The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-18
". CLARK RUSSELL,
AUTHOR OF "THE WRECK OF THE 0RosvE-
NOR" "JoHN noLDswoRTH. NATE"
"NARooNED," ETC, ETC.
CHAPTER I.


sounds OF such life as was still abroad in
the Boulogne streets. Ahead OF us
loomed the shadow OF adouble-funnelled
steamer, an inky dye OF scarcely deter
minable proportions upon the black and
silent waters OF the harbor. The Cape
cure pier made a faint, phantom-like
line OF gloom as 1t ran seawards on our
left, with here and there a lump OF shadow
denoting some collier fast to the skele-
ton timbers. We were waiting for the
hour Of midnight TO strike, and our ears
were strained
What noise is that2" l exclaimed.
1.-The dip OF sweeps, sir" answered
my captain, Aaron Caudel; some smack
a-coming along,-ay, there she is" And
he shadowily pointed TO a dark square
heap betwixt the piers, softly approach
ing to the impulse OF her long oars.
How is your plug now, CaudelT said
/, in a low voice, sending a glance up at
the dark edge OF the harbor wall above
us, where stood the motionless figure Of
a dotdnier, with a button or two OF his
uniform family glimmering TO the gleam
OF "A lamp near him.
Right for the job, sir,-right as your
honor could desire it. There's but one
consideration which amt like feeling
of sartinty; and that, must say, con-
sarns the dawg."
Smother the dog But you are right.
We must leave our boots in the ditch"
"Ain't there plenty Of grass, sir?"
said he.
Il hope so but fathom OF gravel will
so crunch under such hoofs as yours that
the very dead buried beneath might turn
in their collins, let alone a live dog, wide
awake from the end OF his beastly cold
snout TO the tip of his tail. Does the
ladder chafe your"
mo, sir. Makes me feel a bit asth-
matic-like, and II them duniers get
sight Of me they'll reckon I've visited
the Continent TO make a show of myself"
he exclaimed, with low deep sea laugh,
whilst he spread his hands upon his
breast, around which, under cover of
large, loose, long pea-coat, he had
coiyssd length of rope-ladder with two
iron hooks at one end of il which made
hump under either shoulder-blade.
There was no other way, however, of
conveying the ladder ashore. In the
hand it would instantly have challenged
attention, and a bag would have been
| uQuaffy IN UtbJJgct of curiosity TO the two
or three custom-house phantoms fitting
about in trianguar-shaped trousers and
shako-like head-gear.
There goes midnight, sir" cried
Caudel
AS 1 listened to the chimes sudden
fit of excitement set me trembling.
Are ye there, Job?" called my cap
tain.
"Ay. sir, - responded voice from the
bows OF the yacht.
"Jim?"
Hero, sir" answered a second voice
out of the darkness forward.
Here Here sir" .-~ss=-
Bobby"
Here, SIR" responded the squeaky
note of boy.
LAY aft, all you ships company,
and don't make no noise" growled
Caudel
looked up; the figure of the douanier
had vanished. The three men and the
boy came sneaking out of the yachts
head.
Now, what ye've got TO do said
Caudel, sis to keep awake. You'll see
all ready for hosting and Citing away
the hinstant Mr.. Barclay and me arrives
aboard. You understand that?"
Its good English, capn, said one OF
the sailors.
mo skylarking, mind. You're a-list-
ening, Bobby?'
" Ay, sir"
You'll just go quietly to work and
see all clear, and then tarn to and loaf
about in the shadow.-Now, Mr.. Barclay,
sir, if you're ready am"
Have you the little bull's-eye In your
pocket" said l.
He felt, and answered yes.
Matches?"
1.-Two boxes"
"Stop minute" said /, and I de-
scended into the cabin to read my dar-
ling's letter for the last time, that /
might make sure of all the details of our
romantic plot ere embarking on as hare
brnined an adventure as was ever at
tempted by lover and his sweetheart.
The cabin-lamp burned brightly. i see
the little interior now, andmyself stand
ing upright under the skylight which
found me room for my stature, for was
six feet high.
Ny heart was beating fast, and my
hands trembled as I held my sweet
hearts letter to the light. had read il
twenty times before, but my nervous
excitement obliged me to 20 through it
once more for the last time, as / have
said, TO make sure.
The handwriting was girlish; how
could it be otherwise, seeing that tho
SWEEP writer was uoI YET elbnlccuG ue
letter consisted of four sheets, and on
one of them was very cleverly drawn, in
pen and ink, a tall, long, narrow, old
fashioned chateau, with some shrubbery
in front OF IL, short length OF wall,
then tall hedge with an arrow pointing
at il, under which was written, Here
il the hole" Under another arrow, in
dicating big square door TO the right
OF the house. where second short
length OF wall was sketched in, were
written the words, Here is the dog.
Other arrows-quite flight OF them, in
deed, causing the sketch to resemble a
weather-chart pointed TO windows,
doors, a little balcony. and so forth, and
against them were written, Nam
selles room. The German governess's
ROOM" -Four girls sleep here, with
other hints OF like kind. Iput tho lot-.
ter in my pocket and won't on deck.
Where are you, CaudelY
Here. sir" cried n shadow in the
starboard gangway
Let us start, said 1 there is half an
hours walk before US, and, though the
ac~ond tfpao fe ono fhera IA "A Uraat deal