Waterbury evening Democrat., 1888-05-10
CHAPTER Tx. A SAIL RIGHT AHEAD.

Much, undeniably, there was in Cuthbert's position to make him miserable Could Lieu tenant Transom have promised to put him ashore next day, the young fellow would have plucked up heart and swung his glass like a man, but there was bitter prospect of his detention lasting, with risks of death be- tween, and never a chance Gt might bel to hold up his head pleasantly as Transom tried to rally him. Indeed, he was no philosopher; 1; or rather, he was very bad one
 Such night as Cuthbert passed a man had need to commit murder to merit All through the hours the thunder of water sweeping past was in his ears. The bulls eye over his head had changed from ebony to silver before his pained and heavy eyes closed, and then for a while the poor fellow forgot his sorrows in sleep.
 The bell on deck was striking when he awoke. While he was dressing marine presented himself.
 "The first ieutenant's compliments, sir, and when you are dressed you will breakfast with him?" said the man, as erect as sentry in his box on the deck that kept Cuthbert staggering.
 This invitation was, of course, promptly accepted, and in a few minutes Cuthbert fol- lowed the marine into large cabin with O ceiling garnished with small arms, stout lockers around their seats, charts on the walls, and table laid for breakfast Here he found the first and second ieutenants. Both men were fine specimens of naval of- ficers of those days-the days of Cochrane and Strachan-Transom in middle age, and the other young, but both with hard, stern lines of resolution carved in their em- Drowned faces, both with the hearty, open look of brave spirits, dressed in uniforms that smelt of gunpowder, and one of them with a cutlass scar behind his ear, and the other of them with two stumps for fingers on his right hand.
 They saluted Cuthbert with blunt polite ness, and, breakfast being served, invited him "to fall to at once, for we are rising the royals of big ship right ahead, says Tran som; land whenever there's anything visible on the horizon we always accept it as hint to bear 8 hand in slowing ballast"
 "How the deuce came young Towplank to take you for seamanp exclaimed the second lieutenant, scrutinizing Cuthbert admiringly. eff there was moon enough to see your hands by they should have satisfied him that you were not his man, supposing him sober."
 aHe was sober enough I explained to your captain that this midshipman gave me no chance of representing myself" replied Cuthbert q can only trust that Sir Peter Grahame will put me ashore soon-any- where"
 Transom looked grave, but said: "Well, well, there's no telling what will turn up. When your people find you missing, be sure they'll start on such a hunt after you as will bring them to the true cause of your dis appearance It will be known throughout Greystone that our press gang took three men last night, and do you suppose your wife and father will not hit upon the Cleo patra as the reason of your sudden vanish inga" A question that frightened up the poor fellow wonderfully.
 Down to the flying wind was the Cleo patra, stopping with a leaning bow, ripping up the breast of the water as dog slants his head to make a better lever of his jaw. The mighty press of sail filled the blue sky over- head with thunder, and the base of the sweeping tower of canvas was an acre of foam.
 Sir Peter Grahame paced the deck aft ] with a telescope, which from time to time he leyeled at some object ahead; he bowed to 1 Cuthbert. but seemed too preoccupied to speak. A crowd of men were on the fore 1 castle. pointing forward and conversing in low voices. some of them looking aloft, or at the water ripping past, with grins of satis- faction. The first lieutenant came to Cuthbert, after exchanging Q few words with the captain.