Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-09

everything was pronounced perfect ON
board, from the azure silken hangings
and upholstery in the cabins to the ma
hogany carriages and brass howitzers
ornamenting the snow white deck of the
handsome craft.
The yacht had been out, I think, about
four days, and all of us were beginning
to get our sea legs on, when Captain
Crowell knocked at my stateroom door,
Just after breakfast, and requested
private interview. His usually bright
and open countenance wore a troubled
expression. l conjectured at once that
my sailing master had intelligence of an
unpleasant character to communicate.
And SO it proved.
"Mr. Lacy, I dislike exceedingly to
disturb your pleasure or excite unneces-
sary suspicious as to the state OF affairs
on board your yacht, but l should not
be performing my duty, sir, if neg.
lected longer to give you my views on
the matter. To be brief, sir, found il
extremely difficult to secure crew for
the yacht, and it was simply impossible
to follow your instructions relative to
accepting none but picked men. Seamen
were not to be had, for somehow they
fought shy Of making so short trip on
yacht. knew you would expect the
yacht ready upon your arrival at Cowes
with your party, and I had some pride
in the matter as to reporting everything
ready, having just entered your employ,
SO had recourse to the services of the
American consul. With his assistance
shipped what you see here, twelve men
in all-ive Frenchmen, four Italians, one
Maltese, one Norwegian and negro.
I cannot vouch for one of them, and il
you had not been in such hurry would
have rejected every mothers son OF
them. AS it is, we can get rid of them
as opportunities offer. They have had
their heads together lately carrying on
a whispered conversation, and you see,
sir, we are at disadvantage in not hav.
ing good second mate and boatswain.
The gentlemen aft here, including your.
self, wear more or less expensive jewel
ry, and the young lady, who is"-
"Good heavens, Crowell, what of heri
Come to the point at once!"
'sSimply, that the Maltese sailor has
been eying her much as a cat would a
mouse, and / fear there is trouble ahead.
I have my revolver loaded and ready.
l would suggest that you and the gentle
men do likewise, and be ready for call.
In other words, sleep with one eye
open;" and bowling respectfully, my
broad shouldered captain returned to
his duties on deck.
Here was news with vengeance, and
you may depend, gentlemen, l had but
little appetite for dinner, while my in
terest in yachting took sudden tumble.
The unfortunate Irishman's yacht had
been obtained through bloodshed, and
was superstitious enough to believe that
the fatality might cling to her. heart
lily wished myself and the entire party
on shore. would not alarm them by
what the master had stated to me, but
casual inquiry revealed the fact that
there was not a weapon of any descrip
ton aft save my own revolver, which ]
at once loaded and placed in an inner
pocket.
We were off Cape st. Vincent, bowl
ing along with fine breeze, and the
glowing beauties of a gorgeous sunset
had tempted Miss Raymond from the
bedside of her father for few mo-
ments Poor child! she looked pale and
wan, and the fresh air was sadly need
ed, she having been closely confined be-
low in consequence of the rapid strides
the malady had made upon her father.
The sea voyage had not proved benef-
cial, and there was but little doubt that
the hand of death was upon him.
Miss Isabel was standing by the break
of the quarter deck on the weather side
while l had stepped to leeward of the
main boom for a moment to take a look
at the coast, which was in plain view.
A slight exclamation of alarm caught
my ear, and turning quickly detected
the villainous countenance Of the NAL
tese leering with an unmistakable ex-
preston at the young lady. His hand
was extended, as If on the point of grasp
ing her clothing, which was sufficient
for me to act without wasting one word
upon the SCARED, swarthy faced scoun-
drel. Snatching brass Delaying pin
from the fiferail, I brought it down with
crushing force upon the fellows head,
telling him to the deck as if struck by
lightning.
The crew, attracted by the confusion
of it, paused, looked at one another and
then began to hitch up their Wristbands
and bare their arms, as if bent upon
mischief without further delay. But
Crowell, stepping forward, ordered them
to resume their work, while I stepped
below, snatched pair of handouts from
spare locker and we soon had the
Maltese secured and slowed away in the
fore peak. In the meanwhile Miss Ray
mond had disappeared below, leaving
me no opportunity to explain or apollo
gize for the fellows conduct.
It was evening; the deck was practi-
cally deserted save by Crowell, who was
pacing the weather side of the quarter
deck, and myself, who, stretched ont on
hencoop, was enjoying cigar down to
leeward, on the main deck, pretty well
concealed by the deep shadow thrown
by the huge lug foresail. The gentlemen
aft were deep In the mysteries of game
of poker, and the subdued hum of their
voices occasionally reached my ear as
the yacht keeled over to leeward. The
moon was rising, the wind came steadily
o,,o,, 4l,o o,,or+ar tho coa appoarad lilo