The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1879-05-10

1 really know anything against are the Two
Portuguese and the darkest Spaniard
They have been in the galleys. I suspect
that little Frenehman of being a spy for
secret order of assassins OF Rome, but Tn
not certain. The captain will see for him
self that the mulatto wants watching; his
face is a continual warming"
All our preparations were at last made,
and we left Havre with favorable wind
that quickly sped us across the Bay of Bis
cay. 1 communicated the suspicious of
the consul to Captain Cryder, and found,
as expected, that he was perfectly equal
to the occasion. He was kind, but prompt
and firm with his motley crew; and after
one or two collisions with the more unruly
of them, which ended by their getting into
irons for twenty -four hours the crew
seemed to bs subdued and orderly. But
could see the captain never relaxed his
vigilance, and resolved that would
second him with my eyes and ears to the
utmost.
Aside from these misgivings, the voyage
was most delightful one The weather
was mild, the sea smooth, the wind exactly
in the right direction; and we were running
rapidly down the coast of Portugal The
passengers numbered twenty including the
servants; ten being men, three ladies, the
wives of some of the owners, and three
children. We whiled away the time with
reading, whistplaying and music, and
spent much of it on deck, chatting and en-
joying the voyage.
I must explain here that the cabin and
saloon which we occupied in the latter part
of the yacht communicated with the deck
by means of a narrow stairway, hardly
wide enough for two to pass.
One night, about eleven, after all the
other passengers had retired, had been
walking the after-deck with the captain,
enjoying quiet cigar. The moon shone
brightly, and the scene was so captivating
that fingered on deck to observe it after
I had hidden the captain goodnight. sat
down between one of the small boats and
the railing, and watched the cloudless
heavens the distant shore, and the long
swell of the sea, illuminated by a broad
pathway of light. could see the vigilant
captain pacing the deck from me; and the
sailors of this watch l had seen some min
utes before about the forward ladder. The
sound of subdued voices suddenly ar
rested my attention. I listened, and
heard two voices from the other side of the
boat talking hurriedly in French. My heart
almost stopped its motion as these words
came to my ears:-
II might shoot him from here"
NAY, you fool; the report would rouse
them below, and they might come up quick
enough to give us trouble"
"But they're not around"
''Half of them have pistols, and that
American with the big beard (myself) has
one of those toys of the fends. What do
you call it ?-six pistols in one. He carries
it with him, too. Look out for him."
"Well, but"
''Listen Go you back and serve out
the brandy to the men; don't spare it. I'll
go forward and guard the head of the
stairs. Presently the captain-may the
fend seize him for those handouts he
clapped on me Tuesday-will see me and
come to order me forward. Then"
'But the helm?"
Don't you see he's lashed it? The
course is a staight one all night He comes
to order me forward, and I'll knife him.
Right through his heart, Jacques ha |!
Then yell, for signal. You hurry for
ward with the fellows, and we have the
deck. AS the milords come up, Wen seize
them and throw them astern. Ha! but
that will be fine ~
"And the women and children?"
"Oh, they'll fare as it happens. Send
them adrift in the boat, or chuck them
over too. But there's Gomez and the
mulatto they are impatient. Go then,
quickly, and fire them with the brandy, and
be ready to rush aft at my signal"
Crouching close to the side of the boat to
avoid discovery, l heard the sound of
stealthy feet departing. Perhaps two
minutes elapsed, and then the figure of the
little Frenchman whom the consul had sus-
pected of being the spy of the secret order,
stole aft to the stairway with stealthy
step.
My heart gave great bound, for knew
the work that l must now do. Thank
Heaven, was prepared! l drew my re-
volver from my pocket, cooked it, and bent
my eye ON the Frenchman. He stood
leaning carelessly on the baluster that in
closed the head of the stairs, but he was
really watching the captain intently. His
back was turned to me, so that remained
undiscovered.
The captain turned about in his walk,
ond 60, him, ctandino fhara