Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-14

who, about o'clock in the morning, al
most fell on the neck of Captain Shewell
as they babe him goodby. Then for the
rest of the night coal was carried out to
the Hornet in boats instead Of her coming
to dock to load.
BY daybreak her coal was aboard; clean
ing up then came, and preparations to de-
part. Captain Shewell's eye was now
much on the Cormorant He had escaped
one danger-he had landed $500, 900 worth
NJ nnIrro IN tho nioht rnder the ver-v
nose of the law, and while customs boats
were patrolling the bay, but there was an
other danger-the Inconsistencies of the
CormoranG. III was etiquette Tor hlln 70
call upon the captain of the Cormorant
and he ought to have done so the evening
before, but he dared not run the risk, nor
could he run it this morning. And yet II
the Cormorant discovered that the Hornet
was not British man-ofwar, but bold
and splendid imposture, made possible by
q daring ex-officer of the British navy,
she might open fire, and he could make
but sorry fight, for he 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 crew carefully, many Of them
deserters from the British navy, drilled
them, and at last made this bold venture
under the teeth Of fortress, and at the
mouth of warships guns
Just as he was lifting anchor to get
away he saw boat shoot out from the
side of the Cormorant. Captain Debney,
indignant at the lack Of etiquette and a
little suspicious also-for there was no
Hornet in the Pacific squadron, though
there was Hornet, he knew, in the Chi
ma squadron-was coming to see the dis
courteous commander. He was received
according to custom and was greeted at
once by Captain Showell. AS the eyes Of
the two men met both started, but Cap
tain Debney most. He turned white and
put his hand to the boatside to steady
himself. But Captain Shewell held the
hand that had been put out, shook it,
pressed it. He tried to press Captain Deb
ney forward, but the other drew back to
the gangway.
Pull yourself together Dick, or there
will be mess" said Shewell softly.
my God, how could you do it' replied
his brother aghast.
Meanwhile the anchor had been raised
and the Hornet was moving toward the
haTbor mouth.
''You have ruined us BOTH" said Rich
ard Debney.
Neither Dickl I'll save your bacon"
He made sign, the gangway was closed,
he gave the word for full steam ahead,
and the Hornet began to race through the
water before Captain Debney guessed his
purposes.
"What do you mean to dor" he asked
sternly as he saw his gig falling astern.
"To make it hard for%ou to blow me to
pieces. You've got to do it, of course, If
you can, but 1 must get start"
"How far do you intend taking me?"
GAS far as the Farilones perhaps"
Richard Debney's face had a 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 as
we'll not to listen too closely to those who
part, knowing that they will never meet
again. They had been children in the one
mothers arms. There was nothing in
common between them now except the old
love.
Nearing the Farilones Captain Debney
was put off in an open boat. Standing
there alone, he was once moro naval Off
Ger, and he called out sternly, Sir, hope
to sink you and your smuggling craft
within four and twenty hours"
Captain Shewell spoke no word, but
saluted slowly, deliberately, and watched
his brothers boat recede till it was a
speck upon the sea as 1t moved toward
Golden Gate.
Good old Dick!' he said at last as he
turned ovvav toward the bridnn t,aOd he'll
do it If he can. /"
But he never did, for as the Cormorant
cleared the harbor that evening there
came an accident to her machinery, and
with two days start the Hornet was ON
her way to be sold again to a South Amer
lean republic.
And Edward Debney, once her captainf
What does it matterY His mother believes
him dead. Let us do the same.-Gilbert
Parker in Westminster Budget.