, 1891-01-16

Guilty anu may Drlng Invariably un
pleasant consequences TO your CAP,
tain. Now
'off with your matches" cried the
lieutenant.
Sir
IF you don't, by George, 1 will"
You know clearly what you're do.
ing, sirr
Il do"
"And you know the risk you run r.
II do. No more palaver. OFF will
them at once or I'll break them OPEN
Further resistance was useless. The
thing was done, and the the
first hatch was raised the sickening eff.
fluvium that issued from the hold pro
claimed the truth. Nearly three hun
dred slaves were packed between decks
many of the poor creatures standing SC
close that they could not lie down.
With q look of speechless contempI
at the young mate of the schooner the
lieutenant walked to the side Of the
ship and waved his handkerchief. That
instant a loud British cheer rang over
the water, given by the bluejackets,
who could be seen clustering in the rig
ging like bees.
Il told skipper judgment would
overtake us, said the Yankee. Say,
mister, y he added in another tone, see
ing that the games up, suppose we have
glass Of iced champagne down stairs p
The lieutenant hesitated. To drink
with the mate of a slaveri But-iced
champagne
Slowly he moved toward the com
paniou way. Il don't mind If l do"
he said at length, and you may as
well bring up your papers with the
drinks, for l shall carry them on board
the Petrol OF course you understand
that you are my prize"
And having set a guard at the hatch
ways the lieutenant descended the
cabin stairs.
The iced champagne vas duly forth
coming, and under its genial influence
Lieut.. Brabazon began to feel IN
thing like pity for the young man who
had been so carly seduced into the
paths of crime. Probably he had a
mother or a sweetheart somewhere in
the states who imagined that he was
already on his way home, whereas
now his character was ruined, sven II
he escaped IA long term of imprison-
ment.
This feeling was strengthened as he
saw that his companion was gazing
mournfully at his glass without speak
ing a word. At length the young man
lifted his head.
Say, mister, whatn they do to me,
think2'
81 can't tell. OF course you know
that what you have been engaged in is
a kind of piracy
'Norn
II believe so. Cargo and crew are
conilscated, of course. What they will
do with you | can't tell"
They won't hang Inc, will theyr'
Probably not, said the lieutenant;
but let this be a warning TO you. You
see what it is to wander off the straight
course and banker after forbidden
gains. Lead an honest life in future.
when you are released from custody.
Avoid vicious companions - But
what's this2' he cried, as his eye fell on
an empty scabbard hanging on the
wall. 1t looked very like a United
service sword scabbard, and i'm
mediately the thought darted through
his mind that this hypocritical young
Yankee (who had been pretending to
wipe away a tear as he listened to the
l~ieutenant's good advice had been do
ing something worse, or at least more
heavily punished, than running car
goes Of slaves.
The British officer looked round the
cabin. A United States navy cap was
lying on n plush covered bench.
"Ahi you've been having n brush
with an American man-of-warl' cried
Lieut.. Brabazon. you will have to
tell my superior officer how you came
into possession OF these articles. l
must place you under arrestl" And
bitterly regretting that he had sat down
to table with the fellow the British of
lcer rushed on deck.
"Quartermasterl" he cried, bring
up a guard of four men and take this
man pointing TO the Yankee, who had
followed him on deck to the Petrol.
If he tries to escape, shoot him at
once!"
The quartermaster advanced to seize
the prisoner, but before he reached him
he involuntarily stopped short. A roar
of laughter sounded in his ears. The
American mate and his companions
were shrieking and staggering about
the deck. Even the crew of the SLAYER
were, every man jack of them, grinning
from ear to ear. The lieutenant was
dumfounded.
Excuse me. sir, but the joke was
too good said the Yankee, coming
forward and holding out his hand. Il
am the first lieutenant of the United
States war ship Georgia, in command
of a prize crew on board this vessel,
taking her to - to have her con-
demned. We seized her yesterday.
Hearing that you had been ON a visit
to her the day before, and had gone
away without doing anything, Icouldn't
resist the temptation of taking you in.
Hops you don't bear malice1 Let's
finish that magnum of champagne
1t was evidently the best thing to be
done, but the lieutenant was not a first
rate companion on that occasion.
Give my respects to your command
er, - called out the United States officer,
as his guest went down into his boat,
land advise him from me not to be so
jolly particular another time. And I'll
try to take your kind advice and sail a
straight course in future!" lie cried, as