Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-10

lures, anu 70 nay companion nom personal In
shall not name the distinguished minister)
looked; stopped as II stunned; looked again; ad.
vanced step again, while for my part held
back; and he said with very low a ceremoniouS
bow, II am most astonished"-
"Mr.-," burst out the queen, "can 1t be
possible that you have contrived this wicked
"If your majesty Is not here of your own free
WILL" Immediately answered the minister, II
beg you simply to say so, and your orders shall
"Of course am not" was the answer, in a
voice full of the intensest anger. g have been
kidnapped, along with Lady = here. by the
orders of this person., pointing to the admiral.)
You have lirates worse than John Paul Jones
in your American navy, apparently. But what
ever happens to me, it will be the end Of your
republic, Mr.. -, and you will richly deserve
She spoke right royalty; without tinge of
fear as boldly as If she were addressing her own
parliament In Westminster abbey, instead of
the possibility of rescue.
The moment saw who 1t was, knew exactly
what had happened. The admiral had contrived
this mad scheme, out Of his own reckless fear
less old head. in order to secure a sufficient
hostage to Offset against the threatened war
measures OF England in consequence Of the
ity, and an overwhelming blunder; and how on
earth had he managed to ensnare this pOrten-
tous "r1ch widder," as Jim MCGOWAN called
her? But 1t was no time for speculation.
Your majesty is in command OF this ship, -
said the minister, who certainly looked thor
Oughly amazed, but whose cool head told him at
once what was the only thing to do. las am
already possessed of your wishes, it can be but
very few minutes before you will be safe at
Osborne again-for suppose your majesty
must have come from thence?"
The queen aSsented.
Then l beg to be excused for few mo-
ments, when l will wait upon your majesty
again"
Is Admiral y said the minister 90 word with
you outside, please"
"Come into the captains cabin, Mr.. -" said
the Chief; in an obviously disappointed voice.
"Come along, Ward"
] followed them.
You are expressly and specially placed under
my orders, Admiral Morgan said the small
man, but with deliberate dignity and in a de-
cisive tone that showed him not at all small in
his mind.
The admiral bowed.
'YOu will at once have the ship taken back to
her anchorage and these two ladies set on shore
again as quickly as possible"
The old Chief stood trresolute-I could see
Wild plan iei' be- said Q eaty got Sa' ems
sure. With her7-he motioned toward the oppo,
site cabin-"they will be glad to drop Mason
and Sldell like hot potato"
The minister considered moment. "Well,
ADMIRAL is your confidential secretary
you told me?"
Mr.. Ward, were you engaged in this
scheme?7
l shook my head. "No, he wasn't" said the
Gne 6sk mt was all planned and done
$ p. n.y. ..while Ward was waiting for you at
Portsmouth,
"Well, then" pursued the minister,-'I shall
risk diplomatic uncOnventionality rather than
merely repeat an absolute order, for would
like to convince your reason, under the circum-
stances.
America have our hands pretty full with this
rebellion, so tar. l know what you, perhaps, do
not; that there has been powerful and steady
effort, and what is more, nearly successful one
to induce a joint intervention by France and
England to stop the war and establish the indie
pendence of the rebellious southern states. And
l know further what you almost certainly do
toria and Prince Albert has been the chief rea-
son, up to this time, why this scheme has not
gone into operation; and, Admiral" pursued the
finger, ':when that scheme does go into opera
ton, which will be the very day your perform
ance is found out, it will succeed, and we are
naR nor the
the defencelessness of our sea board cities
They can beat us to dead certainty, in six
months. Admiral you have done what you
Judas Iscariot to the United States of America
He spoke with peculiarly distinct quiet, incls-
i've manner, and with restrained but evident
intensity OF feeling that was profoundly impress
i've. He paused moment, and then continued:
4" And now, Admiral, 1 repeat my order; and II
it is disobeyed the ruin, not merely of yourself
"very WELL Mr.. -" said the Chief for he
felt now what he had done-and indeed it only
later" ,O >-''>'' ~ WV ' - INV WV
The minister shook his head. "That remains
to be SEEN" he said; 81 must go to the queen.
time"
The admiral-hls flag captain by the way,
was absent on leave, which had left the cabin
necessary orders.
Il may want you, Mr. Ward" said the minis
ter; $50 If the admiral can spare you; you had
"And, Admiral" said the minister, 1.-The fact
Is, the court etiquette is sucl-youIl excuse me,
I'm sure-but won't you just keep out Of the
quet ms sight?n
The Chief growled something or other, hut it
was sufficiently clear case. The minister now
knocked at the door Of the admiral's cabin, and
was told to come In. He stepped inside, asked
we stood before the queen, and the minister
began to speak.
''Take seats, gentlemen" commanded Queen
Victoria, as easily as II she had been at dinner
in the private apartments at Windsor. We
obeyed and the minister resumed, after asking
and receiving the queens permission to make
some suggestions.
First: / trust you will not suspect me, mad
am, of having been concerned in this lunatic
business; for, as you see, as soon as the orders
COulu NC given lilc sup Is put dUOut.
And sure enough-and the queen was quite
sailor enough to understand 1.-THE engines
were slowed and the tiller ropes could be heard
crawling through the SheaveS as the great ship
began to describe a circuit in the sea.
"Neither was Mr.. Ward, here, the admiraI'S
private secretary, even aware of it. / feel sure,
indeed, that il he had been on board it could
not have happened" And he looked at me for
an answer. l said, and very truly, thought
could have prevented it.
Next" said the minister, Il beg you, mad
am to permit me to urge certain line of con-
duct. Those who know OF this affair so far are
five; yourself, your lady in waiting, the ad-
miral, Mr.. Ward and myself"
IAN admiral, is he?" interrupted the queen,
her eyes flashing. do your American a1mirals
get their training in kidnapping in the slave
trade?'
It was rude hit; but the minister parried it,
I" All. your majesty, if Nelson or Coclrane had
carried OFF in the same way the sovereign of a
country more powerful than his own, would
not Engllshmen have been tempted to excuse
him?
The minister went on, without waiting for a
reply, to develop his plan. ''What beg to urge
upon your majesty's consideration, as christian
sovereign. is this: not to let the knowledge OF
this nights experiences go beyond the five who
now know it."
The queen looked at him with some scorn.
Your majesty" continued the minister In
his quiet. clear, distinct way, certainly con-
trolls at this moment life or death for. thousands
of brave men; for you can cause or prevent the
declaration OF war by England and now, no
other human being can. Thousands Of human