Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1896-01-23


mus. mir asIvcp rom the very 1ndoisnce
of her motion,
II was not q thing to DO resisted, this de-
light OF such II time after tho labors OF inc
gallo and the trial5 that were past--lcssst Oh
oil by one 80 much child OF mo sea ~
Lucille, and II cannot DO denied slc DoHhh
to have flicker Of u smile for tho ich-
tcnant. Tho FIRST thing ho had donn ~
santnnder was, nitor tho manner oil young
navy gentlemen, to draw n bin nm hls m
thrr, and now the cudiy hardly knew u
self.
To DO sure. tho skipper Ind done his
best, by Curtis orders, to persuade her
that feather quil;s and dainty mirrors aud
rrndry toilet klckshaws were always IN
cludcd In tie passage money aboard chan.
mel luggcrs, but II Ia not 90 BIZ believed
she did not know who was goiity. :.
i hey had come to about tho height OF
Belle Isle--nlways on that pleasant west
ery breeze that held like fast friend
Ayimon, recovered by his rest and
strengthened by tho lusty mir, sat nll day
long ON dock, drinking the wind In deep
drafts. no was not 10 DO persuaded bnt
TINT tho breath Of the now world was
making him already new man. HIS talk
was ali Of the west and the future and
was full OF gayoty, as II tho past was Tor
gotten.
Lucille. for all her distress, was moved
with an echo Of his happiness, and lifc on
board had grown us pleasant ns tho wealth
err. Sometimes, II must be snid, shc wonld
slip away to tho ouddy and DO alone till
her bro her called her. Then she would
come out ngnin into tho sun with smile
"A La. h..r n
dimness which how often Is all man
secs OF tho half Of % wonlnn's life.
Once or twice q sGil pcepcd up to sea-
ward, and then being shy uf company,
the Content would turn her storm that
way to give less chance of discovery, and
so would run FREQ till the horizon was
clear again.
Thus the voyage continued without
event or interruption until they came TO
the height OF Belle Isle or thcreabout Tho
last hour of tho night was passing Into IL
faint grayncss Dawn can hardly DO said
to havo begun, but Curtis. whose watch
1t was on deck. WINS er 2criy scanning with
his glass tho slowly widening circle OF wa
ter
There wns reason enough for anxiety
The wcstlng they had made in their up
hold them clonr Of any coast CROPPING gun
boat. but they had now reached zonu of
moro serious danger which 1t was impos-
sible to avoid, for their position was on
tho verge OF the track which, with tho
wind whero IL was, nil vcsscls leaving
Brest must take, whether their dcstlna-
tion was the Mediterranean or the Indies
or n cruising ground OIL one OF the great
southern or western trade routes Of Brit
ish commerce.
"D'yc scc, my lad, explained tho leu
tenant as he sot bucket to look out for
ward. anything coming out in this wind
so soon as she Inns weathered the Saints,
will take n long rench down close hauled
on the stAThoard tack. and that will make
her course at about sou sou west"
"S'pose It will, sir" said bucket, with
out turning his head, near as makes no
difference"
well TINT Is Just where we are now
SOU southwest from the Saints and distant
about go miles or more rs reckon 1t. In
an hour or two we should BIO pretty snfo
TIL we get on the track of tho inward
bound"
Won't Black Dick DO out again yet,
slrf" said bucket, still staring llxedly
ahead.
It WINS so tho seaman would always call
Lord Howe.
II doubt IT," answered Curtis. "a
man DOESN'T tako seven OF tho limo with.
out good two montns' tinkoring to do
before he is ct for sea again But tho best
part Of the feet will he near enough ready
TO make tho mounseers hurry anything
out Of Brcst they want TO got free before
Black Dicks flag is flying OF Ushnnt
agnin IT'S that that am afraid Of. So
keep sharp lockout"
He was turning away aft, when he
caught sight Of buckets face. lilo was
still staring forward with something OF
the old horror stricken look In his eyes
"Why, man." cried Curtis, what do
You sco''
He only pointed slowly some two points
away on tho lee bow, and the lieutenant
threw up bis glass Tor spy.
81 can see nothing" he cried.
Cant yotl, Nr. CurtisS" tho man re-
piled. locking round for moment like a
doubling dog for encouragement "There,
there, look again.
"Thero's nothing, man" rctorted Cur.
tbs little testify, for he was anpoyed Ia
hnd the mans uncanny staring was affect.
ing him with uneasy suggestions OF the
Flying Dutchman and suohlike phantoms
that still haunted the seas
Send you speak truth, sir. but dom
you SEQ where the haze Is thiokeffn
mo, nor you either. How far awayY''
Three leagues perhaps"
Three leagues. mani Why, no eyes car
carry TINT far in this light"
Aboard Of him" replied bucket witt
kind OF SILVER, "you know who-on tho
Coroniande c0nst-we had to sec In tn,
dark, orwell, we had to see, that's all. >
By this time every eye on dcck wa
strnining intentionally In tho direction
in which Duckot was pointing Courag,
As siokly In the gray OF dawn, and Curtis
finding buckets mood was spreading
shut bis glass with snap.
"You are dreaming. man," ho snit
sharply, and turned away, but 1t was on
ly to DO stopped before he had taken tw,
steps aft
Now, SIR" cried bucket in high OK
citelnent. Now, can't you sees"
Up went the lieutenants glass again
and for moment or two 1t wanderet
where the man Indicated.
"Egnd hecricd suddenly. you mus
have smellcd her"
"Fot her, think, SIR" murmure,
bucket; felt her In my inside"
He was staring wide eyed In the snn
direction as before, where now, as Il seon,
ed. an unreal condensation Of the morning
haze WINS taking the form of q ship's ton