Thames at this moment," "It's all right, bulliesl just as Poole described it It's no bulkhead, but a big locker. There's no door. You'll b&ve to break it open. Fetch hatchets—bring the right sort of tools along." Masters watched him. Presently he walked to the foremost skylight and looked down at tbe fellow sitting at the table. His face was deadly white with passion, bat it was not fear. The first nan his eyes fell upon sitting immediately under the open frame was Mr. Dike Caldwell. They were singing some other chorus just then, and Caldwell, with wine reddened eyes lifted to the skylight and red lips stretching and gaping as he sang, was keeping time to the air with an empty glass. When he saw Masters looking down, he nndged Weston, and both stared up, continuing to sing and grinning. Masters walked to tbe oompanion hatch. "They'll make for that island whose name the young lady unhappily can't remember," said the commander. "If it'» put to, I'm done," shouted the Dane. "Touching it'll be hanging." joo saw the figure of Mr. Peter Johnion calmly leaning. He conversed with Mr. Paul Hankey and Mr. Alexander Burn. He was stripped to bis shirt, his sleeves were rolled above bis elbows, smoke from tbe galley chimney blew merrily over tbe rail; in a word, Mr. Peter Johnson was cook of the ship, and had already commenced his duties by lighting the galley fire, filling the coppers and attending to the calls of tbe breakfast hour. "If those ten men seize the ship," said the girl, "what will they do with the passengers?" Weston and Caldwell banded down axes, hatchets, a heavy hammii' and other tools, and Davenire crawled with them to Hankey. Trollope regain* d tbe deok and stood at the edge of the hatch, where be might command tbe ship, but where, too, he was able to see what passed below. The.rest of the fellows stood in a body on the wool,  a huddle of seven staring men, wild with eagerness, torn with impatience. "Look here, you fellows," said Trollope, going to tbe brass rail and holding ud his sextant. "I want to work out my sightB. I suppose you'd like me to have a knowledge of the ship's situation? Will all hands of you come on deck and leave tboee boxes alone till I've done with my figures?" "In that case," said Mr. Hardy, "they may shift their helm and cross our hawse within hailing distance." "Hum 1" said the commander. "If we are to accept their manner of dealing with you as a specimen of their method and skill—then if those ten fellows have successfully risen—I would not give muoh for any lives in their power." He spoke with his usual deep note of remonstrance, *nd Mr. Matthews looked at him. "What good would that be?" exclaimed the commander. Mr. Hardy leered at tbs gun. "A nine pounder I" said Boldock, folding bis arms, "Did Captain Benson take charge of the ladies?" said Miss ManseL "Toss for first watch on deck," said Trollope. This was a request that was made an imperious command of by general necessity. Every man was interested in tbe navigation of the ship. Tbey all came tumbling out of the bold on to tbe poop. Peter Johnson alone remained forward. To illustrate the keenness of their sense of honor tbey all went right aft, as far away from the chests as the deck of tbe ship would permit, and, gathering about the wheel and observing the Dane's condition and hearing the story from Davenire, they entertained themselves with 100 jokes at the expense of tbe cowed little seaman, who dare not quit his post, yet could scarcely command the helm for fear. vaocing one leg and eying the gun n the attitude Napoleon I is usually t - tared in. "He is dead," said Mr.  with a faoe of utter gloom. William grinned; even Harry seemed to find something to interest hint in all this. "You don't think"—cried the girl, with a Shudder, and then stopping while she looked up at him with eyes of dismay and horror, her figure half starting from its resting posture. "Murdered!" exclaimed the girl in a light gasp. "Let fly, Mark," bawled Burn, and crash at the instant bounded tbe shary iron in Davenire's mighty grip. Indeed tbey had no choice. The wool rose above the floor to which the bulkheads were secured. They mnst split and hew ana back to come at the inside. It was an extraordinarily stout structure, the planking like a deck, protected by heavy iron clamps at the corners of the square aud by flat iron oars screwed to the wood. Behind and on either hnnd rose tbe wool, a jam ot ghastly dull bales as far aft as tbe steerage bulkhead. It was all wool, saving that space under the main hatch and that corridor created by tbe men to the nugget locker. "Weight enough there to bring down • nast, sir," said the mate. "Why, no, I believe not. I'm willing to give the demons the benefit of that doubt," answered the mate. "As I was stepping over the side I asked where the captain was, and the fellow Trollope, who was standing in the gangway with the scoundrel Davenire, answered quietly, 'He's dead.' 'Shot, I suppose?' I said, with a look at him. 'I declare, by my soul before God,' cried Trollope so savagely in earnest that bis face blackened with the blood that rose into his h(«d, 'that when I told him we had seized the ship be dropped dead of a fit upon his cabin floor.' I believe him," said Mr. Matthews. "Benson was the man to go off so." Tbe great form of Mark Davenire stood under the break of the poop. Alongside him was tbe handsome, dissipated looking, worn Mr. Sampson Masters. Tbey constantly gazed aloft to judge if all was right with the sails, and tbeir talk concerned the shining fabrio towering in spires over their beads. On the forecastle were to be seen Mr. Dike Caldwell and Mr. Isaac Cavendish. Tbey trudged to and fro, often glancing in tbe direction of tbe starlike sail. Caldwell carried his hands deep set in his pockets and made a surly figure as be stepped with bis head slightly hnng. "Heads for the port watch," called Davenire, pulling out a half crown. He spun the coin ten feet high, caught it with a smack of fists that sent a shudder through 'Arry the Dane, and it was for tbe port watch to keep tbe deck. "The Queen's a witch; she sails two feet to our one, man; it would be touch and sway with ber while you were trying to bring thi»t piece to bear. Our only ohanoe in that way lies in blood having been shed aboard—in fact, Mr. Hardy, in the ship being thrown int oonfusion by the demon of carnage. She comes to a stand head to wind all shaking. In that condition we may hope to sight her; in none other." "I think it may end in your discovering," said the commander witn a smile, "that you are the best off of them alL " "Here it is, what they oall fizz. It'll blow that eye of yours open, 'Arry. Cheer op, my lads, and don't forget to bless us when you're toasting us," Mr. Born cheerfully said, and then they went back to the merry dinner table in the cuddy. "What do yon want with me that yon stare like that?" said Caldwell, looking op at Masters, who had walked to his side. Then turning to Weston, he said very audibly, "Has he gone mad?" "There were several ladies." Plenty for the day was to be found in the steward's pantry, and to a bandsome meal got out of that plenty the starboard watch sat down, Trollope in Captain Benson's chair, Peter Johnson, despite bis being in tbe port watch, in Mr. Matthews' familiar place, while Davenire watched the ship above, and the two detained seamen sat in the galley drinking hot coffee and eating rashers of bacon and fine white biscuit "You are a lady, but that did not seem to appeal to them,'' said Boldock in a deep, lamenting voioe. . "It was understood," said Masters in a voioe so strained as to be a pain to the ear with its tension of nerve and stretch of passion, "when we engaged in this adventure that there was to be no bloodshed. Caldwell, yon murdered a girl. Barn," he almost Bhrieked, "I have found it out from Davenire. That's the secret The rest of 'em know it This villain murdered a poor helpless girL" "The wretches, to throw me into the sea, gagged and almost choked! What had I done?" Davenire took Trollope's chair. No one appeared to regret that Mr. Caldwell oontinued to steer the ship. It was a little before 11 o'clook the same morning when the sailors witnessed a sight novel indeed aboard the Wellesley. First of all Mr. Hardy came up the companion hatch hugging an old folding chair to bis heart He opened and set it down in the great rolling sbsdows east by the trysail; then through the skylight reoeived a couple of pillows, which he placed in the chair with oeremony, patting and smoothing them. A little later the figure of the By and by Trollope came on deck. "Is it all right with tbe ship?" was the shout The men brought up wine and drank freely, but not one man got drunk. They sat long, Davenire alone going on deck to relieve Trollope, while William was bawled for that Caldwell might get some dinner. They sang songs, they told stories, they recited poetry. Hankey got up on a chair and was diverting bis audience with some theatrical exhibition when the ship lurched, and he fell upon the table among the dishes and wineglasses. Tbe crash was stupendous, and the man was slightly out "Some one call tbe Dane to ofear this mess up," said Trollope. Boldock paused in his walk and stared at the ocean in Bilence. Miss Mansel's words had roused the spirit of roast beef in him. She saw his face hard, with that heart of England which no nation can resist at sea. It was the working, burning, triumphing face of the boarder who waits for the instant of collision to spring into the chains. While they trudged Mr. Weston came oat of the foreoastle through the small hatch, and calling across to Oaldwell, "I think those fellows mean to give trouble," walked aft, often looking up at the ship and continuing so to gaze, as though the whole interest of the voyage now lay in the sails and rigging, till be gained the side of Trollope, with whom he entered into conversation. Not the stout bottom of the ship herself sheathed with 24 ounce metal could long have withstood the resistless hurricane blows dealt by the excited men. The chips flew, the plauks crashed, the seams yawned, crackled, and with iron band Davenire pried tbem open. By the time the two men bad beaten nut the foremost bulkhead they were ex- He gave them one of his stern military nods. Just as he showed himself Johnson, with his head thrust through the galley door, shouted, "Any of you chaps going to get the cabin table ready for dinner?" "He had a full neck and bis veins ran in fire," said Bollock. "I knew bim. A good sailor." CHAPTER XVI1L THE GOLD. The ship had broken off three points while the gentlemen of the starboard watch breakfasted. When the port watch came on deck after eating, Trollope bawled the order along for all bauds to put the ship about. Shannon undertook this task. Trollope pulled at the ropes with the others. There was a tine sailing breeze. The soft foam broke in clouds from the weather bow, and the Queen was slanting nimbly through the sea, exhibiting some noble qualities of looking up, and, spite of bowlines, of preserving a ruled line of wake, snatching, too, at this hour a speed of eight knots out of an antagonism of wind that was choking all life of legs though not of motion out of a certain squab, square ended brig, rolling leagues out of sight astern. In ailenoe Caldwell sprang to his feet and, lurching back, aimed a blow at Masters. The heavy fist oaoght the young fellow on the side of the head and knocked him, with a stupid look on his white face, against a oabin bulkhead. But for the swing of the ship at the instant of that blow it would have been fair between the eyes and a crusher. His nostril* dilated with thought aa be stood in silence watching the proceedings on the main deck. Tackles bad been got on the yardarms, the provisions and liqnor had been handed out of the boat, which rose and sank alongside ready for hoisting. "I sincerely trust," said he, breaking with a jerk of head out of his fighting mood, "that you will remember the name of the island or that we shall fall in with the Queen. I bave seen a few men hanged." "I vote we eat before we look," says Masters. A groan of dissent attended this. Caldwell, gazing gloomily and contemptuously at the speaker, said, "I thought you were the one of us all who doubted the existence of the gold." oommander uprose, backing and staggering aa he assisted the young lady to mount the steps. She moved slowly. She was weak and needed the help of his stiOBg and gentle hand. She came oat of the hatch into the flying sunshine, with a frown at the brilliance, but a smile that showed her white teeth as she drank in the liberal rush of wind that whistled in her pale lips. The sailor* forward stared. They C had wen her lifted out of the sea, a drenched and streaming body, ghastly with it* gag and black lines of brine glued hair, and now they beheld a fine figure of a young woman clad in crimson with a rope of colors round her waist Her hair was ooiled down upon her head, and its abundance was manifest in spite of the round, white canvas cap that gave a new character to her eyes, enlarging them and deepening their soft, luminous glow. Yet poor Miss Margaret Mansel looked exceedingly pale, and any one could have seen that she was fresh from a violent shock or a dangerous illness. She had been admired by some of the gentlemen aboard the Queen, particularly by Mr. Masters. She was without beauty, hut her features held a grace which brought them near to it. Ou board the Queen she had chiefly pleased by her pensive expression, her habitual down and thoughtful regard, so that the faint bloom Cmq her cheeks was often shaded by the long lashes of the upper lids. They had also considered her teeth and figure unusually good, and her hair very fine. Jiausted. Davenire swaying by the arm of Hankey, both as they stood in their shirts drenched as though they had just been hooked out of the sea, peered into the gloomy hollow their axes had revealed, and both beheld a number of large chests of different sizes packed one on top of another and secured by ohains. On a sudden up through the fore scuttle there sprang on the forecastle the lively shape of Harry the Dane. He was followed by the slow man, William. Caldwell and bis companion stopped when tbey saw these men. Harry looked at them for a moment or two, then aft, as though uncertain at which end of the ship to Jet fly the oontents of his mind. He then roared oat with several mutinous gestures: His gaze went thoughtfully to his weather main yardarm, and there rested, as though he considered height and scope of fall. His sight was still aloft, when a cry from the fore topmast croastrees made him start. "What are they going to do with the Queen, Mr. Matthews?" said Miss Mansel.Harry came along with a little briskness—it might have been fear, it might have been the champagne. Whatever it was big legs were heartened and his motions exhibited onoe more the proper and essential nimbleness of the sea. He had bound a red handkerchief over his eye and stood a moment in the cuddy door, gazing at the festive scene. He saw many bottles and much broken «lass, and when his appearanoe as he swayed in the ouddy door was greeted with a laugh he oonclnded that all hands within were drunk. This exactly was what the oompany supposed of him, and the merrymakers rather fancied him in oonsequence. "Look, then, and be shot," answered Masters, blushing with a sudden rush of temper. "I'll"— He was walking off, tbeu with a snap of his fingers said: "No, hang me! I'll be in it with the rest of you," and came back to the little crowd. "None of that; not among gentlemen; not in this time of luok," yelled Trollope, seeing Masters pull off his ooat. "There's wine in thia Sleep over it Turn in, Masters. You're no match for that man whose soul in wrath is a fiend's. Turn in." "I have no notion The moment the last boat got away they trimmed sail with the smartness of old hands and stood away about south-southeast." "Sail hoi" "She is scarcely out of sight," said the commander, straining bis vision into the compass bearing named by the "There it is plain enough," gasped Hankey. "Let tbe others come and look. I must drink or die." "Where away?" bawled Mr. Hardy, running forward and leering. "Shall we bring up the boxes one by one and examino them here?'' said Davenire.He crawled into tbe light of day, followed by Davenire, who, merely saying to the others, "You can see it for yourself, "pulled himself on to the deck. Then he and Hankey went into the cuddy for a deep drink of brandy and water. As they entered the door they heard the sound of hurrahing in the hold. Breathing hard and fast, with a look of hellish malice in his scowling black faoe, Oaldwell was waiting to plant a second blow, waiting till the other had freed his arms. The rest, seeing what was to happen, sprang from their seats, and, clamorous with wine and good intentions, tumbled between the two. "Broad on the lee bow," answered the voioe high in the song of the wind. "What's me and William been kep' aboard this ship for? I ask you two gents what's me and William been kep' for?" "I see her, *ir," thundered fioldock "She is a very fast ship, sir," exclaimed Mr. Matthews, with a melancholy shake of his bead. "But what in the name of mercy was their object in throwing you overboard?" "That'll do, won't it, Trollope?" said Hankew "When looked at, where are they to be stowed?'' said Born. He lifted the immense brass telesoope off it* brackets and resting it on the rail took aim at the working breast of soft dark water* on the port bow. Tbe men, on the whole, had a good idea of their stations. It was plain they had talked in Benson's time over this little business of boating ship; again and again with tongue and eye they must have worked out this evolution; they went to their places quickly, and all were ready after a few sharp oalla of correction. Mr. Peter Johnson, as oook, worked the fore sheet; William and 'Arry, both men scarcely knowing how to look with surprise and amusement, were, as experienced seamen, placed where knowledge was most .wanted. Mr. Shannon took up his position at the head of the weather poop ladder, and, looking round in the direction of the wheel, motioned to Mr. Alexander Burn to put his helm down. "Because we want you," said Mr. Caldwell, looking at him darkly. "It'll shift if unlashed. The boxes'U burst. The dust'll run like sand. Let Trollope be boss, Burn; let Trollope be boss," said Shannon. "It ia no ship," said he, "but a boat with a shoulder of mutton sail. One of the Queen's boat8 for a million) If so, the ten man have seized her, and where ia *be?" Miss Mansel told him the whole story. He listened with an air of despondency, often sighing. "Aye,that's all right," shouted Harry the Dane. "That's your way of thinking. But I'm a respectable sailor, and so's William, and d'you think we're to be convarted into blooming pirates, with the sartinty of being hanged if e'er a man-of war should fall in with us, simply because you want us?" "This isn't the highway, Dike," shouted Cavendish. The men's joy was indeed unbounded. In those chests lay a fortune for every rogue of them all. "Bear a band, 'Arry, you Dane," cried Trollope, "and bring a bucket and a brush and get rid of this mess, and you shall have more wine for swiftness and for laughter, for the good of your eye and for the ease of your aches." "It was the captain's fault," he exclaimed, breaking out quickly, with something of fever in his utterance. "He had reason to suspect the ten men; his arms chest had been robbed; the yowling of the midnight joker at the flying jib boom end was, to suspicion, a good full hint of what was coming. Why didn't Captain Benson have them all seized? Never a man, never a passenger of the ship but would have stood by him bad they made a difficulty on tbe vessel's arrival." "See here," says Trollope, taking up his station beside the hatchway, "two of you will hand out the chests. Suppose we say you, Davenire, and you, Hankey. You've got the muscle for that sort of breaking out work." "Clear out, Masters, and oool your blood at the head pump," bawled Shannon.Eight of them squeezed in the narrow passage to look, and Hankey and-Davenire, coming out of the cuddy refreshed, stood at the edge of the hatch looking down, still breathing deep aud hard. Trollope crawled into the full glow of day and looked up at Davenire. „ "If it's to be business between you, let us remember that we are gentle* men," said Hankey. He handed the glass to Mr. Hardy. Tbe girl rose to look, and the com' mander, seeing she needed support, gave her his arm. "What's the matter?" bawled Captain Trollope, coming to the rail at the break of the poop. The man, understanding in part only, went out and returned with a brush and bucket Some of the gentlemen helped. In a few minutes the table and deck were cleared, and the Dane turned half a bucketful of brilliant broken glass over the sida "There are 18 chests," exolaimed Peter Johnson, leaning over the hatch with his foot on the coamings. "Isn't he a little particular for a man who left his knife in a baker's body at Ballarat and forgot to call for it?" roared Davenire in thunder through the skylight. The brig was thrown up into tbe wind, tbe boat was cleverly sheered alongside, her sail melting into the bottom of her as she rounded, with a seaman in her bow stretching out his hands to catch tbe rope's end. "Here's this little sailor wants to give trouble," Mr. Caldwell called back. "Well," said this giant of the silver chain, "is it all right?" "Look here, you two men," said Captain Trollope, frowning savagely at Harry, "I don't know what you mean by talking of pirates and yardarming." William sounded a harsh laugh deep in his throat. "But understand this—if you turn to quietly and help us to navigate this ship you shall be rewarded by a gift of gold out and away handsomer than Your whole shiy's compuuy woulil "Big aud little," Baid Mr. Cavendish. "Eighteen." "The boxos sound hard as gold ittelf," answered Trollope. "The chains, I expect, are pad looked to the floor, and the wool blocks them." "We're all agreed they're 18," exclaimed Weston. "I counted them four times and made 18." "Come back here now till we make you drunk,'' roared Weston. "He was in love with the girl," said Burn, heavily elbowing Caldwell against the table to keep him off his friend. "You can't fight in this way. He's no matoh for you, Dike.- D'yon know that—that you keep all on squaring? He'll give you satisfaction—hey, Sam? We're all men of honor." Miss Mansel shrieked. "Mr. Matthews," said the courteous, deep voiced oommander, "you are wearied. Pray step below and take some wine and rest," ■-td he led the wav. first calling to Mr. Haray to give an eye to Miss Mansel. At all times bouting ship in a breese of wind is a time and scene of excitement Here was not indeed a full rigged ship, but to the landlubber's eye she was sufflcientlv complicated aloft to make the revolution of her yards, the rush of blocks. (he sweep of braces, "What is it gentlemen, that you want of me?" said Harry, standing in the door. "It i* Mr. Matthews," she said to the commander. ' 'He ia the chief mate of the Queen, and the men are five of tb* crew of the vessel." "File 'em! File 'em!" roared Han- "Good! Let's shove ahead, Trollope," said Caldwell. key, and as quick in action as in idea he ran into the forecastle, overhauled the carpenter's chest and returned with a couple of heavy rasps, which he flung to Trollope. who bauCM t&em iu. iiau- Some of the men jumped, some remained on deck with Trollope. It was agreed that the whole of the boxes should be brought aft before one was "Here you are," said Shannon, holding up a bottle of champagne. "I will take him forward," aaid the Dane,  "Then the ten have stolen the •hip," ■aid Boldonk, _ . .. i ah* was tail and stood up bravely, Mr. Matthews *wk upou »looker and "I'll fisrht, him with my fista. I'll Continued on Steond foot.