The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1879-08-16

was evidently an American. That. in
deed, the blue jack, spotted with stars.
at her main would have told us. It was
with some difficulty that we got on
board.
| was the first who clambered over the
side. The next was Senior Tompson,
whom had not noticed in the boat, for
my attention had been entirely devoted
to the vessel as we were approaching.
Others soon followed. We found MANY
bodies on the deck, apparently all dead.
While one of us was sent to the he'll n.
and the vessel put on the right course,
the rest examined the bodies to see if
life remained in any. For some time this
search was without success, but at length
one of them turned on his side. | ran
and raised the man up. he opened his
eyes, and in weak accents said:
" Water-for Gods sake-waterw
1t was given him and he revived. |
was delighted, and supported him as he
drank eagerly. When the draught was
exhausted, he rolled his eyes vacantly
around, and as though not yet fully re-
stored to consciousness, muttered: EsThe
curse has not yet fallenw As he spoke
he raised his arm, and a small golden
cross, studded with rubies, fell from his
breast.
heard howl behind me. It was more
like the yell of tiger, about to spring,
than the voice of man. | looked up,
as we did all-and beheld the Senior
Tompson, with pistol in his hand, and
his face contorted with rage and hatred.
Never since, in ali my experience with
the world, have | beheld scowl SO say
age, SO diabolical, as lowered over his
face. His skin, usually wan and wax
like, was red and glowing-his lips quiv-
cred, aud his eyes shot CLEANS of feroci-
ty. He caught my look of wonder, and
his whole bearing changed. The pistol
was knocked and returned to his breast;
his face resumed its calm sadness, and,
bending down ne picked up the trinket,
saying:
To prevent accidents, | will take
charge Of this, and be responsible for its
safety. Remove this man carefully.
and take him to my chateau. He shall
be well tended. | take him under my
charge, mine exclusively"
Of course there could be no objection
to this course. The vessel was brought
into harbor safely, and word sent to the
nearest American consul-the ship hay
ing an American register. Pompeyo
awaited his master at the landing. He
came forward with a vacant air about
his cOuntenance, which at q few whisper
ed words from the Senior, changed to q
ferocious glare. He looked at the
stranger intently, and then quietly led
those who bore him off-the Senior Temp
son meanwhile remaining behind and
entering into conversation with me. He
evidently felt that l suspected some
thing, and endeayored to mislead me by
telling me that his first look at the
stranger made him believe that he was
Frenchman whom he had quarreled with
once upon time; but that a second look
and the words uttered had convinced
him of his mistake. "He must be
nursed carefully" continued ne "and
We shall be able to discover the mystery
of the dead crew." Iappeared satisfied,
but was not.
The vessel was duly examined, and an
inventory taken of her contents; but
that would not interest you. Examina-
ton afforded no certain light as to her
character-though, as it was found that
she had cleared for the coast of Africa
from the city of Baltimore, aud she had
many shackles and a large number of
empty water casks on board, it was toll
erably clear to many what had been the
purpose of her outfit. Her crew had
been six days without water; that We
learned from the sick captain. But /
paid no attention to her history. My
interest was concentrated on the stran-
ger, who had been apparently her COM
mander. l had vague fear that he was
il the hands of one who knew and hated
him; but, as | had 10 basis for positive
charge, did not ike to make my appre-
tensions public. To Jose, my gossip, I
alone revealed my suspicious. He did
not share them at all and seemed to
think the explanations of the Senior
Tompson as sufficient and true. | could
not shake off that look of hatred I had
seen in TompsOn nor its fellow in a
darker shade in Pompeyo, There was
mysterious connection between the three,
| felt quite sure. | was determined,
though | knew not exactly how, to pene-
trate it.
In the meantime the stranger remain
ed at Manana; and it was said he was
most carefully tended. The village
apothecary spoke warmly of the, kindness
displayed by Senior Thompson, who, he
averred, never left the bedside of the
patient, and gave him every draught
and powder with the most scrupulous
punctuality. Never had there been
host so humane and generous. He had
| been instructed to pay as many visits as
possible; and the Senior had promised
him large sum if he recovered. Every
H., L L. IL
he was served with almost obsequiOus
care by both Pompeyo and his master.
| Yet the care seemed to avail little. The
poor fellow still fingered, and neither
the skill of the apothecary nor the at
| tentiOns of the nurse produced any
marked effect. There was a counter cur
rent somewhere. Yet the lord of
Manana seemed hopeful. He was more.
He was cheerful and elated. All the
old gloom and melancholy had vanished.
He took his customary daily walk; but
with different aspect. He acknowl-
edged salutes no more with stately
| bow, but with lively words of recogni-
ENTHUSIASTICALLY with slight remark
on passing events, or a pleasant jest.
His popularity rose high. The country
around rang with praises of his kindly
heart and affable MANNER. But the
stranger fingered between life and death.
About two weeks after the landing of
the American ship | strolled in the d.
rection CT the Manana. 1had no intent
at the time of doing more than inquiring
after the health of the Senior Brenton,
for we had now learned the name of the
sick captain of the SLAYER. But | found
Pompeyo absent, and after in vain en-
daovori,,r m coll the attention of tho