Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-08-24

>NAANA
"Mr. Lacy, l dislike exceedingly to
disturb your pleasure or excite unneces-
sary suspicious as to the state of affairs
on board your yacht, but should not
be performing my duty, sir, if | neg
lected longer to give you my views on
the matter. To be brief, sir, l found it
extremely difficult to secure a crew for
the yacht, and it was simply impossible
to follow your instructions relative 10
accepting none but picked men. Seanen
were not to be had, for somehow they
fought shy of making so short trip OIL
yacht. knew you would expect the
yacht ready upon your arrival at Cowes
with your party, and had some pride
in the matter as to reporting everything
ready, having just entered your employ,
so had recourse to the services of lie
American consul. With his assistance
l shipped what you see here, twelve men
in all-fve Frenchmen, four Italians, one
Maltese, one Norwegian and a negro.
l cannot vouch for one of them, and if
you had not been in such a 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 Il disadvantage i'll 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 her?
Come to the point at once!'
'Simply, that the Maltese sailor has
been eying her much as Il cat would a
mouse, and ] fear there is trouble ahead.
l have my revolver loaded and ready.
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 q vengeance, and
you may depend, gentlemen, had but
little appetite for dinner, while my in.
terest in yachting took sudden tumble.
Tho 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 a
casual inquiry revealed the fact that
there was not IL weapon of any descrlp-
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 tho
glowing beauties of a gorgeous sunset
had tempted Miss Raymond from tho
bedside of her father for few mo:
mcnts. Poor child! she looked pale and
wan, and the fresh air was sadly need;
ed, she having been closely confined be
low i'll consequence of the rapid strides
the malady had made upon her father
The sea voyage had not proved beneti
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 | had stepped to leeT;ard of the
main boom for moment to-take a hook
at the coast, which was in plain view.
A slight exclamation of alarm caugh,
my ear, and turning quickly | detected
the villainous countenance of the NAL
tese leerins with an unmistakablo ex
preston at tho young lady. His hand
was extended, us 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 Snatchiny brass delaying pin
from the tiferail, 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 1 stepped
below, snatched pair of handouts from
a 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
I hencoop, was enjoying a cigar down to
leeward, or the main deck, pretty well
concealed by the deep shadow thrown
By the hugo lug foresail. The gentlemen
aft were deep in the mysteries of a game
of poker, and the subdued hum of their
voices occasionally reached my ear as
the yacht kecled over to leeward. The
moon WAS rising. the wind calnc steadily
over the quarter, the sea appeared like
on. liquid mass cf fire and the evening
was simply perfect.
The harsh cultural voice of the Maltese
suddenly broke upon my ear, and must
confess was startled. | knew the fellow
should have been i'll irons, confined be-
low, and lis presence on deck i'll so open
and dciii ut IL manner BODIED us, the pas
seagelt; and officers, no good. 1t proved
conclusiyely that the crew were in league,
and at any moment concerted move,
ment for murder and plunder might
break forth.
is everything ready?" growled the
Maltese.
Yes. Long Joe is at the wheel, and
he has his long bladed knife sharpened
for the skipper"
And Ize ready to carve the ID
Americana who hit me ober de head
rze not got de bracelets off none too soon,
and I'm hungry for blood"
''The niggcr will take care of the cabin
crowd, backed by the Frenchman. You
must make racket over the after COM
panionway, and with the hatchet attend
to all as they show up. We will look
out on deck, and in five minutes the
yacht will te ours. Away now, and be
ready"
With growl the Maltese crcpt over
the low bulwarks, and stealthily as a
cat worked his way aft where, with q
low "Hist!' he signaled the man at the
wheel that he ready for his share of the
deadly work ahead.
Captain Crowell was slowly walking
on the weather side, unconscious of the
danger that was brewing, while l,
scarcely knowing what to do. and at 81