The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-26

men. anu " shoot without hesitation
anv of them whom he found trying to
desert; and also to keep Dick Purvis,
the only remaining seaman of the old
crew, at the landing all day. for the
use of the agent, should he secure any
more men. We have seen that the
boat was waiting off the pier when the
Captain and Louis came down that
afternoon from the PaseO, but that the
vigilance of the military authorities in
the search for the escaped prisoner pre-
vented them from returning to the
bark at that time. The two walked
up to the city, called at the agents and
learned that he had had no further sue
cess, and then repaired to an Ameri-
can lodging house which was well
known to both of them.
Louis Hunter had made the acquaint-
ance of some boon companions among
the Cuban youth while the bark had
been in the harbor, and he now pro-
posed to make night of it. Captain
Willis, fatigued with the excitement OF
the day, and much disturbed by the re-
cent occurrences upon and about his
vessel, went to bed soon after supper.
Shortly after dark Louis sailed forth
to look up his friends. He had not
reached the next street when he was
stopped by the patrol and examined.
That he was an American subjected
him to instant suspicion, and he was
therefore taken to the guard-house for
further examination. Here he was con-
fined in dark and ill-ventilated room
for three hours with lot of suspects"
who had fallen into the clutches OF the
patrol One at time they were taken
out and interrogated by an officer. 1t
was near eleven o'clock when Louis
turn came. After close question
ing the officer was apparently sat
isfed that The young man was not
a filibuster, and discharged him, with
a warning to 60 back to his lodgings
and not be seen in the streets again
that night. In not the best of tempers
at the loss of his nights carouse, he
obeyed. Upon inquiring of his uncle,
he found that he, too, had had more
experience with the Cuban authorities.
The house had been visited by an
armed party, and thoroughly searched.
Captain Willis had been examined, his
papers again scrutinized, and the Off
Ger appearing suspicious of all Amer
lean ship-captains, because, as he wise
ly observed, "they might have brought
some filibusters into port" had COM
PEELED him to dress himself and ac-
company him to the American Consul
to be identified. This irritating pro-
cedure had been gone through with,
and Louis found his uncle walking his
chamber by the light of tallow candle,
literally cursing all Spaniards and
Cubans, and raging like a Gagged lion.
$50 you're back, are you?" he said,
in a rather milder tone, as Louis en-
tered. Il was thinking those high
waymen had got you
"They did. and only just let me go"
said the other. sulkily.
"Wen, I'll be cursed! But never
mind; We'll get to sea- tomorrow, in
some shape, crew or no crew; and if
the ''Nellie" ever comes down this. way
again, it will be when few Americans
and Cuban patriots haven't half scared
the whole Spanish nation out of their
wits"
Had Louis Hunter possessed frank,
sympathizing nature he would have
embraced this opportunity to remove
all Misunderstanding with his uncle.
The old sea-dog was now in that frame
of mind that made him wish to talk
with some one, and with Louis espec-
tally, about the stirring events of the
day, the Inconvenience and annoy
ances suffered from the Cuban authori-
ties, and the dubious prospects of the
return voyage of the bark, with her
picked-up crew. But Louis had neither
generosity of heart nor nobility of nat
ure. He was cold, selfish and
sinister; he had no real affection for
the man who had faithfully tried, in
his own rough, hearty way, to benefit
him; and it may bel do not know
that some dark schemes of seif-aggran-
dizement, prompted by late events,
had already entered the young man s
brain. However that may be, it is
certain that he repealed all the Cap
tain's friendly advances, went to bed,
and was presently asleep. Captain
Willis also soon retired; but this rude
disturbance of his slumbers had made
him wakeful, and it was not until the
clock struck two that sleep visited his
eyes. Then his rest was uneasy. and
troubled by dreams in which were
mingled in one grand confusion Cuban
garrotes, escaping filibusters, sick sail
ors, storms, calms and helpless vessels
drifting without crews. Nor did his
slumbers become calm and peaceful
till another vision had soothed them
dream of a quiet home in far-away
New England, and faces there that
were very dear to the old sea-dog's
heart.
PART L-CHAPTER w.
ON THE DECK.
The master of the "Nellie'' awoke