Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-06-07
repeating to himself, to several hundred miles

shaft OF the mail would break, her screw get
out OF order, or some casualty, not fatal, but
YOU'D ana hapen 70 fae she pad
had not already got ahead Of them. 1t never
seemed possible, in all his speculadons, that
any such accidents could happen to his vessel:
she was, Of cOurse,sto run an unchecked and
uncheckered voyage; and SO indeed it happened.
CHAPTER II.
Had Mr.. BurtOnS money been in Jeopardy but
a very few years later than the real date, the
electric telegraph would have laughed to scorn
all has EFFORTS; but he was just before that
at any rate, and he was glad to think he had
yet achance. Swift as may be the progress OF
clipper steamer, yet even by the swiftest the
passage, and to a man with such anxiety in his
mind as was the lot OF Mr.. Burton, it seems end
less.
full as passage could be; yet even then, one or
two triilng Incidents occurred to disturb him
and to I'LL him with the gloomest fOrebodings
OF failure. One evening-they were far on their
way then, and the greater part of the waste of
water which they had to traverse lay behind
them-Mr. Burton was lounging on bench at
the stern OF the vessel, watching the setting
sun, which was spreading o sheet Of gold over
the calm sea, and thOughtfully SIN 0king cigar,
when he heard seaman, who was engaged in
some duty near him, remark to his comrade:
say, Bill, do you see that line, right under
the sun there?'
Bill nodded bis assent.
.'Wel, continued the other, ''that must be
the smoke OF a steamer. i shouldn't wonder II
it's the MAIL"
II an instant Burton was on his feet, the cigar
was flung into the sea, aud he was gazing, with
his hand shading his ey ej, In the direction of
the setting sun. He could see nothing. The
prat t1ced eyes OF the Seamen were prob lbiy
able to trace the line of which they spoke; but
the passenger could see nothing He did not
ca, e about speaking to the men on the subject,
lest he should show too much anxiety; but he
paced the deck until the last Of the passengers
had retired to his cabin aud the moon was fun
In the sky, yet nothing had he been able to dis
cover; nor did the fresh watch who came upon
deck refer to any following vessel, so he hoped
that, az any rate, the strange Ship-if one there
really had been-waS not gaining on them.
1t is certainly not necessary to dwell on the
closeness with which Mr.. Burton followed their
progress on the chart, Or the constancy with
which he was present at the heaying OF the log
all this goes without telling, as the French say.
But another result OF his intense anxiety to
reach Australia was that he became very ner-
yons, and the least thing, such as the slightest
surmise uttered In his hearing, was enough 10
startle him; and one morning be could not touch
his breakfast because he heard the officer VINO
had charge OF the watch during the night say
to the officer who relieved him: 81 thought
saw the smoke OF a steamer about two bells.
She was to the nOr'ard and going faster than
ourselves-at least so thought at first: but
could make nothing out for certain, and there
was no sail in sight at SUNRISE" Yet the Lieu
tenant-they are all Lfeutenants and Captains
TO iandSmen-mieh t have been right in his d st
conJecture! There might have been steamer
ITO the norard," going faster than themselves,
and this might have been the dreaded mail!
TneSe examples will give a fair idea of the
tension OF Mi. Burton's nerves; and as they
ore" nearer their port, as matter Of course
his anxiety increased. But when they steamed
calamity into the noble bay on which the tOWn.
or rather its port, stands, and came nearer and
nearer TO the quay, and saw no long black hull
with double funnel lying there, great We,phr
seemed taken from Burton's breast, and he felt
mat his long and exciting struggle had at last
won for him reward.
1t was late in the afternoon when the screw
OF the Cerberus at least ceased to churn and
!roth The water, and her great engines were
fairly stopped.
"You win spend the night with us?n said the
SKIPPER; you Will be too late for any business
In Pelham To- night"
Pelham, as the reader VIII probably have d.
Vlned without any explanation, was the chief
toWn OF the Province, the town where the head
Office OF the Gulf Bank was located. They said
:. located there, and used indeed good many
native name-of the port at which the Ger
berus was now anchored, and was connected
WIZ the provincial capital by short line of
Mr. burton returned his best thanks tn the
captain for his invitation; but his nerve and
energy had now returned, and he resolved NOT
70 lose a one minute In his enterprise So he de-
his luggage to be sent to certain hotel-he
knew Pelham Well enough, having lived there
onceMhe quilted the ship, after the heartiest
PooSioAO ioiC"OA AfOiu CdpJdlU, Officers, eQpt-
neers, and crew-went straight to the ratlway
depot and took his ticket; but just as he asked
Tor IT, the station master entered and said to
the clerk: THE mail is in: she is signaled"
the packet, then, was inside the Heads, She
was not three hours behind them. 1t was now
pasl I'VE o COCK all business was over for the
1 lay tne letters would be sent on at once; the
nc, not Jake down Its shutters in the morning, and
ne was aru1ned man. Yet there was lust ono
chance one bare possibility, and slight as it
telegraph" he thought, as the train slackened
speed at the end Of It's brief runN"and I 1nnt
see why they should may yet get my money
0ut OF the IRE. lie Is worth trial, and win or
lose II I'll try it," He of course knew that he
was some hours ahead OF even the earliest in
teiligence which could be sent from the mail
that time. 49,
Without a moments hesitation he went
SIralght TO the bank, which had long been
e e "a Tor the day by the time he arrived; but
manager, lived On the premises, and was de-
lighted to see him. 81 Thought you had settled
down In England" he exclaimed; II had no
IDEA you were in the colony"
:" dare say not " returned Burton, who was
on thorns during the greeting and inquiries nat.
ural to such a meeting. 81 have come to see you
land want you to do me q favor. want you
to save me great deal OF time and trouble
" Indeed! And what is it, Burton!" was the
very natural response.
g. want my money out tonight" said Mr..
Burton biuntly.
What! Ail?" exclaimed the manager.
ayes, ALL" returned the other.
"Oh! It's impossible; quite out OF the uues
tlon," SAID the banker. business Is entirely
over Tor the day, as you must very well know -
81 90 know It," said Mr.. Burton know that
all ordinary business is over; but know yery
wen mat you have often paid depositOrs later
tnal This, and that you can give 1t to me II yOl
ilKe; admit Fred--you can If you please"
wen" SAID the manager hesitatingIy, 81 can
II choose, own, but We don't care about dom
tnlngs out OF the usual course"
II suppose 1t was in the usual course, then
resorted burton, "that your directors asked M,
as personal favor not to to remove nv money.
When had good offer? You know Fred. that
lt was voluntarily promised at that time that
should have my deposit On the Instant whea-
ever chose TO ask for it."
Eyes, that's very true" sad the manager. sI
WIN remember the understanding, and ii It's Of
Importance to you"
ut Is OF the utmost Importance, assure Won -
interrupted Burton. 81 don't want to bore YOU
WIN particulars but ] wish to change NV In
vestment, and II don't get the money-in gold,
II u posslDle-to- night, the chance will be lost.
WIN you or VIII you not do it? That Is ALL"
suppose must let you have 1t, as your
money is only On Deposit" said the manager
SLOWLY; 'Dut 1t Is really very unusual. How
ever, say no more; you shall have It. We will
drink bottle Of Wine in honor OF old times,
and then"
Excuse my abruptncss," said Burton, who
was haT way toward a brain fever with ner-