The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-30

L x
| Yes, sir, dead asleep, was the reply
.Then," said Frenauld, ..go on decl
and tell the captain to come down.
CHAPTER XIV.
CAPTAIN FOX AND LIEUrENANT FRENkuLr
PUT THEIR HEADS TOGETHER
Asleep, did you sayP" said Captain
Fox, when he joined Frenauld in the
cabin, and made sure he could not be
overheard by the unconscious man in
the next room.
"The hasheesh has had its effect,
replied Frenauld, 1and he is as indiffer-
ent to life as II he were lying down
there beside the anchor" ~
Good; the point is to keep him in tina,
condition till am ready to act. "
THAT can be easily done. While in
that sleep he will obey. II were to
tell him to get up, 60 aft and leap over
board, he would do it. JS.', &
But the effect will soon wear off. 1
had an opportunity to look into the
workings Of the drug, as given in that
wine, when we were in Bombay; but
had no idea thatI would ever need to
employ it. Confound it. I am as
wicked as the next man, but dislike
sneaking methods. I'd rather knock q
man on the head than drug him to
DEATH" said Fox, as il he felt that he was
saying something rather commendable.
"That is a matter Of taste; look at
the end rather than the means. If you
desire to carry out Colonel Graham q
plan we could toss him into the sea
through an open port tonight, and that
would be-the last OF it
But, Frenauld, told you that ] do
not intend carrying out Colonel Ora.
hams plan. You know the whole story
Of my first interest in Denham?"
Yes; when he was little boy and
his father was drowned you saved him,
and, with the uncle, took him off to an
other Long Island. Oh, / could sit
down and tell you all from A to lizard,
or put it all down in the log as straight
as one Of them lawyer sharks"
Yes; well, my heart was tender then
its tough enough now," said Fox,
with laugh that told he felt no sense
OF degradation at the change in his
feelings. ,,.a
Then it is not feeling Of humanity
~Dta / say l was going to save his
:I-:" ...~ ~
- so understood you" ....
Il told you, Frenauld, that would
save him until had drained Graham oi
mis- last ducat, or exhausted his last
vestige of power"
You DON like the old Colonel?"
Fudge, Frenauld, you know with US
it is not matter of like or hate, but oi
success. We want to win, and when we
are rich enough to retire, we can sinl
the ship and 20 home to England, anG
live in luxury and all the glory tha
wealth brings, to the end OF our days,
and Fox's blue eyes flashed at the pic
ture he had coniured up. .''
But if you carried out Graham:
wish and got rid OF this fellow, Fren
auld nodded towards the room in which
Captain Denham was sleeping, dom
you think you would make him more Sc
curely your friend?"
My friend?"
Yes, he has the power. .
"iknow he has, but he never has ant
| never will use his power, or his wealth
from sense Of friendship. If Graham
were sure that Ralph Denham was deat
now, he would hasten to givo warning
that I was pirate in these seas, ant
he would exhaust every power to destro!
me-"
He does not like you, them" .
Men never like men they cannot
trust, and we can never trust our part.
ners in crime. I see, Frenauld, yo,
look as If you thought this remark hat
decided personal bearing, and con
fess it has. Now. what keeps the off
,ers and crew Of this ship together. as
closely as II they we're bound by the
strongest ties in the world?"
Interest, Captain" -...
There you have it. 1t is all interest
all self. Now, take away the hope fol
gain which is the interest, or let
greater gain be held out to those who
would betray or turn queens evidence
and. every man and officer in the shiE
would be breaking his neck in order te
be the first to reap the reward, and in.
sure himself the safety Of the law. ]
have looked into the question from al
sides, and have come to the conclu'
sion that 1t. is self-interest that rules
the world. know my knowledge OF thii
fact enables me to rule this ship.
Il think you are right, said Fren'
auld.
There is no doubt about 1t. D"
But if Denham were dead ana Colo
mel Graham betrayed you, could you
not then retaliate by telling all about
the murder Of his brother and the ao'
ductlon Of his nephew" ! -... ..
Il could do 80, but it would not save
me. 1t is the first successful blow thai
tells in fight. A pirate in chains
makes but an Indifferent accuser Of the
man who brings him to justice. The
accusations Of incarcerated criminals
have but little power to detame char
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