The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-08-30

WHO, aUout O'CLOCK In the morning, al
most fell on the neck Of Captain Shovel
os they bado him goodby. Than for tho
rest Of the night coal was carried out to
tho Hornet In boats instead Of her coming
to dock to load
BY doybroak her coal was aboard; clean
Ing up thon came, and preparations to de-
part. Captain Showell's eye was now
much on tho Cormorant. BE had escaped
one danger-he had landed $500, GOO worth
of opium In tho night, under tho very
nose of tho law, and while customs boats
were patrolling tho bay, but there was an.
other danger-the inquisitiveness Of tho
CNrinorant. It was etiquette for him to
call upon tho captain Of the CormoSent
and no ought to haye done go tho evening
before, but ho dared not run tho risk, nor
could he run 1t this morning. And yet Ii
the Cormorant discovered that tho Hornet
was not British man-o fwar, but bold
and splendid impoSture, made possible by
daring ex-offlcer Of the British navy,
She might open fro, and BIO could make
but sorry fight, for no was equipped for
show rather than for deadly action He
had got this ex-British man of-war two
years before, purchased In Brazil by two
adventurous spirits in San Francisco had
selected his crow carefully, many Of them
deserters from tho British navy, drilled
them, and at last made this bold venture
under the teeth Of a fortress, and at the
mouth of warship's guns
Just as he was lifting anchor 10 get
away he saw boat shoot out from tho
side of tho Cormorant. Captain Debney,
indignant at the lack Of etiquette and
littlo suspicious alsQ-for there was no
Hornet In the Poetic squadron, though
there was Hornet, no know, In the Chi
ma squadron-was coming to 500 the dis
courteous commander. Ho was received
according to custom and was greeted OF
once by Captain Shcwcu AS the eyes of
tho two men met both started, but Cap
tain Debnoy most. He turned white aud
put his hand to the boatside to steady
himself. But Captain Sheweu held the
hand that had been put out, shook it,
pressed it Ho tried to press Captain Deb
ney forward, but tho other drow back to
the gangway.
Pull yourself together Dick. OF there
will be mess" said Shcwell softly
My God, how could you do itl' replied
his brother, aghast.
Meanwhile tho anchor had been raised
and tho Hornet was moving toward tho
harbor mouth.
You have ruined us BOTH" said Rich
ard Dcbncy.
Neither, Dickl I'll save your bacon"
He Inado sign, tho gangway was closed,
no gavo the word for full steam ahead,
and tho Hornet began to race through the
water before Captain Dobney guessed his
purposcs
What do you mean to doi'' no asked
sternly us no saw his gig falling astern
ITO mako it hard for you to blow me to
pieces. You've got to do it, of course, if
you can, but l must get u start
How fur do you intend taking mop
n c fIr. nc bA mil
Richard Dcbncy's face had sick look.
Take me to your cabin" he whispered.
What was said behind the closed door no
man in this world knows and it is MS
we'll not to listen too closely to those who
part, knowing that they will never meet
again. They had boon children in the one
mothers arms. There was nothing i'm
common between them now except the old
love
Nearing tho Fariloncs Captain Debney
was put oil in an open boat. Standing
there alone, no WIS onoo moro naval off
Ger, and he called out sternly, Sir hope
to sink you and your smuggling craft
within four and twenty hoursl'
Captain Showell spoke no word. but
saluted slowly, deliberately, and watched
his brothers boat recede till it was a
speck upon the SEQ as it moved toward
Golden Gate
Good old Diok!" he said at last as ho
turned away toward tho bridge, land he'll
do it If no cnn."
But ne mover did, for as tho Cormorant
cleared the harbor that evening there
camo an accident to her machinery, and
with two days start tho Hornet was on
her way to be sold again to South Amer
lean republic.
And Edward Dobney, once her captain?
What does it matter? His mother believes
him dead. Lot us do the samc.-Gilbert
Parker in Westminster Budget.