The morning call., 1893-06-18

the sky was cloud ess; the rlppling of
the water made you think of gentle
noise OF grish laughter, and the heave
Of the swell shouldered in stately vol
unes out of the west, wide drawn and
round backed. SO that the movements of
the brig were like pulse. Tom rested
the telescope on the bulwark rail and
looked at the approaching boats. He con-
tinued to gaze. / feared the boats would
draw near enough to enable the people to
see him. He suddenly turned to me with
pale face that was yet dark with frown
and exclaimed. Marian, Rotch and Nod
der are there" With that he gave the
telescope 10 Bates, and merely adding,
Report when the islanders are gone and
you've trimmed for the start" lie walked
TO his berth.
My heart now began to beat wildly and
felt faint and sick with excitement. win
and Bates looked at me. l said: "1'll with
draw to the end of the deckhouse. Does
not my face tell story!"
GU look like ghost" exclaimed VIII,
land your eyes are like live Goals. Go
right away aft and keen quiet and take
time to screw your fiddlestrlugs of nerves
into tune. Mr.. Bates and I'll manage bet
ter without you"
mounted to the roof of the house and
posted myself at the extreme end there
was q chair there. | placed it so that l
could command a view of the gangway and
testing myself for this weakness, yet ex-
cusing myself too for surely never could
there happen moment in a woman's life
more charged with supreme tragic interest
than this.
The two boats drew alongside. the quar-
ter-boas laden with casks of fresh water.
The first to step on deck was Rotch.
knew him instantly. His face. while he
stood IN the witness-bCx giving evidence
| against Tom, had burnt itself into my
memory; l should have been able then as
should be able now to pick him out in
moment from among a thousand. He
sprang into the main chains and got over
the buiwarks actively. He was dressed IN
| blue cloth and wore blue cloth cap with
naval peak: his face was sallow, as
though he was newly recovered from au
| illness. He was of Toms height, without
my sweethearts manly breadth and inim-
liable sailorly carriage, but be was an ex-
| ceedlngy handsome man: many might
| have thought him handsomer than Tom.
After he had come on board there was
some delay; two or three vigorous island
ers then climbed over the side, and with
much trouble and no little peril-for the
| swell hove the boat very high and sank
| her very low while the brig leaned heavily
| away and then depressed her other rail till
| you thought she had submerged the liue of
| 1.-THE carpenter Nodder was lifted through
the gangway. Ee stood with difficulty
|
was at some little distance from me, but
my sight was good he seemed CHASTITY ill,
the ghastlier because of the length of his
greasy carroty locks of hair and tho viii
lain Gus aspect he took from his deformed
eye. He was dressed in old canvas tr0uS-
ers an old monkey jacket and fur cap.
had lost sight OF Rotch Bates spoke
| to Nodder. While this was doing third
| fellow came on board he was John Col
Inns, the seaman who had been saved with
| ROtch and the carpenter. He took hold of
| Nodder aud led him slowly forward and
helped him into the forecastle through the
| scuttle.
| Pll now tell you what happened as
| straightforward aud briefly as l can dictate
| 1t. The ISLANDERS went TO work TO get the
water on board and stow the casks. fThev
| sprang like goats, so fleet were their sure
feet, as mountaineers. Collins came out
| of the forecastie and helped them; |
walked toward the fore part of the deck
! house to observe that man; he was just
plain, average example OF the foremast
| hand, freckled, yellow haired. a mat OF
| reddish beard upon his throat, big, silly,
wandering eyes; his clothes duck breeches.
flannel shirt and old Scotch cap. l drew
! back, hearing the voice of ROtch, and re-
| turned to my chair.
Presently they had whipped all the water
below and were busy in hosting the quar-
| ter-boat aboard. While this was doing
! Rotch came up the deckhouse steps. He
looked at the island while he mounted the
| ladder aud did not observe me TIL he was
| on the roof of the house. He came to a
stand very abruptly, and after staring with
| many tokens Of astonishment in his
posture and looks. lifted his cap. l-turned
my head. No doubt he was surprised to
! find well-drPssed woman sitting on
the deckhouse top of that little brig of 200
| tons.
| Well dressed was as dress then went ::
n hQ l had iau
| during the fortnight we had been on board
! the Od Stormy, but then it was almost
| new dress when | took it off and packed it
up at Woolwich. and 1t still looked new. l
remember that gown very well; IL was of
| black merino with a velvet cape, long
sleeves for which l had no wristbands,
the bodice with an embroidered collar and
| bound 10 the waist by band. My hat was
| narrow brimmed with curled feathers;
this sort of headgear had not long been in
fathion when / purchased the thing. |
| was without jewelry and other finishing
details, but the fellow Ro.ch al little dis
tance would detect no omissions; he found
| a well-dresSed. nay. | may almost call the
| inquire fashionably dressed, woman view
ing the proceedings of the islanders, and
his bearing and prolonged stare expressed
| his surprise.
| was unable to look at him, that is
while he looked at me. The devil that
was in Tom was in me, too; [ could have
| shot the horrid villain as he stood there.
| But now IN the corners of my eyes l be-
| held MIN approaching, | trembled vio-
ently. the throbUing of my heart made me
feel i'll again. Yet thought to myself if
| that man accosts me | must answer him
and be civil. Times are when the human
| Instincts are perternatural in dtvinati0n
| The cOntagon of our secret may be in the
air. Such must be that villains conscience
that. let him suspect tran. no matter how
dim and faint his suspicion, he'd fling him.
| self into the whaleboat while she was still
alongside ahd Tom would lose him.
Rightly or wrongly thus L thought in the
few seconds ot his approach, and now he
stood close and was addressing me.
MAY / inquire" said he. lifting his cap
again, IF l have the pleasure of speaking
to the wife of the captain of this brig?
| knew that my face was of a milky
whiteness; nv mouth was dry, my breath
ing labored. | answered low and tremu-
lousy, II am not the wife of the captain"
Do not believe that [ was afraid | was
sick ana cold and shivered with the pas
sion l hid; | dared not lift my eyes lest
behoding the dog with his smile and bland
looks | should leap to my feet, spit in his
face strike and curse him.
You are perhaps passenger, madam 2"
said he.
slightly inclined my head, keeping my
eyes fastened upon the island.
Il understand" he continued. that this
briggs destination is Table Bay. 1t is very
fortunate for me that you have called
I