Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-19

uhr thlu tnV khlnprr Hnnirntinhhly,
II think wo had, " rvplied Curtis, "nnd
tho toonor tho better. smell wind"
WELL that's whit we want" said tho
skipper
why, 30 we do" answered Curtis.
Hut " means tho md 81 the foE. and
we want that, too, III we have enough
oninH 10 ho clear 81 tho fort and that Infer.
mi gnnrlhont you talk Of II was "out
sweeps" again. and tho lnRgor wns soon
henNing slowly hrnward aa tho crow, woli
aware Of their danger, strained with u
VIII, Now and again came little puif u
wind IN their teeth, shatinp tho sails NOR
rily mud hnr,ying tho mist. II was fast
clearing, tina, was only too plain, and Car
tis was staring over the Hieru, expecting
every nioinont 10 mako out tho lnnd
Quicker and quicker emma tho flaws "
wind, III nftor a quarter NJ an hours row.
Ing camo onc that held. Tho Content paid
on with a luxurious rolf the sails filled
and drew, nnd IN another minute began
tho pleasant slop Of tho water under hor
leo bow RH Hhc hcOlcd uypr and settled
down IN tho .lnrhoard iaok
THANK God for this' calculated thu
skipper ~ ho Stood, tlllur In baud, cxhll'
nrn,cd with the senae Of his vessels sub,
icotion, "Stow tho sweeps, my lads.
givo II In rs We won't be wanting them
much thls day"
won't you so about" asked Curtis
coming 10 his sidr, "ThiH will carry us
straight across this hRrbora mouth"
"Daren't, sir" answered tho skipper.
~ must have room 20 weather tho pc.nt
The tido Is running torrlblo strong"
Cant you luli u hit, Them"
"Not wind enough for her. sir, She
mnEcr hare hradwny ~ It Is"
"Ihcn 'tis hold tog or tho devil TO pay. "
won't DO much dlfiurout from that
rnoLun," answered tho akippor, unmoyod.
so thoro was nothing 10 do but hold On
ha they WERE Curtis moved nnlidahipa,
away from tho ouddy and stood there
leaning on the gunwnle With hlr yves ilNcd
shoroward, seeking Whit ho least wanted
to find. Tho coast was stlll invisible, but
In that there waA litllo comfort. Thu olroln
of dancing winter around them had Widen.
ed out nlarminlly. Tho mlst, which had
bocn getting wotter and wuitVr, wan now
hardly mist NJ NIL, hut rather n ilnc drlz-
Eling rain. barely thick enough to conceal
them,
Reoipp how they were heading noross
the very java Of their danger thoru was
cause enough Tor anxiety. but apprehension
30 koe. va Curtis folt---so keen IN To hehr
MI ugly lihuness 10 fonr---war u fcolinp
siransc TO him, lie could only explain "
e. himself rs a prcsentiincnt Of coming
evil, Sot most OF us. remembering what
tho cudly hold. could have given him n
batter reason,
30 decply was no absorbed IN his watch
| ing that he wnp Nil unaware Of tho hands
| gathered forward, Whispering together
| and lacking eagerly his way, lilo was
| startled by u nervous clearing u throat
| behind him. aud, turning sharply round,
saw tho crow assembled, plainly on eonu
solemn intent with Dn1krt nj their hend
Thoy all removed ihelr oAps ~ no faced
them aud stood twisting them nwkwnrdly
| IN their hands, Tho two nearest to bucket
nudgod him defcwniinlly 10 thu ribs.
We'll, my lada. " cried Curtis, what 10
~"
Dnotet cicard his throat again aud bo'
gam
(which 10 Ia horlng 4, N no liberty, mo
and MY mates, elr no liberty " us and
| they have asked mo TO aAy, meaning M
disrospect, hs having boon told whU you
are eir--'no mRkiuR 10 bold, IN hopo
yuu'n pardon which they think you u
honor 20 tho country and would feel
mighty proud Just 10 shnsc your hand,
air, saving Your presence and no onenso,
| MIR. CurilH"
A thrill went starting through the llci'
tenant ~ no stopped forward nnd wrnnH
tho first thrry hhnd that cnnio, thrill
that, hard strung Rs he was, canio noar Ia
ming Ills eyes hut IN minute ho was
himself nitiing on tho top OF hnEahcn,i
tlNt stood forward. and relating with n
modeHt pride, m tho mon dragged tho do
tails uut with their questions Ills famous
action with tho prlyH,ocra. There wha no
fear loft or even apprehension, ncyohl
casting glance now and thon sborcwnfd
ho gave no Sign " his anxiety, lilo was
again frankly tho fighting animal end
cared not low soon u oaino TO bruhh
with the Runrdhont,
"Cnptninl" cried Lnoilo'a yolco. Gap
tnini Can speak with youf'
Curtis raw her standing before tho low
doorway, looking In those rude surround
inga like . fairy prlnocsa
"Ducke,," cried tho skipper take thu
tilipr mud keep hor full"
Sho was gone again, and Dunk after
her, leaving With Curtis three Impressions
--shp was beautiful, hhn was troubled aud
hm oyca hnh avoided him.
at win hardly do TO i'Eht now, lada, "
he said, continuing his oonvoran tion,
'thht Ia, n wa can help II, II wo arc
boarded those two must DO In hiding"
"'Thnt " not no oasy' Anii tho inatc'
"wn nre not lima " battle ship"
"wbat IA Ia the.c'' a.k~l Curtis, drum.
ming with HIS heel ON tho hogNhond
whcrr hr sat and pointing At another llko
10 that stood on tho other aldo of tho deck,
Hlt n, Condemned siotra" hc went
on, roading what waa painted on thaii'
both.
"They aro empty" explained tho tnnto.
,,Wo bought them Tor water casks al
preat, our. are fcu, and lonty and Cnp
tain Dunk Ia poing 10 have those flled NJ
our next Watering"
nhut what II tho food VI that II thoy
aro oondpmnadf" asked Curtis
"wall, you $50, sir" replied tho mate,
with wink, things Il n bit guccr IA Tho
French navy now, Tho dockyerd IL fiii OF
now hands ~ don't quite understand thu
work, 30 sometimes Condemned sot'
pnintcd on the nav thinla Instead OF The
Old. and especially whom there's custom
ara about. Seems hard on the crowa don't
ny hut fanny thcm % has tho selling al
Old stores fnds u comfortable aud, oI
course, ~ DEM become tho iihoa OF ua II
10 asking questions"
They all laughed merri,y No tho me,e''
humof, hut no, for lonr. for In tho msdsl
Of 10 Curtis sprann from, his seat. cryinsi
"oood God, look ihers"
..-----.--s-s-
! CHAPTER XVI.