The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-11-26

: the only home have had, in fact, since 4
: death of my mother"
"And the strange disappearance of yol
l. father. you should have added said Ca
tain Morrison, gravely, as he patted Ii
youth affectionately upon the shoulde
1T rs the strangest thing in creation wha
ever became of your father, boy. Al
yet, In another sense, there was nothir
strange about it; 1t was simply anoth
case OF Lost at sea y How many Ii
has ended to all earthly ken with tn.
brief announcement. But what is it th,
is going on ashore to the west'ard of us I?
he added, as a vast blaze illuminated Il
horizon in that quarter. Looks like
house afire."
Eyes, sir it does" assented Denny.
And it is house afire,n affirme
Captain Morrison, after a long loo
through his glass. sand it's curious tina
about make the least effort to put 1t out
And now that | look again, it seems t
me that the burning house is exactly il
the direction of the one Mr.. Fortescu
occupied"
Denny Breeze turned pale at this sug
gestion.
20, l hope not, sir I" he exclaimed.
ut would be horrible if Ellie Fortes
cue should be in such trouble" said
Denny, after a long look shdreward.
There seems to be great deal oil
jumping and dancing in the neighborhood
OF that fire, and not soul doing any
thing as can see toward putting it OUT
Guess I'll go below now and get Bit
of sleep, Mr.. Buncle," said Captain Nor
rison to his second mate. ''Call me if
anything happens"
And with this the commander with.
drew. @
lie had scarcely gone when Mr.. Buncle,
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 sava-
ges may be at this blessed minute killing
OF the missionaries on the island" remon-
strated Bill, energetically.
~ think we had better see Tom, and
the rest, and make our escape Immediately
in the lonG-boat, while the old man is
snoozing.v
"Good! Let's move at once.''
Half hidden by sundry hampers at the
foot of the main.shrouds, Denny Breeze
had listened to every word of this CONVEX
sation.
"a general desertion, Ell ?" said Dem
ny to himself, as he saw the perfdious Sc
cond-mate becoming the centre OF q 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 commando
er's state-room. The old sea-dog was
just in the act of turning in.''
Why, what ais you, Denny 2" he cried.
"You are pale"
perhaps 1 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 ~
"What!-to.nightf"
"Yes, sir-to-night. Now is our time,'
they say, while the old man is sleep
ingv
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 con-
spirators were about to resort to the meas
ure 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.
''I've fixed them" he muttared, as he
rubbed his hands gleefully together. al
waited till they were getting out the boat,
and then l went for them. You can i'm
agine 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, "and let us have
it while it is hot"
The steward bowed understandingly,
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 singularly dark
and deserted.
The wind had freshened notably. A
chopping sea had arisen, and the vessel
was laborng more than she had done for
several days preceding. The heavens were
nearly obscured by a mist of impending
rain.
us il you, Peter" asked a voice, as
Denny emerged from the cabin.
Pete was the colored steward.
"No, 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