St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-03-22
A SHIP OF'49.
A ROMANCE OF CALIFORNIA.
BY BRET HARTE.
WRITTEN FOR THE ST. PAUL GLOBE.
IN FIVE PARTS-PART V.

CHAPTER VIII.
Madrono cottage lay at. the enhance OF
little canada already green with the early
winter rains, and nestled in a thicket OF the
harlequin painted trees that gave it name
The Young man was little relieved to find
that Rosey had gone to the postotfice mile
away, and that ne would probably overtake
her or meet her returning alone. The road
little more than trail-wound along the
crest of the hill looking across the canada 10
the long, dark, heavily-wooded flank OF
Mount Tamalpais that rose from the valley
dozen miles away. A cessation OF the
warm rain, rift in the sky, and the rare
spectacle OF cloud scenery, combined with
certain sense Of freedom, restored that llgnt-
hearted gayety that became him most. AT q
sudden turn of the road he caught sight OF
Rosey's figure coming toward him, and
quickened his step with the impulsiveness OF
boy. But she suddenly disappeared, and
when he again saw her she was on the other
side of the trail apparently picking the leaves
of a manzanita. She had already seen him.
Somehow the frankness of his greeting
was checked. She looked up at him with
cheeks that retained enough of their color to
suggest why she had hesitated, and said:
'You here, Mr.. Renshaw! l thought you
were IN Sacramento"
''And l thought you were in Petaluma,"
he retorted. 81 have letter from your father.
The fact is, one Of those gentlemen he has
seen haunting the ship actually made an
entry last night. Who he was, and what he
came for, nobody knows. Perhaps your
father gives you his suspicious" He could
not help looking at her narrowly as he hand
ed her the note. Except that her pretty eye
brows were slightly raised in curiosity she
seemed undisturbed as she opened the letter
Presently she raised her eyes to his.
SIS this all father gave you?''
"AHn
''You're sure you haven't dropped any
thing!'
Nothing. have given you all he gave
me-"
''And that is all it isl She exhibited the
missive, perfectly blank sheet of paper
folded ike a note!
Renshaw felt the angry blood glow in his
you, Miss Mott there must be some mistake.
He himself has probably forgotten the en-
closure" he continued, yet with an inward
conviction that the act was perfectly premed-
itated on the part of the old man.
The young girl held out her hand frankly.
'Don't think any more of it, Mr.. Renshaw.
Father is fOrgetful at times. But tell me
about last night.'
In a few words Mr.. Renshaw briefly but
plainly related the details of the attempt
upon the Pontiac, from the moment that he
had been awakened by Mott to his discovery
of the unknown tresDasser's flight by the
open door to the loft When he had finished
he hestated, and then, taking Rosey's hand,
said, impulsivey: You will not be angry
with me If l tell you alll Your father firmly
believes that the attempt was made by the
old Frenchman, De Ferrieres, with view of
carrying you off,
a dozen reasons other than the one her
father would have attributed it to might have
called the blood to her face. But only inuo-
cence could have brought the look of aston
ished indignation to her eyes as she answered
quickly:
$50 that was what you were laughing at?''
''NOt that, Miss Nott,' said the young
man, eagerly, Though | wish 20 God | could
accuse myself of nothing more disloyal. Do
not speak, beg he added, impatiently, as
R0sey was about to reply. Il have no right
10 hear you; have no right to even stand in
your presence until | have confessed every
thing. came to the Pontiac; made your
acquaintance, Miss Mott, through a fraud as
wicked ms anything your father charges to
De Ferrieres. am not a contractor. never
was an honest lodger in the Pontiac. was
simply spy
But you didn't mean to bet was some
mistake, wasn't it.' said Rosey, quite white,
but more from sympathy with the offenders
emotion than horror at the ofTcnse.
~ am afraid did mean it. But bear
with me for a few moments longer, and YOU
shall know al. It's long story viii YOU
walk on and-take my arml You do not
shrink from me, Miss Mott. Thank you. |
scarcely deserve the kindness"
Indeed so little did Rosey shrink that he
was conscious of a slight rrassuring pressure
on his arm as they moved forward, and for
the moment fear the young man felt like
exaggeratiug his offense for the sake of pro-
porJionatc symDathy. DO YOU remember -
he continued, cone evening when l told you
some sea tales, you said you always thought
there must be Il story of the P0utacl There
was q ctOIN Nl lht IoUlaC. MISS NoJt--d
wicked sjory-a terrible story-which might
have told you, which / ought to have told
you; which was the story that brought me
there. You were right, too, IN saving that
You thought | had known the Pontiac before
/ stepped first on her deck that day had"
He laid his disengaged hand across lightly
on Rpsey's. rs if to assure himself that she
was listening.
nos af thof tir,n eai1n- 7 bo1 boo,,
fool enough to run away from college think
iug it tine romantic thing TO ship before the
mast for voyage round the world. was a
little disappointed, perhaps, but | made the
best Of it, and in two years | was the second
mate of whaier lying in n little harhor OF
one Of the uncivilized islands OF the Pacific
While We were at anchor there a French
trading vessel put in, apparently for water.
She had the dregS OF q mixed crew Of Lascars
snd Portuguese, who said they had lost the
rest of tse4r men BY desertiou, aud that the
captain and mate had been carried of bv
fever There WAS something SO queer in
their story that our skipper took the law in his
own hands and put me on board Of her with
+ salvage crew. But that night the French
crew muuuied, cut the cables, and would
lave got % sea II We had not been armed aud
prepared. aud managed 10 drive them below.
When We had got them under hatcnrs for 4
few hours they psrleyed, aud offered to 90
quietly on shore. As we were short OF hands
and unable 81 take them with Us. aud rs we
had no evidence against them, we let them
*, took the shin TO Callao, turned her over
q the authorities, lodged claim for salvage,
aud continued our yoyaEe. When we re-
turned we found the truth Of the story was
known. She had been French trader from
Narsrjlles, owned by her captain; her crew
had mu'iuied in the Pacific. killed their Off
GERS a0d tue only pssSenEvr-the owner Of
tue cargo. They had made away with the
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