The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1874-09-12
SIS that YOU Nettie p,

us that you Nellie Z?
'.S-s-st. Be careful. Strangers are here,n
said Charley, warmingly.
The man turned SO as to conceal This face,
and said as indifferently as before.
"Let Aaron see to them and you tell me
the news"
Charley pulled the bell cord that hung near
at hand, and presently massive negro APP
peared, looking in the dimness like ghoul.
fLook out for him Aaron' said the occu-
pant of the sofa. s'We dom twant him just now.
Be ready to bring him through, when we call
for him."
Jake, all his native independence utterly
quenched. followed the negro from the room.
On his disappearance, Charley approached
the sofa, and, throwing himself on an otto
man that stood by the head, embraced the
man with appearance of affection not COM
monty exhibited by boy toward person of
the same sex. Caresses over, long CONVEX
sation commenced which was apparently very
interesting to both parties; it might be men
toned as a singular circumstance, that.
throughout .the interview Charley was ad-
dressed as Annette or by the endearing di-
minutive Nettie-a feminine appellation,
which he did not disproye by any action out
of character. The conversation related
largely to circumstances which we have mar
rated in the second and third chapters. 1t
would reasonably be inferred that Charley had
extraordinary facilities for obtaining informal
ton, for, despite all the precautions of Jake
and Obadiah to secure privacy on the occa-
sion of their first interview with Colonel
Sharpsey, he gave full and accurate account
of it, which pleased both his listener and him
self greatly, the characteristics of all the par
Elephants being rendered with great fidelity.
When he came to the bargain which they
had finally struck, over their Santa Cruz, the
man laughed uproariously, until the tears ran
down his cheeks, and said, putting his arms
around the boy.
"They've planned it so nicely that it will
be pity if they don't succeed. Eh, Nettie ?
Now what do you think we'd better do; lie
low awhile, or put out Immediately?
Then a conversation ensued of graver
nature, after which the man arose, pulled on
a pair CT sea-boots, and he and Charlie to-
gether left the room.
Mr.. Pendergrast was stolid of disposition,
and his nerves were unresponsve to external
circumstances of an ordinary nature, but, it
must be confessed, feeling of nervousness
now possessed him to the extent of causing
him extreme discomfort. It is to be remem-
bered that the whole current of his feelings
had lately undergone an entire change; that
his aspirations from stopping with the pros
pective ownership of the Lively Turtle, or
some other craft OF similar dimensions, now
extended to fortune which would buy, out
and out, square-rigger, and put into her a
cargo of pine lumber for the West Indies;
and that, in anticipation of his change of
fortune, he had stimulated extensively during
the past few days, and now, having been
without his bitters for twelve hours, was
experiencing the peculiar feeling of depres-
sion which follows period Of dissipation.
The appearance of the two drowned sailors
which Obadiah and himself discovered on
the night of his first interview with Colonel
Sharpsey, required wildly to his mind, and
set him into a train Of most unpleasant re-
Elections, 1t was evidently unsafe for any
body to render himself obnoxious to .Guacho
Jack, for that individual would not be likely
to stand on ceremony with whomever inter-
fered with his plans.
81 wish was safe out of this,' he groaned
in anguish Of spirit. ''Wont I make tracks
for Maine if ever do get clear. What
yelpin' those dogs made"
The room into which ] AXE had been con-
Quoted by the negro who had Immediately
retired, locking the door behind him, was
evidently in close proximity to the dog ken
mel, for he could hear the animals snuaing
about, growing as ifthey were aware of his
presence and had strong desire TO get at
him. Once, when fired by sudden and
frantic longing for liberty, he climbed to the
little window which stood high up in one side
of the room, he contemplated the whole
pack, which, at sight of him, set up such
chorus of snarls and yels that he shrank
back affrighted, glad that his prison protec-
ted him from their fangs.
Daylight came, but no release for Jake.
Toward noon, the negro brought him some
bread and meat, and quart dipper of coffee,
which refreshments gave him more cheer
full view of life. Time, however still dragged
heavily, and at nightfal, it was a relief when
the negro appeared at the door and command
ed him to follow. Jake was conducted
down to the little beach at the head of the
inlet, where the sail-boat lay in readiness to
sail. There were three figures in the boat,
a female closely yelled, a man wearing a
slouched hat which concealed his features,
and rough, sailor-looking man who sat by
the tiller. In the bottom of the boat was
something bulky which was covered by
tarpaulin.
sect on board" said the man in the
slouched hat to Jake.
Jake obeyed, seating himself meekly on the
middle thwart; then the sail was hoisted and
the boat moved slowly down the inlet So
slow was the rate of progress that Jake's SER
vices were presently brought into requisition
in the way of pulling an oar, the sailor-look-
ing man also taking one. At length the open
water was reached, the oars were shipped,
every sail was spread. and, with free wind,
the boat struck gaily down the bay.
Relieved from the onerous duty of rowing,
Jake sank into train of reflections which,
at first, were of a melancholy nature; but
soon the beauty of the evening and the lively
motion of the boat, aided, moreover, by the
natural reaction which follows a period of
began to elevate his spirits. The
first sign of return to his normal frame of
mind, was his begging chew OF tobacco
rom the mariner who sat in the stern.
His request was granted and, revived by the
gentle stimulus, Jake grew yet more cheer
Iul, and essayed conversation. In this he
met with no encouragement, so, falling to
elicit response to any. of his re-
marks, he retired into communion with him.
ef. His thoughts assumed cheerful tone,
md he began to feel convinced that all alarm
was groundless, and that he had been in