The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-10-28

on the Other SIDE 10 That entered Dy GORDON.
Another and another followed, all with
swift stealth. Outside they stood together
for moment looking gigantic in the fog.
Then, as the driver whistled again from
the shore, they started off at a run t,ward
the waterside. Probably knowing that !
must be In the carriage. they kept as far
the three phantom figures file past and
disappear into the darker distance.
A few minutes elapsed, and Gordon came
quickly from the b ershop, followed by a
man who carried a lantern.
1--WE found a man to take Us over. He
knows the Mariners JOY" said Gordon as
he joined me.
'Know the Joy, ahp chimed in the old
waterman with grin. "I'll get ye across
somehow, though I'll have to kinder feel
my way, reckon. In this here fog"
Just then the driver came running up
with man.
Governors gone over TO the Mariners
Joy. sir" said he Left this party to row
you across"
II can do without him." said Gordon.
"pve found another man TO do that Job"
CHAPTER xxx
CAPTURED.
The long visaged driver expostulated.
"Mr Kavanaph engaged this man, sir"
said he, "and he'd been here. only he's just
gone down to see that his boat was all
right"
"That's a lie" cried the waterman Cor
don had found. "Why, him and his mates
were in the Dog and Duck when this gent
came in, and he'd "a seed him II he'd gone
in the jug department stead Of the bar
side. Sides. who are your" he added COM
batively, holding his lantern In the others
face. "You amt no licensed waterman
you amt nobody of these parts. Why. you
amt nothin but bloomin furriner, as can't
asst for a drop O. beer in plain Englishp'
Anyhow" said Gordon decisively, II
shall take the man I've engaged. He's more
likely to get through this fog than man
who doesn't know the river WELL" and
turning to me he would have persuaded
me TO return TO the carriage and go nc
further. but rcsolutely refused to accede
to this proposal, feeling that the least
could do was to stand by him to the last.
''You will wait here till We return" said
Gordon to the driver as he gave me his arm.
The man, evidently disconnected by the
unlocked for turn Of affairs, responded with
n sullen nod. looked around for the con-
fedcrate, but he had disappeared.
The waterman. carrying the lantern, de-
scended to the waters edge with swing
ing gait, and we followed at his heels.
Then he left US to fetch his boat. olsen
gagged my hand from Gordon's arm that no
might be free to defend himself in case of
attack, my reason being swayed by con-
ficting feelings. Anything might happen,
knew not what. Would thesemen, baked
in the desiR6 to get Gordon into their boat,
off ny.t To aai1 4 xxvoc
bic, but II seemed to me more probable
that in view OF an alarm being raised by
the waterman they would follow us to Fer
ryboat stairs and make the attempt nearer
to the Joy, where they might have the
assistance Of Putty or any other agents en-
ployed in the affair. Nevertheless every
sense was on the alert to catch a sign OF
movement in the still darkness that sur
rounded us.
The lantern bobbed up and down as the
boatman scrambled from boat to boat until
he reached his wherry and pulled into the
shore We got into the boat and seated
ourselves in the stern. The waterman set
the lantern at our feet and pushed off.
"The light amt no manner o. good to
me-" he explained. "I've got to feel my
way acrost. The tides a-runnin out about
three-quarters, and shall know by the wash
Of 1t pretty well whether my boats right
for the JOY"
''Not much danger of being fouled by
anything tonight" Gordon remarked
mo, sir; there amt nothin but the police
boat movin tonight and no craft lying In
the Pool betwixt this and Doggets' crick"
Nevertheless before we had gone couple
of yards we ran into something-what 1t
was could not be discovered, for by the time
Peter Mech had lifted up the lantern
nothing could be seen either ahead or along
side Of u.s.
II lay it's them dangnation furriners
a-foulin us out OF spite If it had been
Englishman, he'd "a swore at us like
man."
He replaced the lantern and took the oars
again. For some time he rowed in silence;
then, after a pause, he growled out some
particularly strong words in an undertone
and pulled with one oar only. The mutter-
ing ceased, and he laid himself to both oars
with redo1bled vigor. Presently he paused
again, and with another outburst of forcible
expressions tugged Mt one oar viciously.
After a third repetition of this singular be-
havior he said, in reply to Gordon's question::
Whats the matter, masteri Why, this
is the Saost mysterious thing ever knowed.
keeps on a-draggin and a-draggln or her
up, and It pears like as il she KEEP on a-goin
down. l can't get any way on her any
hows. And we ought TO be right over by
this time. You don't see ne'er glimmer
of light, do your"
''It's as black as the deuce al round"
"Well, we're bound to get the way on her
now II ebbs Is ebbs." he muttered as he la
bored at the single oar. Then, after pull
ing In silence for minute or two, mister,
IL don't seem to you like as IL you heerd
anything but my oar a-goin, do itf"
"No."
THAT'S a good un too. Bother me IL I
don't think I can smell that taller ship
a-layin of Doggets' crick. Cuss me IL 1t
amt taller too. Here, look at this" he
cried suddenly, after leaning over the side
and dipping his hand In the water. Were
a-goin quicker than the tide"
He caught up the lantern. and casting its
light into the forepart Of the boat he add