The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-11-18
CHAPTER VII.
STRANGER VISITS SQUIRE CoNDIT

STRANGER VISITS SQUIRE coNDIT.
What are you thinking about Cap
tain?" asked Valentine Dayton, as he
ard Ralph Denham sat in DR.. Hedges
comfortable front parlor the day after
the ball on board the Wanderer.
We'll, upon my word, said the Cap
tain, ceasing to stroke his forehead,
whose whiteness was in striking con-
trast with the rest of his face, my mind
has been to sea. The fact Of it is was
looking out at the Wanderer and that
set me to wandering"
Il am not bit surprised at that,
said First Lieutenant Hedges, who was
smoking in the gallery outside, but who
was within sight and hearing through
the open windows. 1--WE been to sea,
man and boy, for nigh on to thirty year,
but may be swung from yard arm,
if ever came up with craft and crew
like that out yonder. Now, I've seen
merchantmen and war-ships from every
land that flies flag from masthead,
and I've come up with not few pirates,
and help sink 'em, too, but that Wan
derer, and them officers, and those crew
well, by Neptune, they do puzzle,me. "
After this. for him, very long speech,
Lieut.. Hedges knocked the ashes out Of
his pipe, looked in at the top to see if
the tobacco needed replenishing, and
satisfied that it was good for few pulls
more, he was about to resume his smok-
ing, when Capt. Denham asked:
What strikes you as strange about
the Wanderer?"
Hang me, Cap'n, if I can tell.
Everything seems taut and shipshape,
and yet l don't feel satisfied, even
though her papers and commissions OF
her officers seem TO be straight from
stem to stern. Why, confound it, I've
heard of Cap'n Fox ever since l was q
boy, and I'm two score and five next
Guy Fawkes day, and, 10 and behold,
here comes Cap'n Fox cruising into
these waters, and he don't look to be
day over five and thirty"
But you know, Uncle George" said
Valentine Dayton, that in the regular
navy it is not at all uncommon Tor
fathers to be succeeded by their sons;
and then Capt. Fox may be older than
he looks; it is always SO with men who
have light eyes and fair hair"
That is true" added Capt. Denham.
And another thing, Fox is not rare
name; for aught we know there may be
a dozen officers named Fox in her
majestJ's service"
There is not dozen men in any SER
vice-no matter what their names are
that lives in the style this Cap'n Fog
does" said Lieutenant George Hedges
putting away his eXtinguished pipe.
why, his ship is palace, floating
treasure house. If he was pirate CHIEF
instead of an officer in the service oi
yood Queen Anne. whom may HEAVIER
preserve, he could not live in grander
style than he does. I've noticed the
uniforms, the material of the men s
dress, the furniture Of the ship, and may
] be swung from the nearest yard If l
don't think it excels in richness any
vessel afloat, or any vessel that ever
foated, and I won't except the crack
galley in which Queen - Queen -
Queen"
cleopatra" prompted the Captain.
Yes, that's the woman; the crack
galley in which Queen Cleopatrick took
them Roming imp-roars OF on frolics,
and got 'em into sight Of trouble. Oh.
you may both laugh and shake your
heads; and this here Wanderer may be
all straight, and so on and so forth, but
l can't see through it and won't, on
less there's little more light thrown
down on her from aloft.
With this emphatic opinion, Lieuten-
ant Hedges replenished and relit his
pipe, and taking up his hat strolled down
TO the shore, for the hour for his watch
was approaching, and the boat Was wait
ing for him on the beach.
Uncle George is usually right" said
Valentine Dayton, after Lieutenant
Hedges had gone out Of hearing, but l
think he is mistaken here.
Il think so too; you see, some OF thc Sc
English sailors are very rich, and can
afford this kind OF thing: they do not
depend ON their ol1lcia! salaries. But
while l am aware of this, | must con-
Tess that there are certain things about