Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-10-13


almost the first thing discovered was that
the walls were lined with sheet-iron- 1t was
lighted by means of funnel some four feet
in length, which ran upwards at a sharp
angle, and at the end of which was thick
circular plate Of glass. 1t was clear, there
fore, that my cell wall was at some distance
from the side Of the ship. This little win
dow, which shed the dimmest OF light into
the cabin, was fixed, but the air IN the place
was by no means bad, and it was clear, there
fore, that it was ventilated in some fashion
which could not discover.
For a moment my heart beat more quickly
when found that there was second door
to the apartment, in addition to that by
which had entered it. opened this door
and found that it led into small bath room,
provided. l presumed, for the use Of the
dukes sons when his grace found it necessary
to subj CT them to the discipline OF the pun
ishment cell. This little bath room which
was plainly but completely fitted, lay be-
tween my prison and the side Of the vessel,
and it was dimly lighted from the passage
by means of which entrance to the place
was OBJ aimed. When made this discovery
Remembered having noticed on my first
visit to the yacht that the walls Of this
passage also were lined with iron. It was
clear to me at once that there was no escape
in that direction.
Everything appeared to be scrupulously
clean: nor could it be said that-allowing
for deficiency Of light-my quarters would
have been at all bad if I had occupied them
voluntarily. I had seen many an officers
cabin in our big ironclads which was not to
be compared to this either in spaciousness or
in the convenience of its furnishing. For
when my eyes had become accustome to the
prevailing twilight gloom, had ascertained
that very fair provision had been made for
the comfort Of the unlucky wight who was
destined to occupy the place. The couch
which occupied one side Of the room was
capacious enough to form a commodious
bed, and though the cushion was no doubt
hard, it was not harder than many on
which had slept voluntarily in the past.
A small chest of drawers, above which hung
a glass in which, when looked into it, l
saw nothing but CHASTITY blur of white
the indistinguishable reflection Of my face
stood near the door; while at the opposite
end was folding stool and the table to
which Flinter had drawn my attention.
He lad not deceived me in one respect
There was, as he had said, an abundant
supply of "good victuals" on this table. 1t
was covered with white tablecioth, and I
could see loaf of bread, a dish on which
were neatly arranged number Of slices Of
cold beef, bottle of claret, another of
water, together with salt and other Or
binary accessories of the table. It was at
least evident that my captors had no thought
of starving me. Nay, ! made a discovery
that positively caused me for a moment to
think less bitterly even Of the ruff1an Flinter.
On small shelf above the table there was a
WE'LL filled box Of cigars-Larranagas Of the
finest brand.
Clearly, then, though I was a prisoner,
there was no intention Of subjecting me to
any ill-treatment beyond that which was
needful to keep me in close confinement.
This conviction finally satisfied me that I
had been correct in my conclusion as to the
real reason Of my abduction. I was the
captive of the millionaire; but I was also
his guest, and he had not forgotten some, at
least, of the laws Of hospitality in his treat
ment Of me.
sat down upon my bench after this long
and careful survey of my prison and again
tried to think steadily, calmly and clearly
Of my situation. My investigation had satis-
fed me that there was no means Of escape
from within and little if any chance Of being
able to communicate with those persons on
the yacht-if such there were-who were
not privy 10 my abduction. 1 was struck
by the almost entire absence Of sounds from
without, and was more than ever convinced
that some special means had been taken for
the purpose of procuring the isolation Of the
cell. No sound Of trampling feet on deck,
no cries from the sailors, no whistle of wind
in the rigging reached my ears / might
have been at the bottom Of coal mine 80
far as any knowledge, either by sight or
sound, of what was passing in the outer
world was concerned.
How longJ had remained buried in gloomy
thought, wondering how and when this
strange adventure was to end, and what
good purpose Mauleverer really hoped to
serve by treating me in this lawless fashion,
cannot say Suddenly. however, I heard
sound which made me start to my feet,
trembling from head to foot with a new
excitement was fond OF the sea, and had
made many voyage in my fathers com.
pany. did not need, therefore, to be told
what was the meaning Of the noise which
now penetrated even the dreary silence Of my
cell It was that Deep muffled throb which
marks the first revolution of the engine on
board steamer.
listened with all my senses on the alert,
and very quickly found that my ears had
not deceived me. Slowly at first, and then
with increasing speed, the dull throbbing Of
the engines was continued, and almost SIM
ultaneously I heard the rattle Of the cap
stan, and knew that the anchor was being
weighed hardly dared to allow my own
mind to grasp the real significance OF the
sounds. I stood there, almost breathless,
my ear fixed to the door Of my cell, during
minutes which seemed hours. But only too
soon there was the fullest confirmation Of
my fears To the throb Of the engine was
now added the harsher grinding Of the shaft
of the screw. while very soon other evil
dences convinced me that we were putting
out to sea.
Once more I raised my voice In loud cries.
It had been terrible before, when I knew
exactly where was, and when l could at
least feel that we were lying at anchor In an
English bay. But now, when found that
we were steaming away across the waves, In
u
determine, bound, it might be- for some port
where civilized laws had no effect, and when
remembered, too. that was absolutely in
the power of a ruffian whom I believed to
be capable OF any crime, fresh terrors
seized upon my imagination. l exhausted
myself utterly in vain attempts to attract
the attention of the crew.
Soon. indeed, realized the fact that II l
had not been able to make them hear before,
there was not the faintest chance Of my
doing so now. The yacht had passed beyond
the shelter of the Castle cliff and was breast
ing the waves, which ever and anon broke
upon its quivering sides with a roar that
must have drowned all other sounds. The
motion of the vessel increased so much that
if bad not been an exceptionally good
sailor should soon have been placed hors do
combat; and my past experience OF the sea
enabled me even in my gloomy prison house
to perceive that we were laboring through
heavy gale from the nor'west.
CHAPTER TX.
STRANGE VOYAGE.
looked at my watch To my surprise l
found that it was only one o'clock in the after
noon. had heard the church clocks strik-
ing ten when first stood on the deck Of the
yacht. My imprisonment which seemed to
have lasted for an age, had really so far con-
tinued for rather less than three hours. The
panic-for can call it nothing else, though
it is with shame that make the Confession
into which had been thrown when l first
knew that we were putting out to sea sub.
sided with suddenness that surprised even
myself. Perhaps it was the calm Of despair
that took possession Of my breast. At all