The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1895-05-03

soui Sc that Sail was shortened on every
possible excuse. and often without ex-
cuse at all; that sheets and haulyards
were constantly carrying away, and
consequently the days run was often
very much short of what 1t should have
been. The navigation of Herero and
his mates also was, to my mind, sloven-
ly and careless, but when 1 spoke to
McAlpine about 1t he told me l could
not expect foreigners to do things ship
shape and Bristol fashion.
McAlpine. indeed was so delighted
at the meeting with his brother that
he had no thought for anything else.
He read with Juanita for hours daily,
for his brother. like himself, had a
fondness for books, and in his hurried
escape from Valparaiso had not forgot
ten to have goodly supply of his
ravorites sent aboard the yacht.
Sometimes, while the two brothers
We're together talking of old days. or
lndulging in bright hopes for the fu-
ture, 1 had the opportunity of enjoying
the companionship of Juanita. Though
sun girl, she had the appearance and
mind of mature woman, and I. though
two or three years older than she, felt
quite boy-like in her presence. though
this did not prevent me from falling
deeply and madly In love with her.
Her father and uncle did not seem 20
mind this; in fact I think they were
both so happy that they were content
that everyone else should enjoy them
selves In thir own way.
The time passed quickly enough. and
one day when Herero came and report
ed that some of the water casks had
been leaking. and that 1t would be nee
essary for us to put in at one of the
South Sea Islands for a fresh supply.
we all looked upon it as pleasant ex-
cuse for prolonging our voyage. and
Juanita and l amused ourselves with
trying to imagine what these coral
islands We're really Ike.
Our happy calm was soon to be rude
ly dispelled. One evening. as was
lounging over the weather bulwarks
just before the main rigging, Smith
son came to me and said:-
Il have something to tell you, but
we must take care nobody hears us"
why. what's up? Is the ship over
board or what?"
It's no laughing matter" he replied.
l looked him full In the face and saw
that he looked as If he was frightened
out OF his wits, so walking short way
aft sat down with him on a coil OF
rope. and told him to tell his story.
TITS Just this: we are all to be muir
dered and robbed. and then sent adrift
In boat 1t will be worse than being
In the gig after the Vandal blew up"
Briefly, his story was THISTLE had
40 a aYsl hA lii
together, and from their conversation
ne gathered that one was an escaped
convict. who had been bushranger.
beachcomber, and probably pirate
while the other. though not such past
master in villiany as his companion,
was ready to remedy any deficiencies
In his education In wickedness as quick.
ly as possible He too, had been a
beachcomber for some time, and also
been engaged in what Is called by
courtesy the labor trade.
These two fellows were engaged ir
concocting a plot how to manage to get
the schooner and Don Pedro's wealth
out of the hands of Herero after that
worthy had disposed of the rightfu
owner and made away with all OF us
except Juanita, who was to be part OF
Herero's share of the plumber
Herero, it appeared, was connected
in some way with the people who had
driven Don Pe@ro from South America
and the mur&sr of the other skipper
was part OF a plot they had got up tc
render themselves masters of Juanita
and the valuahles aboard the yacht.
Herero, 1t appeared, from what Smith
4. f..A- \
! associates false, and make himself
', master Of the schooner, of the wealth
and of Juanita. The two English ruff
fans had fallen into his plans readily
and so had the remainder of the crew
Although Herero had hatched this plot
he had not told the men of the large
amount of property which was on board
the vessel; but had represented It as
being about ten thousand dollars, which
he had promised to divide equally
among the crew he taking the same as
any other, save and except that Juanita
was to fall to his share in addition to
the money.
Jem Butcher and Bill Giles, as the
two Englishmen were called, put their
heads together, and did not think that
Herero would run the risk of halter
for few hundred dollars, and a girl,
however beautiful, and had come to the
conclusion that he was playing for a
bigger prize, and was acting falsely to
the men.
why" Smithson had heard Butcher
say, I've spent more on one spree.
after a good haul than this blackfaced
Spaniard would give us now. It's my
I, =
to collar the swag for him. and job us
off with a few dirty dollars; and then
there's the girl. too. Law, the first
stretch I ever did was along
Of girl like that. and I'd
like to make this fal lal bit of
stuff do servant to me; IL she wouldn't
I'd whip her into 1t. l say old mate, 1t
would be fine time on one of these is-
lands along Of girl like that"
To reproduce the conversation Of
these two would be impossible, so gar
nished with oaths and obscenlty; but
their plan was to allow Herero and
the Spanish part Of the crew to seize
the yacht, and then, with the aid Of
the two negroes. to murder them. and
afterwards 10 kill the negroes. and so
have all the spoil to themselves, though
I have small doubt that both Giles and
Butcher determined to get rid OF his
partner in guilt as soon as possible.
My blood boiled when I thought OF
the possibility Of Juanita falling into
the power of such rufiians as these two
men were and telling Smithson to keep
watch and to give an alarm instantly
If he saw anything suspicious, for II
was evident from what he had heard
that It was drawing near for Herero
to carry his plan into execution, went
and told the two brothers what Smith
son had heard.
They were much alarmed, and de-
tO