The Sunday morning news. [volume] (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1886-1891, 1890-03-16


aeavor, as It were, to be drsr to bTeal
against the frowning rocks.
JOhn Havefill. like all sailors, was hi
early riser, and he was ont and viewihs
the prospects before the other inmates
the lighthouse We're stirring
A single glance of his pracfised en-
served 20 take in the situation. lie WI
evidently doomed TO pass another day
perhaps another night, ashore.
A any other time this enforced inactioi
would have been most irksonles bur some
/ how or other this morning lie did no
especially as it would afford aim an op
portunity Of improving his acquaintance
with the lighthouse keepers pretty
daughter.
He was soon joined by Simon. who
after enquiring whether he had a goot
nights rest, corroborated his already
formed opinion regarding the likely con
tlnuance of the storm
IN answer to a fiuttered signal from
the door. the two slowly entered the
lighthouse, where Margaret had already
prepared breakfast Hayerill could not
fail to notice that she had evidently
resolved to keep him at a respectable dis
lance, for the reception she accorded him,
while perfectly polite, WAS cold and
formal; and any attentions which she
was forced by the exigencies of the oeca-
sion 10 best0w upon him were rendered
He was not, however, the kind of man
to sit quietly down with folded hands
under sach treatment.
1t was gall and WOrmwOod to him that
this country girl should SO cavalierly use
4 Handsome Jack Haverllls as he was
| called BY his brother officers; and as the
/ value of anything he had ever striven for
4 was gagged more by the obstacles he had
4 had To surmount in acquiring possession
I than by the objects intrinsic worth. Mar
/ garet's chilling way only served 20 enhance
her charms and spurred him to renewed
/ deavor TO break down the barrier of re-
serve or pride behind which she had es-
1 tablished herself.
He was 10 certain extent successful,
| for as the outside elements became more
restfui the atmosphere within gradually
cleared ALSO and they were. by evening,
/ on much the same terms as when they
separated the previous night.
Margaret laughed at his jokes, blushed
at his compliments and thought him a
line, handsome young fellow, as indeed
he was, and when the Vigilance hove in
sight at the entrace to the little harbor,
and they saw boat put off from her and
pull lnshore, Haverh1l Was Inclined TO
curse the storm that had not blown Cap
tain Billings farther out of his way.
Margaret was sorry, too, after a
fashion. and, when bidding her good
bye, HaverhiIl kept her hand little
longer than necessity demanded she did
not seem offended or inclined to resent
the familiarity.
Hayerill Immediately on reaching the
ship reported to his captain, whom he
found railing as usual against the luck
that had brought him away from ciyiliza-
ton, as he termed it, and vowing ven
geance against the cause of his detention,
namely, the smngglers.
'sHayeriIl' he said, I'VE nave informal
ton that a valuable cargo was TO have
been run ashore near this, night before
last had the storm not prevented it, and
that the attempt is to be made tonight.
What do you think of thatg' he asked,
handing him the following letter written
in eramped, angular hand on scrap of
dirty paper
''SIR-Being good subieck of Her Majesty
think it my duty to inform you that q cargow
was TO run ashore night before last, but the
boats could not be launched so it is to be tomor-
row night at twelve O'Clock at Larrlck Cove.
Your servant to command,
IT vs.
"Well, l think Captain Billings, that
this information is only blind and that
very likely the cargo will be run tonight,
and, should it be tomorrow night, it will
you think The handwriting is disguisedYs
Il am sure 1 don't know. l am not
sufficient OF an expert to offer an opin-
ion. =
Maxwell . he continued, Seems to be
pretty much of your opinion, and thinks
the defective orthography part of the
blind"
What do the others think Of itsD asked
Hayerill. Have You shown it to any of
! them?n
mo, not yet. / did not think it was
necessary; and in point of fact, l do not
know whether l shall pay any further at
tention to the matter.
'"Hhe hest we can do in NV uninian ic
to keep moving along the coast for the
next day or two, and keep a sharp look
out for anything suspicious"
Pardon my offering an opinion against
yours, Captain Billings, but / think we
ought TO take this fellows information,
whoever he may be, more seriously;
there may be something in it,"
We'll, let us see what Maxwell, Sey-
mour and Lindsay will have to say about
the matter, ana we will decide on some
course of action afterwards. y
The conference which was held
Immediately thereafter flor Haverill
found his brother officers eager for any
thing likely to break the monotonous
existence of the past three weeks) re-
suited in a unanimous decision, that
while the information furnished by the
unknown should be considered and acted
| npon as bonatide, every precaution ought
to be taken to provide against its being
| simply deeoy.
That evening, Captain Billings very
ostentatiously hove anchor and proceeded
seward, much TO the delight Of several
pairs OF watchful eyes,
| After running due east under full
head of steam, for nearly three hours, the
| order to abont ship was given, and the
/ Vigilance began to slowly creep landward.
4 All lights were extinguished and the
| lookout doubled.
Intense excitement reigned among the
seamen and marines, who, while aware
/ that Information had been furnished
4 Captain Billings, remained in ignorance
! of its real nature and were prepared at
/ any moment to be laid alongside the
smuggler
Not sound broke the stiffness save the
| pulsations OF the engines and the swish
Of the vessels sharp bow cleaving the
water. Captain Billings and Lieutenants
hayerill and Maxwell were at their
stations on the quarter deck, while Lieu
tenant Seymour and Surgeon Lindsay
were busy below the former dealing out
I ammunition and the latter looking to his
instruments. half hoping in his grim
way, TINT opportunity might occur 70
/ prove their continued efficiency
The night was dark as Erebus, save
where an occasional star struggled
! through the thick clouds that still OBJ
( scured the heavens, and the tension was
| becoming absolutely painful when sud
denly the word was passed back
light on the starboard bow
CHAPTER III