Elizabeth daily monitor. [volume] (Elizabeth, N.J.) 1868-1880, 1873-11-26

daughter"
"They are old acquaintance. then p
" Yes, sir They used to live in the
village where L was born, and then
house was always to me like second
home-the only home I have had, in
fact, since the death Of my mother"
"And the strange disappearance OF
your father, yon should have added, -
said Captain Morrison, gravely, as he
patted the youth affectionately upon the
shoulder. " 1t is the strangest thing in
creation whatever became of your faith
er, boy. And yet, in another sense,
there was nothing strange about it it
was simply another case of Lost at
sea ? How many life has ended to
all earthly ken with that brief announce
ment. But what is it that is going on
ashore to the west ard OF us ~ he added,
as vast blaze illuminated the horizon
in that quarter. "Looks like a house
afre."
" Yes, sir it does" assented Denny.
"And it is house afire,'' affirmed
Captain Morrison, after q long look
through his glass. "And it's curious
that none Of the savages who are run
ming about make the least effort to put
it out And now that I look again, it
seems to me that the burning house is
exactly in the direction of the one Mr..
Fortescue occupied"
Denny Breeze turned pale at this sug.
gestion.
"Oh, [ hope not, sir !" he exclaimed.
est would be horrible if Ellie Forte
scue should be in such trouble" said
Denny, after long look shoreward.
There seems to be great deal of
jumping and dancing in the neighbor-
hood of that fire, and not q soul doing
anything as I can see toward putting it
out.
"Guess I'll go below now and get q
bit of sleep, Mr.. Buncle," said Captain
Morrison to his second-mate. "Call
me if anything happens.
And with this the commander with
drew.
He had scarcely gone when Mr.. Bun
Gle, the second mate, approached one Of
the seamen under his charge, and said ::
Now is our chance, Bill. If you'll
call Tom, and the rest for ard, we'll soon
arrive at some conclusion. My opinion
is that We had better give the old tub
the slip tonight.
"But the cap'n thinks as how the
sayages may be at this blessed minute q
killing Of the missionaries on the is
land" demonstrated Bill, theoretically.
" think we had better see lom, and
the rest, and make our escape imme
diately i'll the long-boat while tho old
man is snoozing."
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 con
yersation.
ga general desertion, ell ?" said Den
ny to himself, as he saw the perfdious
secend-mate becoming the centre of a
little knot of eager men forward. "This
thing won't work, my fine fellows"
He lost no time in entering the cabin
and proceeding directly to the comman-
der's state-room. The old sea.dog was
just in the act of " turning in"
=" Why, what ails yon, Denny ?" he
cried. " You are pale"
Perhaps 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 p
" What Ito night p
eyes, sir-to-night. Now is our
time, they say, while the old man is
sleeping !
The commander slipped noiselessly
from the cabin, and soon his voice was
heard upon the forecastle. The truth
was, he had waited unseen and silent
until the conspirators were about to 70
sort 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 Steiner au thority
of his character
A few minutes only the din lasted,
and then the commander slipped back
to the cabin.
Tive fixed them," he muttered, as
he rubbed his hands gleefully together.
81 waited till they were getting out the
boat, and then I went for them. You
can imagine how Buncle is cut up. Mr..
Skill is now in charge of things. Here,
steward ~
The steward Immediately responded
to the call
Make me my usual favorite punch, ;
added the commander, land let us have
it while it is hot. i"
The steward bowed understandinely
and set about obeying the order.
After remaining alone in the cabin an
hour or two, musing intently upon al
he had seen in the direction of the is
land, Denny Breeze again took his way
to the deck, which seemed to him sin
gularly dark and deserted.
The wind had freshened notably A
chopping sea had arisen, and the vesse
was laboring more than she had don,
for several days preceding. The heav
ems were nearly obscured by mist o
impending rain.
Is It you, Pete ?" asked voice, d
Denny emerged from the cabin.
Pete was the colored steward.
mo, it's me-the passenger, Mr.
Breeze, answered Denny.
cob, it's you, eh ?" said the voice
which our hero how recognized rs tina
OF Mr.. Buncle. "All right, sir.
thought it was Pete"
Advancing upon the deck, Denny
Breeze continued to look around him
waiting for the schooner to tack forwar,
again.
"a rough night, Mr.. Breeze ?" sal,
the mate.
Yes, sir, quite rough" he respond
" Do you know where the cap'n is !?
was the next question of Buncle.