Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-25
CHAPTER XXII

The frigate had hove to about \ cables
length from them. A boat was showing
of from her, and on board the ugRer all
was prepared for Its reception The passen-
gers were removed from sight, brother and
sister Ia the cuddy, Curtis in the foreCas-
tic This had been Dunk suggestion. for
he was not too much hurt 10 have his wits
about him being Only knocked silly mo-
ment by the jump Of the tilier At the
sound Of Luciles voice he had opened his
eyes Mt once
Hurt, mss" ho had said, speaking
with difficulty. Lord love your heart
MOI Lcastways, not more than rib.
Brandy Yes dcssy that would do good.
With Curtis help he got up, after drain.
ing the phnnikin l.u, lie brought and saw
the frignte's boat being lowered.
You must hide, all of you, he said.
But why, captainr' asked Lucille.
III they don't see any Of you. maybe we
might fool them yet "
SO 1t was settled as the last chance, and
now he was leaning easily over the rail
alone, waiting for the boat 1t was heavily
manned, both with senmen and marines.
In the rtern sheets sat an officer, but the
men were all talking In disorderly way,
as II he were not there.
Sorry to give so much trouble, gentle
men, snid the skipper as the boat ranged
alongside. We were In hurry and
didn't want to stop. We arc the Content
Of New Providence, in the United States
Of America, with tobacco from Santander
TO Newhaven
"Arc youY" said the officer as he climbed
on board "We'll see about that Whore
are your paper8Y'
He was thin faced man, with thread
bare, dorid complexion, and although he
still wore the uniform OF ships ensign,
the lowest . lde OF officer In the French
service, his hair was almost white. 1t
was no wonder to find In his floe look
OF settled disappointment, which gave him
nn air OF being weary OF the world And
yet-his hollow checks wero scored with
thin lines that curved about the mouth
ns II from incossant smiling, but so hard
md motlonless were they now that the
face was like mask.
While the skipper was producing his pa.
pers the Fronchmen wero hustling the
Contents crew forward with savage
roughness. The officer gaye them sharp
order to use more civility and then turned
toward Dunk, us II anxious not to see
whether his commands were obcyed. As
1t was, they paid no attention whatever,
but their contempt for his authority SEEM
ed 20 cause him no concern. He took
Dunk's papers and glanced through them
quickly till lie came upon tho American
register.
Very pretty" says no when he had
read 1t carefully. slow much dozenS"
and no tossed it to one Of his men.
ANY scknessY" he asked.
Nothing to speak Of, replied tho skip.
per coolly. "ono case Of smallpox, that
Ia all"
For n moment the old ensign looked
keenly in his faco with some concern, and
then he said as before:
Smallpox Very pretty too. How
much dozcn'" and tho men about him
laughed at his humor
He was clearly not new TO the work.
Now, whcro arc your passongersS" ho
went on.
II said tobacco" objected Dunk.
My orders woro passengers, replied
tho frenchnan. Captain and passengers
to come aboard with me- Crow to runlnin
under guard on tho luggor and to bring
her under our stern for towing. So,