Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-09-02

four days. and al II a. were beginning
q get our sea legs on, when Captain
Cr0sel knocked &C my stateroom door,
Just after breakfast, AID requested a
private interview. HE usually bright
and open coantenance wore troubled
expression. / conjecCursd At once that
my sailing master had Intelligence q an
unpleasant character 70 communicate.
Ami - it proved.
Mr. Lacy. 1 dislike exceedingly 70
disturb your pleasure or excite unneces-
sary suspicious a. 70 the STATE II Affairs
on board your yacht, buE should not
be psuf0rIning my duty. sir, II neg
lected longer 10 give you my views on
the matter. To be brief, SIP. found u
extremely dinicult 10 secure a crew for
the yacht, and II was simply impossible
90 follow ycyIr Instructions relative %
accepting none bar picked men. oeamen
were not 70 be had, for somehow they
fought shy q making 30 short "Trip On
a Yacht. | knew yCN would expect the
yacht ready upon your arrival al Cowes
with Your party. and | had some prlde
IN the matter az 90 reporting everythn <
ready, having just entered your employ,
80 had recourse 10 the services Of the
American consul With his assistance
l shipped what you see here, twelve men
in ALIVE Frenchnen, four Italians, one
Maltese, one Norwegian and "A negro.
cannot voueh for one OF them, and II
you had not been IN such hurry would
have rejected every mothers son OF
them. As il 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 4 disadvantage in not hav-
ing a good second mate and bOatswain.
The gentlemen an here, including your
self. wear more or less expensive jewel
~. and the young lady, who is
Good heavens, Crowell. what of her;
Come 10 the point at once9
simply, that the Maltese sailor has
been eying her much as a cat would a
mouse. and fear there Is trouble ahead.
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 a vengeance, and
you may depend, gentlemen, l had but
little appetite for dinner, while my in
terest in yachting took sudden tumble.
The unfortunate IrishInan's yacht had
been obtained through bloodshed, and /
was superstitious enough TO believe that
the fatality might cling 10 her. | heart
lily wished myself and the entire party
ON shore. / would not alarm them by
what the master had stated 10 me, but a
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 benefi-
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 leeward Of the
main boom for moment to take 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 10 act without wasting one word
upon the SCARED, swarthy faced scoun-
drel. Snatching brass Delaying pin
from the fiferail, 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
10 resume their work. while / stepped
below. snatehed a 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.
II 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 a 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 sub,lued hum OF their
voices occasionally reached my ear "a
the yacht keeled over 20 leeward. The
moon was rising. the wind came steadily
over the quarter, the sea appeared like
one liquid mass Of fire and the evening
was simply perfect.
The harsh cultural voice Of the Maltese
suddenly broke upon my ear, and must
confess wss startled. knew the fellow
should nave been In irons. confined be-
low. and his presence On deck in so open
and defiant manner boiled rs. the pas
sengers aud officers, no good. II proved
concluaveiv that the crew were IN leagre.
All ~ any moment a concerted move