The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-11
SSyAEMRY MENBGZ

have just been speaking to-"
'Impossible! exclaimed NJ. de Mon
taut; that was the Spanish sailor Gill
DEE, who was in the Hamilton with
u.s."
That's the man, for all that" replied
Dick. II knew him at once, and he
answered to his right name without
| question. The other was only assumed,
for reasons best known to himself"
Really" said the colonel, you can
not imagine how you interest me! 1
must have good look at this roman
tic figure next time I see him.
And, perhaps" said Dick. Madame
| de Montaut may also be interested to
know that she is sailing under the
auspices of so celebrated captain"
The colonel was here again in diff
Guilty which he had not foreseen.
My dear Estcourt," he said, conf
dentlally, to Dick, IF 1 were you 1
shouldn't enlighten her as to the iden-
tity of this tombstone with the hero of
your story"
"Why?' asked Dick, in establishment.
We'll, you may think me absurdly
cautious, but 1t is only for your own
sake I am. You know how anxious
am for your success with Camilla"
Dick grew hot with mingled embar-
rassment and gratitude.
This man." the colonel continued,
''once tried-as think you yourself told
us-to capture the Emperor by des-
perate stratagem my sister-in-law has
had particular horror of him ever
since she heard this for she
thinks he must have been act
uated by motives of personal mall
thusiasm runs away with her. If she
is not told, she probably will not think
Of connecting this man with that in
cident merely because Of the name. In
any case, If she is to learn of the iden-
tity, let it be through me, and not
through you, from whom she might
think the information in bad taste"
II don't quite see it," said Dick; "but
! no doubt you're right. I'd rather bite
my tongue out than hurt her feelings,
and I'm very grateful to you for the
! hint"
Rain now began to fall heavily and
they were obliged to go below. The
wind rose in gusty starts, sail after
! sail was reefed, and by the middle of
the afternoon the brig was scudding
! along before the gale with her masts
almost bare. She was at all times un-
usually fast, but she was now flying
along at nearly half again her ordinary
rate, and for six whole days she never
relaxed her speed
In spite of the rain and the spray,
which from time to time swept over
her Dick and Camilla spent a good part
of every day on deck, keenly sympa-
thizlng with each other in delight at
the swift, exhilarating motion of the
vessel and the unchanging restlessness
and grandeur of the waves over which
she passed so lightly.
OF the rest of the company on board
they took but little heed. The mate new
er came their way. The captain was
reported still unable to stir outside his
cabin, where Dick after one or two
more Intellectual requests for admit
lance, was quite content to leave him.
The colonel had struck up a consider
able intimacy with tombstone, whom
he pronounced to be not nearly such a
ruffian as he looked When the ships
motion was not too violent he went on
tours of inspection with the new cap
tain, and was even found one morning
alone in the hold, examining the cargo
with incomprehensible energy and in
terest.
ing, what on earth you can find to
amuse you in the sight of all these
casks and cases."
1T is the thought of what they con-
tain that fascinates me-" replied the
colonel, who was in a humorous mood
"What!' cried Dick, "stores and fit
tings fascinate you? That's a dry
| tastei'
All - said M de Montaut, but !
have the poets vision; l look beyond
the mere articles themselves to the re-
suits they may effect. These packing
cases, you say, are but necessaries for
the Teftting of your ship. l see more
than that. From the parts 1 reconstruct
the whole in Imagination. l see, rising
from these fragments, an entire vessel
with fate of her own, and fraught
with many destinies. Nay, who knows, -
he added, with mock sententiousness
but the ship that lies hidden in this
despised cargo of yours may change
the course OF history"
Dick laughed again. My dear col
onel," he said, you see a good deal
more than l do; I find It uncomfOrtably
dark down here"
'Ah, that's because I'm standing be-
tween yoCNand the light" replied the
cotoneL taking up the lantern, Come
let's go upstairs again" And he Red
the way back TO the middle deck.
During the night of the 22d the wind
fell 20 a steady breeze. and on the
following morning they saw the sur
again at last. standing over a headIand
that lay on the larboard quarter
The colonel appeared at breakfasl
with chart and Dick borrowing il
from him, explained the position of the
SpeedWell to Camilla.
Here he said, putting his finger up.
on the map, lis the stretch Of coast
along which the wind and the Guinea
current have been hurrylng us so fast