The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-03-19
CHAPTER NIX-rCoNrrNrrn.

NhAI LEN AlA-l NONTINUEDk
He led me through the saloon on to the
main deck. and on through the gate in the
after barricade where the sentry stood.
followed him without alarm, though l won
dered with all my might why he should
bring me into this convicts inclosure Did
he mean to send me below to live among the
felOns, or to be locked up in their bulk
headed prison9 Not very likely. But what
did he mean TO do?
There was not a convict to be seen with
In the barricades. The sunset was rich and
thunderous and the air full of red light;
the wind had freshened and blew very
cold. The watch on deck were shortening
sail and the three ROYALS and mizzen top
Callantsail, and some fore and aft canvas
were Stating and jumDiug overhead, with
few seamen hOarsely bawling at the clew-
lines. and some hands sprawling alofI The
first mate was now in charge, and he stood
on the poop looking up, watching the fell
lows climbing. This man l had seen aboard
the ship In the East India docks. Tom
knew him and had shaken hands with him.
The captain was walking with the two mil
itary officers. and sentries crossed and re-
crossed the pOop-break. and round about
the little body hatch, close against the
cuddy front, were two or three soldiers and
few women and children.
Pass the word for Barney Aaron" said
the doctor 10 the sentry at the door of the
main hatch.
The soldier did so, and after minute or
two the prize-fghter with irons on his legs
and chain triced up to his waist, came
through the door attended by a convict
warder or captain" He was fierce and
brutal-looking creature when you saw him
H.
and embelished besides with the scars Of
many bloody conflicts in the ring. He wore
an extraordinary expression; it was not
grin; it was not a smirk; it was fixed,
crafty leer OF knowingness.
Aaron. look at this young man and tell
me who lie IS" said the doctor.
The pIiZe-fghter, resting his elbows in
the palms of his immense hands, leaned his
ugly face forward and stared at me; he con-
tracted his broBs while he looked at me, as
though he hunted through his memory. At
last he exclaimed: II denver saw the young
Eeutlebud before"
He says ne knows you" said the doctor
'By sight" / exclaimed.
That's dot Improbable" said the prize
6ghter, with a glance at the sentry and q
eompiacent look round, aud holding up his
head. Il be public bad. Wherever my
dabe's hedtoued it's dode"
Look a this Young man" said the doc
tor, where lave you met him?"
"De6bcr saw bib in all my life. S'elp be
as true as by airs growing" returned the
pr,Zs-hghter.
lie says he saw you at Newgate"
Il was there" answered the prize-fghter,
pursuing up his eathery under lin.
observe him we'll and try to recollecJ if
be was prisoner2"
Dot in by THE" said the prIze-fghter
This insiuuatIon, after what l mad said.
enraRsd me- You know | never was A
prisoner, sir" l cried. You are acting in
humanity in trying TO confirm your hopes.
but not your suspicious. thAt l was one
was on a visit 10 the lail for nv entertain
meut My companion and { were con
Quoted 10 the prisoners Yisiting-room
There l saw Mr.. Barney Aaron in CONVEX
satlnn with Stout dark lady, gayly at
tired, and l looked at him with attention
because he WAS pointed cut to me as the
greatest Drize-hghteT OF the age, and that is
Why mentioned his name when yen asked
the whether L knew any OF the convicts on
board"
savage glow of pleasure Frightened the
prize-hgbter's eye as he listened; my auda-
clous address, my reference to the brute's
fame- acted upon his spirits like can of
drink. The sentry eyed me askant, the
Warder with a satisfaction which his fiat
rutilanly face could not conceal.
You saw be talking to my wife" said
Barney Aaron; "a stout splendid woban.
adsobiy dressed. as you nut it, sir. The cir
cumStance is ali correct"
~ gu can 20 below" said the doctor.
l received fierce, exulting, copgratula-
tory glance from the Jew as he turned about
In his shackles TO re-enter the door. He
might have meant TO applaud NE for my
fearless speech, or. which is more likely, he
might have meant to wish me luck in the
scheme which had brought me into conflict
With the surgeon, and which he would natu-
rally hope and believe was criminal.
The doctor now told me to pass on TO the
dol -.
take me below aud lock me up again. In
stead of which he left me standing outside
the de and went on to the poop
where he joined Captain Sutherland and
his military companions, all OF whom had
been gazing at US from over the brass rail
while We talked with Mr.. Barney Aaron
could not understand the meaning or this
Doctors puUposeless questions ana be-
haYioT, but l daresay l was right when
sup osed lie intended TO let everybody see
aud understand that he was first in the shin
Always IN the days of the convict ship
the unhappy criminals were dispatched
across the sea in charge of a naval medical
officer appointed by the admiralty and
called the urgeon-superintendent The
ship was virtually placed in his hands to do
what he pleased with, and though | don't
suppose he was empowered TO interfere in
the navigation Of the vessel, he was IN
doubleday privileged to order the master 10
call INTO such ports on the way as he Che
surge0n) might choose to name; thereby
retaTdlng the voyage of the ship, and
perhaps imperiling her, as was the
case with a certain convict ship
which was nearly lost through the
surgeon ordering that she should
make SimOns Bay under conditions of sea-
sons and weather which the captain de-
clared dangerous. Hence there was usually
strong feeling between the surgeon
superintendent and the captain and mates.
! suspected something Of that sort here
and believed DR.. Russell-Ellice had given
himself a great deal of unnecessary trouble
to prove me this, that and the other, merely
that the captain and mates should see what
very clever fellow he was, how very much
In earnest also in his resolution to strut 10
the very topmost Inches Of his little dignity
and his brief authority.
CHAPTER Xxx.
SHE CONyERSEs WITH HER COUSIN.
Presently | STAMPED leisnrelY into the re-