The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-02
CHAPTER vIII-Continued.

The boat was now close alongside the
Wanderer, and Captain Fox stood ready
30 receive his visitor.
Colonel Graham ascended to the deck
with the light, active step Of a much
younger man, and he met Captain Fox
with more heartiness than might be ex-
pected from one Of his austere bearing.
he was evidently known to the other
officers of the ship, for they raised then
hats to him, and he bowed in his state
ly, condescending way as he accom-
panied Captain Fox to the cabin, fol-
lowed by Othello, bearing the strange
saddlebags. ,.
-. Othello, with his load, was turned
over to the care Of Don, the cabin boy,
and the Captain said when they were
In his private cabin
You must be weary with YOUR jour
ney, and will need rest before we at
tempt to transact any business"
g Il shall need to make some change in
4; my Dress" said the Colonel, glancing
over his travel-stained attire. And,
must confess should, under the cir
cumstances, feel that short rest was
necessary; but I am too eager for action
to wait.
"A day more or less can make no diff
ference" said Fox, with an interroga-
tive infection on the last word.
An hour, sir, may be of vital import
ance to the success Of our venture. If
quite convenient for you to provide me
with some slight refreshment, after
have washed, shall be grateful"
AS you will, Sir" said Capt Fox,
with q manner that, to an observant
eye, would have shown strange mix
ture of acquiescence and contempt.
The Colonel was shown to the cabin
set apart for him, and Othello was sum-
moned to aid his master in making his
toilet.
When Col. Graham again came into
the cabin, he found it darkened, and
the swinging lamps blazed on repast
such as no other ship in the service OF
Queen Anne could have provided on
such short notice.
Accustomed as Col. Graham was to
the luxury and display which distin-
guished the English court at this time,
he looked about him with surprise and
ventured TO say:
BY the throne, sir, you must find no
deprivation in living in such ship"
I'VE take care Of ourselves, Colonel;
II we did not, fear that, as in some of
her majesty's ships, there would be a
mutiny."
But this is still one Of her majesty's
ships?"
"Nominally, Colonel, suppose it is.
We fly the flag, as you have seen; but
the colors at the peak when we 60 into
action are shade or two less sanguin-
ary, and very many shades more
somber."
The Captain was smiling and rubbing
his hands as he said this, and there was
30 much horrible suggestiveness in his
words and manner, that Colonel Graham
looked quickly and anxiously about
him to make sure that no other person
was within hearing.
I'VE are quite alone, Colonel Gra-
ham. The food here is, think, moder-
stely good, but as to the wine-here are
four kinds-I swear that better cannot
be found in the cellars Of st. James"
Captain Fox sat down on the opposite
side Of the table to serve his guest,
rather than with any desire for food.
You have seen Denham, said Colonel
Graham, after he had been eating for
some minutes in silence.
Il have seen him repeatedly"
: And what do you think Of him?"
AS sailor I think he has, for his
years, no superior. AS man he is we'll
made, handsome and, so we'll as I-who
never had taste for literature or phil
osophy could tell, he is a most schol-
Rrly person.
He is we'll liked by the people here?'
Liked by the men and loved by
nearly all the women, I regret to say"
All, have you already run counter to
each other in the lists Of lover" asked
the Colonel, a glitter in. his gray eyes
that might have passed for merriment,
II the hard, cruel mouth did not belle it.
Il cannot say that, laughed Captain
Fox. And yet, egad, Colonel, have
not seen so many beautiful women in
all my sailing as this little out-of-the-
way place affords"
You surprise me"
yet do utter the solemn truth. By
the trident Of the Sea God, should not
mind prolonging my stay for the rest OF
the year"
Il regret to tell you that circum-
stances of greater importance to you
than To me will compel your departure
within the week. II you carry out my
plans, you can return again, and remain
as long as you please" The Colonel
shot glance at Captain Fox, and went
on eating.
II the Captain was startled by this
information, neither his face nor voice
gave any indication thereof. AS If he
were trying to keep up an interest in
the conversation, rather than seeking
information on matter to him Of the
greatest moment, he asked:
why do you think should leave, if
your affair is out Of the question:"
Il saw the Governor OF the province
three days since, in the city Of New
York, and he read to me the report of
Captain Ralph Denham, which ne had
received not an hour before. This told
me that Denham had arrived, about the
t:re we expected. But Denham in
closed letter to the Governor Of New
York from the Governor of Jamaica.
OF this letter, l heard part"
Can you recall it?"
Distinctly. 1t was almost verbatim,
as follows: The fears that the Adven-
ture Galley, which your honor assigned
to the command Of Captain William
Kidd, has been lost in storm, or de-
stroyed by pirates, is, unfortunately,
not well founded"
"So-ho!" exclaimed the Captain. BY
the powers of the storm! my friend
Captain William Kidd, would not feel
grateful to his excellency, the Cover.
Cor of Jamaica, il he heard that. But
pardon the interruption. What reason
did he give for thinking 1t unfortunate
that the Adventure Galley was not
swallowed up by the sea, or blown up
by the buccaneers OF the Spanish