Omaha daily bee., 1896-11-01
Copyright. 1896, by Clinton RossJ
CHAPTER V.

CHAPTER V.
HOW | AM CARRIED ACROSS THE SEA.
Here was / In the strangcst prCdicament.
Here was mystery out OF the house next door
selling of my actual self-that uncertainty
OF the great town we are 10th to confess
which Louis Stevenson makes one feel in his
''Ncw Arabian Nights" | could be certain,
as have said. that there was no dream
about 1t. for although my head ached and
my mouth was dry, was palpabe and the
swish OF the water and the thud OF the en-
gine left me no doubt at ALL
raised myself to find | was lying in the
berth fully dressed; remembered that they
had only to take me to boat at the foot
OF the street where had been seized-for
what purpose | could not fancy; only 1t was
patent | had been meddlng with powerful
person or interest,"; yet not twenty-four hours
since in my cousins house, had been talk
ing polite commonplaces. And now--l raised
my face to a line with the port that framed
the green, scattered with white caps, against
the blue Of the further distance, merging
into gray that suddenly glowed with the
splendor of the setting sun, seeking the
frothing crests Of the waves. dab OF
irregular black marked a passing steamship
on the opposite tack and | saw from the
sun we were on a southeast course.
II was some time before | was able to
collect my dazed mind enough even for
these observations. | noticed then that the
room showed the private steam yacht-the
wood carving the scattered toilet appoint
ments the size OF the room. the motion of
the vessel / tried the door, but 1t was
locked, then | turned back to a closer OBJ
servation of the place. Something carved
on the wall caught my attention and
,aI fpVf arl 10 -ft hn
light entering the port This was skill
fully done, and showed a boar and fox
rampant on n field azure, surmounted by a
crown. | tried to place the device which
might mean anything or nothing, when at
the moment the key turned in the door,
which swung open, showing against mar
row corridor very tall. bearded man. He
looked at me attentively for n moment
He wore dark blue uniform with buttons
bearing the same device as on the wood
work in the cabin. | suppose | looked very
pale. and indeed. the motion-with the drug
from which | was recovering-lcn de-
Cided nausea, which the gust from the port
through the opened door relieved. | con-
Cudcd this person was the skipper, for
he bore evidence OF belonging to the sea.
For a moment we stood there staring at
each other.
You would like something to eat, prob
ably? That will make you feel better said
he In very good French, and in tone that,
apart from liS manner, tONDNtl NOT hNtlNll.
Tho manner and the pronunciation of tho
French (which, however, saw was not his
tonguc) placed him at once a man who either
had been born In gentle circumstances, or
who had acquired some manner from asso-
citation. ! had time to reflect in the scrutiny
he gave me that II did not profit particularly
to rage and fume and call down the law
which my captors evidently held themselves
superior to. and so | asked, In voice sound
ing sepulchrally hollow. simply for an eN'
PLANTATION.
"You are at sea--a prisoner"
81 know that well, but whose prisoner
and what have done?"
He shrugged his shoulders.
81 can't tell you, monsieur Your qucs
tions are entirely useless"
But | can imagine that II has something
to do with an occurrence yesterday
"You need not question me, monsC
have told you | can say absolutely nothing
on that-Or any subject"
"And | am to be kept here until"
"Yos until" He smiled. II may al
well leave 1t until But, really, as yol
appear TO be man OF sense-as you see
am a servant--you will not trouble me with
useless questions"
"If they are useless"
"They are. monsieur" he interrupted with
grufr impatence. "a can tell you only that
you are to be kept Antonio" he called
back into the corridor, when a little dark
waiter appeared. with tray | told them
to take the things away, as | certainly was
not In tho temper for food when my reti-
cent keeper insisted with return of his
urbanity that | doubtless should feel better
for it-after the drug | had been under.