Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-02-15

|
A few minutes elgpsed, and Gordon came
quickly from the Jeershop, followed by a
man who carried a lantern.
"I've found a man to take MS over. He
knows the Mariners Joy" said Gordon as
he joined me.
.Know the JOY, ahr chimed in the old
waterman with grin. "Ill 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 a man.
"Goyernors gone over to the Mariners
JOY, sir" said he Left this party to row
you across"
II can do without him." said Gordon.
I've found another man to do that job"
CHAPTER xxx.
CAPTURED.
The long visaged driver expostulated.
'Mr. Kavanagh engaged this man, sir,
said he, "aud he'd been here, only he's just
gone down to see that his boat was all
right"
"That's lief' 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 IA seed him if 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 a bloomn furriner, as can't
asst for drop O. beer in plain EnglishF
Anyhow" said Gordon decisively, II
shall take the man I've engaged. He's more
likely to get through this fog than a man
who doesn't know the river well," and
turning to me he would have persuaded
me TO return to the carriage and 20 nc
| further, but ! resolutely refused to accede
TO this proposal, feeling that the least l
could do was 10 stand by him 10 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
a sullen nod. | looked around for the con
federate, but he had disappeared
The waterman, carrying the lantern, de
seended 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 be
might be free to defend himself in case Of
attack, my reason being swayed by con
tlicting feelings. Anything might happen,
| knew not what. Would these men, baked
in the design to get Gordon into their boat,
attempt TO seize him now2 IL was posi-
bic, but IL 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 4
of it pretty well whether my boats right /
for the JOY"
Not much danger Of being fouled by |
anything tonight" Gordon remarked.
No, sir; there amt nothn but the police I
boat movin tonight and no craft lying in
the Pool betwixt this and Doggets' crick. "
Nevertheless before we had gone a couple
OF yards we ran into something-what it
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 us.
Il lay it's them dangnation furriners
a-foulin us out OF spite. II it had been a
Englishman, he'd "a swore at us like a
man."
He replaced the lantern and took the oars
again. For some time he rowed in silence:
then, after pause, he growled out some
particularly strong words in an undertone
and pulled with onsoar only. The mutter.
ing ceased, and he laid himself to both oars
with redoubled vigor Presently be paused
again, and with another outburst of forcible
expressions tugged at one oar viciously.
After third repetition of this singular be
havior he said, in reply to Gordon question:
What's the matter, masters Why, this
is the most mysterious thing ever knowed.
| keeps on a-draggin and a-draggin of her
up, and it pears like as if she KEEP on a-goin
down. | 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 a glimmer
of light, do your"
tits as black as the deuce all round"
well, we're bound to get the way on her
now if GIBBS is ebbs," he muttered as be la
bored at the single oar. Then, after pull.
ing in silence for a minute or two, mister,
it don't seem to you like as if you heerd
anything but my oar a-goin, do it,"
"No.n
That's a good un too. Bother me if /,
don't think | can smell that taller ship
a-layin of Doggets' crick Cos me if II
amt taller too. Here. look at this" be
cried suddenly, after leaning over the side
and dipping his hand in the water. Were
a goin quicker than the tide"
The waterman carrying the lantern de
sccHdcd to the tCuter's edge.
he caught up the lantern, and casting its
light into the forepart of the boat be add
ed, with running accompaniment Of ex-
pletives:
If didn't think sol It's them under
handed furriners playin this trick on us.
They re got line on US. a-towin us down "
Setting down the lantern, he scrambled