The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1878-01-12

grinned sardonically, it was evident that the
writer's object was achieved.
Send Bob Grantham," said my uncle, re-
gaining his composure.
That veteran appeared. Hirsute alike in
aspect and attire, Mr.. Grantham looked like
tame bear walking on his hind legs, the re.
semblance being favored by his speech, which
was, to speak more strictly a growl Few but
his familiars could readily interpret Bob
| Grantham.
How goes your work, Bob 90 asked my
| uncle, eagerly.
| Bob sounded a bass note. sionifvinO
"finished''
Ready for
This time long, low rumble, like train
in tunnel, intimated that it only awaited
the guv'nOrs final instructions.
Good. | enter for the cutter race month
hence" said my uncle. "We'll take the
shine out of some of them, ha, Bob?''
Mr.. Grantham was seized with a chuckle
that shook his shaggy frame from head to
foot. As this with Bob was somewhat un.
usual Mr.. Lewcraft waited with some curl
osity for the next growl. When it came, the
mysterious substance can only be interpreted
| as
"Wot odds, Guv'nor-so longs they leaves
the shine in we?'
This joke-for joke it evidently was-Mr
Lewcraft received with an approving SMILE
and forthwith, looking, now that his mo-
mentary excitement was over, very wan and
weary, retired to rest.
My uncle had returned, even after that
| brief absence, much changed and enfeebled
1t was perhaps for that reason that, during
the succeeding week or ten DAYS, he scarcely
visited his beloved Cockatoo, contenting
himself with giving Bob Grantham special
orders as to the selection of the half dozen
hands who were to form her crew under Bob
in the coming race.
The next incident have to record was the
arrival at Fountain Violet of Mr.. Earwaker's
confidential clerk, in charge of sundry
chests, of no great size, but of unusual
strength and weight, of which, it was noted,
he declined to lose sight. He was the bearer
of apologies from his principal, who was at
the moment too unwell to travel, and also of
&25,OOO in specie, besides several thousands
more in notes.
"Hang it!n Mr.. Earwaker had whispered
out of patience, g he must take the balance
in paper. It's all the easier to hide, and, if
he intends to use old sofa cushions and in
valid crockery as his future repositories, far
more eligible"
After the arrival and dismissal of the
auriferous messenger Mr.. Lewcraft was OBJ
served to rally somewhat, notwithstanding
that his nights seemed disturbed. Old
Louisa, the cook C' Squeezer'D, and Maypole
Moll could often hear the old man prowlng
stealthily about the house, apparently with
some object besides exercise, for he was
heard opening cupboards, sounding panels,
tumbling about the stoves, ETC., sometimes
not returning TO rest till dawn. He now
crept down to his yacht every day, and was
engaged with Bob Grantham and another
old-selected sea-dog, like Bob but shaggier,
in perfecting the invention that was to make
the Cockatoo renowned for aye Both the
sea-dogs now dwelt on board, and so deter
mined was Mr.. Lewcraft that no one should
surprise his secret that the men kept alter
nate watches, and were armed.
During this time my uncle made several
excursions into the town, usually visiting
the local bank, and always using a carriage,
having now grown too weak to return on foot
up the hill. So death-like was his look that
Louisa, alarmed, took counsel with Mr..
Grantham and Maypole Moll, and, with the
concurrence of those advisers, expressed
her fears by letter to Mr.. Earwaker and my
self that her master would shortly he found
dead in his chair or bed. 1t now wanted but
three days to the regatta.
The important day opened brightly, with
all the stir and hutter belonging to such oc-
casions. Some minor matches came off with
enect but the great interest conferred in the
cutter match, fixed to start at noon.
Long before that hour six of the seven
competitors were at their moorings, the
seventh buoy remaining so long unoccupied
that doubts began to arise whether, after all,
! the CockatoO would put in appearance.
However, at ll:30 that vessel was seen to
issue majestically from her cove and take up
her position. All acknowledged her to be
magnificent specimen of her class, sitting
like Queen upon the water, and looking
every inch a winner.
AS the committees boat, according to Gus.
tom, pulled alongside, Mr.. Lewcraft, who,
though now very i'll, had insisted on accom-
panying the race, was seen reclining on a
pallet on deck. Conditions of the match
having been formally explained, my uncle's
visitors paid him deserved compliment on
the fine appearance of his yacht, receiving in
return gracious and wholly unexpected in
vitation to come on board and inspect her
Eagerly accepting it, the gentlemen Owed
below and quickly returned with faces of
genuine establishment.
"My dear Mr.. Lewcraft" said one,'" you
are, of course, the best Judge of your vessels
trim, but areyou not something short of bal
last? Your space and head room are mar
Vicious. 1t is to be hoped that you have not
sacrificed stability to convenience. Unless
am Mistaken" the speaker added, glancing
to windward, there will be weather enough
to try the stiffest of your
Gentleman, you will see" was Mr.. Lew
crafts only response, as he bowed them
farewell.
The sea- meanwhile, lad been increasing,
and the wind freshened so rapidly as to
amount, before the starting-gun was fired, to
half gale. Such was the threatening aspect
of things that all the yachts, exceptthe Cock
atoo and her next neighbor, the Dione,
struck their topsails before the start.
Bang! Open flew white acres of canvass,
and away bowled the yachts, the Cockatoo
last, and taking it 50 easy that, but for the
death s-head and cross-bones-my unce's
| lively racing colors-still flying aoft, she
might be thought only spectator. Her
crew, all of the Bob Grantham type, could be
seen loungng rather than busting about the
deck; nevertheless she was seamanly handled,
appeared, despite her large topsail, as stiff
as house, and long before the storm-mist
| shut the race from view had left her nearest
competitor full half mile astern.
| At two O'Clock on that day Mr.. Earwaker,
| looking very pale and anxious, made his ap.
pearance at Fountain Violet, to learn with
great surprise that Il would not give it
worse name) his supposed dying friend was
sailing stormy match on the high seas
Had Capt. Sweetlove arrived? On being
assured that he had not Mr.. Earwaker com
| posed himself and took some luncheon. An
interesting colloquy then ensued between
| himself and Squeezer, in which the latter de-
| tailed with great minuteness her masters re-
cent doings, his failing intellect, his nocturnal
wanderiugs, his snatches of feverish rest
during the day, in which EXPLANATIONS might
be heard to escape him, etc, all pointing to
one and the same prominent idea. "Goldl
goldl" he would mutter " More gold! All