Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-08-30

Havana: he had about . fourth of il still on board. He had learned that there was g good market for it at Nassau. and he had resolved to take the Bahamas on his course home and dispose of this surplus.
 He had often sailed this course along the Cuban coast to Matanzas. thence up the Bahama Channel, Port Abace and Elethnera, and so out into the North Atlantic. Nassau was but two days's sail, provided the winds were what he might reasonably expect at this season.
 But well as he knew the route. we find him now with his charts spread out on the cabin table, locating the many islands of this group, and care fully examining tho various channels and passes It was Captain Willis boast that he had never lost q shin: and, certainly, if care. and study, and good seamanship could avail, he was not likely to. .
 Satisfying himself, for the present, about the course, he put away the charts Looking out from the cabin bulls-eye on the starb ,ard side, he saw ten miles away over the sparkling waves the mountainous coast of Cuba. The bark was bowling along before . southwesterly breeze; he was at seq again; he shook of in moment all disagreeable thoughts of the harsh but necessary event of the morning, and indulged in some pleasing reflections | of the profits that he was likely to make on this voyage. Unlocking . small locker in the side of the cabin. he took out two canvas bags and weighed them in his handA They were heavy; they well might be. since each was full of Spanish and Mexican gold pieces. He carefully replaced the basS in the locker. The bells sounding the hour from tho deck told him that it was now four o'clock. He remembered his promise to the mate to return in an hour. A he put on his hat to go above, 8 thought of Louis occurred to him. He had not seen him since the tragic incl. dent of the morning. What could the boy mean by stunning him at such a time? His conduct had been so strange lately that the Captain was seriously troubled by it. Considerably agitated by these reflections, Captain Willis was about to go on deck, when he heard smart rap at the cabin-door. The mate entered in answer to his bidding.
 Well, MT. Hardy-any trouble?" ho said. Il was just coming up."
 ''No particular trouble, sir, but some things have happened that you ought to know. I've put the mulatto at the wheel. and left Purvis to watch the deck for ten minutes, till I could tell you"
 Quite right, MT. Hardy. Now out with it."
 ''Wen, sir. in the first place, that mulatto. You know the story he told about his being a green handP''
 Yes"
 "He's no more greenhorn than you are, sir! He tries to work slow and clumsy; but every motion satisfies me that he's an old hand. and knows every rope and spar in the ship" :,
 Il thought as much"
 ''But that isn't alL You know, sir. I'm an old sailor, and know pretty much every thing about sailors ways. I've been in pretty much every sea, and in the South Pacific I learned all that there was to be learned about tattoo ing. 1 suppose know all the marks that sailors use to distinguish each nf .Nn css mp his sleeves to take the wheel-and there on his right arm above the elbow was the true Isle of Pines mark"
 ''Grcat Hcaven!" said the Captain. ''You don't mean that he is pii,ateP"
 Il mean that he has been one, whether he is now or not"
 ''And you left him at the wheelp"
 ''Only long enough to come and tell you what had discovered.
 Captain Willis snatched his revolver from the table.
 ''Come up at once," he said. Bring another pair of handcuffs with you. Take the wheel yourself" ...'-.
 The Captain gained the deck, and strode directly to the wheel. His pis. tol instantly covered the giant who held it.
 What's your course?" he de- mandcd.
 East by south.''
 The Captain glanced toward the coast. In the last ten minutes the bark had been approaching it. though it was still five or six miles away. Pur- wis should have seen the change, but the faithful sailor had flung himself ex- hausted on the deck.
 The mate came up, saw the change in position at a glance, and with loud cry was about to snatch the wheel from tho mulatto's hands.
 "Wait. Hardy" the Captain said. almost touching the woolly head with the muzzle of his pistol. You black scoundrel. you arc we'll known to us and should serve you right by put ting bullet straight through you. Why should not?"