Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-12-01
waiting to enter the port and come to

against the bulwarks, stood fresh-look-
ing and rosy-faced youth of eighteen or
nineteen years, who was looking dreamily
through the night in the direction of the
distant land And near this youth stood
the skipper of the schooner, whose gaze
had long been fixed in the same direction.
did | understand you to say, Denny
Breeze, that you expect to find old ac-
quaintances upon this island" asked the
commander, breaking Il long and attentive
silence.
"Yes. Captain Morrison" replied Dem
ny Breeze, drawing nearer to his COM
mander, so as to speak with more OF the
freedom of sonfidence. II refer to the
Reverend Mr. Fortescue, and his daugh-
ter"
They are old acquaintances, thcn?"
''1es, sir. They used to live in the viii
lage where | was born, and their house
was always to me like second home
the only home have had, in fact, since
the death of my mother"
"And the strange disappearance of your
father, you should have added" said Capt.
Morrison, gravely, as he patted the youth
aifectually upon the shoulder 'It is the
strangest thing in creation whatever be.
came OF your father, boy. And yet, in
another sense, there was nothing strange
about it; it was simply another case of
'Iost at sea-" How many life has end
ed to all earthly ken with that brief an
nouncement But what is it that is going
on ashore to the west'ard of us p" he added
as a vast blaze illuminated the horizon in
that quarter Looks like house afre."
"Yes, sir; it does,' assented Denny.
\ol - &, n o{sr afs al
Morrison, after long look through his
glass. And it's curious that none of the
savages who are running about make the
least effort to put it out And now that |
look again, it seems to me that the burn
ing house is exactly in the direction of the
one Mr.. Fortescue occupied"
Denny Breeze turned pale at this sug-
gestion.
"Oh, hope not, sr!' he exclaimed.
at would be horrible if Ellie FOrtescue
should be IN such trouble" said Denny,
after a long look shoreward. There
seems to be "a great deal of jumping and
dancing in the neighborhood of that fire,
and not soul doing anything as can see
toward putting it OUT
Guess Ill 90 below now and get bit
of sleep, MIR. Buncle," said Capt. Morri-
son to his second-mate. Call me If any
thing happens ="
And with this the commander withdrew.
He had scarcely gone when Mr.. Buncle,
the second mate. approached one of the
seamen under his charge. and said:
''Now is our chance, Bill. lfyou'll call
Tom, and the rest for'ard, we'll soon ar
rive at some conclusion. My opinion is
that we had better give the old tub the
slip tonight"
'.But the capn thinks as how the saw
ages may be at this blessed minute kill
ing of the missionaries on the island" re-
monstratcd Bill, energetcally.
IL think we had better see Tom, and
the rest, and make our escape Immediate
ly in the long-boat while the old man is
snoozirgn
Good! Let's move at once"
Half hidden by sundry hamper at the
foot of the main shrouds, Denny Breeze
had listened to every word of this conver-
sation.
"A general desertion, ell ?" said Denny
to himself, as he saw the perfdious sec
ond mate becoming the centre of q little
knot OF eager men forward. This thing
won't work, my tine fellows
He lost no time in entering the cabin
and proceeding to the commanders state
room. The old sea dog was just in the
act of turning in
why, what ails you Denny?' he cried.
"You are pale"
'Perhaps l have reason to be. Mr.
Buncle and good share of the men are
Matching up plot to leave the schooner
in the long boat and make the island ~
"Wha TO uht ?n
Yes, sir--to night. Now is our time
they say, "while the old man is sleep
ing"
The commander slipped noiselessly
from the cabin, and soon his voice was
heard upon the forecaste. The truth was,
he had waited unseen and silent until the
conspirators were about to resort to the
measure of getting out the long boat, and
then he had fallen upon them with all the
stern authority of his position and the still
sterner authority OF his character.
A few minutes only the din lasted, and
then the commander slipped back to the
cabin.
1--we fixed them" he mu,tered as he
rubbed his hands gleefully together. Il
waited till they were getting out the boat,
and then went for them. You can i'm
dDHit loN Duutlc - cut up. MF. Shlll Is
now in charge of things. Here, stew.
ard -
Tie steward Immediately responded to
the call.
Make me my usual iavorite punch.
added the commander, "and let Us have
it while it is hot"
The steward bowed UNDERSTANDINGS,
and set about obeying the order.
After remaining alone in the cabin an
hour or two, musing intently upon all he
had seen in the direction of The island,
Denny Breeze again took his way to the
deck, which seemed to him singuary dark
and deserted.
The wind had freshened notably. \
chopping sea had arisen, and the vessel
was laboring more than she had done for
several days preceding. The heavens
were nearly obscured by mist of inn
pending rain.
"Is it you, Pete p asked voice, as
Denny emerged from the cabin.
Pete was the colored steward.
mo, it's me-the passenger, Mr.
Breeze" answered Denny.
"Oh, it's you, eh?" said the voice,
which our hero now recognized as that of
Mr. Runnla UAll riuht S;r I tbo,nht