Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-22
COPYRIGHT. ress. ~ nR AurnoA.

tiIi the captain gave MS arm to lady
! and marched away. He had wanted to
know if she was likelyto prove steam.
er from any other Australian port than
Sydney, or was she man -cf-war? Was
it conceivable that she was bringing
more passengers for the clipper: He
looked anxious and about ten years old
er than when at breakfast Captain
Trollope. Davenire and one or two 9th.
ers of the set viewed him curiously.
II don't think" says Trollope to
Caldwell in q low, mysterious voice,
THAT he'd fire magazine as an alter
native"
1--WE keep too near the cussed coun-
try" exclaimed Mr.. Hankey, looking at
the smoke. II dare say some point Of it
is still in sight from the masthead.
Gentlemen, said Mr.. Storr, joining
them. rubbing his hands, "this, l think,
promises to be a voyage of excitements. I"
By this time the steamer had risen to
the height of her boxes, disclosing a
lean. dogs cared funnel that vonited a
| black, fat coil Of smoke 30 miles long,
| and one pola mast forward, on which
| some signals were seen to DO flying, but
| as the colors blew fore and aft they
could not be distinguished. There was
| no doubt now that her business was
with the clipper. Indeed. Mr.. Dent,
after looking at her through the tele.
| scope. professed to recognize her as the
tug Bungaree of Sydney A mirage lift
ed her, and she looked closer than she
was. But she was splashing after the
ship at eight knots, and the clipper
was barely doing five, and presently she
was showing her small squad hull fair
upon the water, with the figures of men
visible on the bridge and flags still
streaming at the pole mast, but dumb
as seq tongue through being on end.
Captain Trollope looked for Mr. Muir
ray. He had disappeared.
The bark was luffed till way was al.
| most shaken ont of her. 1t was a mo-
ment Of great excitement. The chase of
the cutter had been nothing compared
| to it. Twice in "a hours to be pursued .
| Old Benson was puzzled. The traditions
| of the ocean seemed all awry. Three
weeks detention in Sydney harbor
through desertion, and now when fairly
away to be checked by species of pur-
suit unprecedented in his experience!
| However, it was clear enough the steam
| er wanted the ship. The second mate
had managed to spell out the flags
which. in Marryat's code. signified.
Important; must communicate
Bring the ship to the wind, sir, -
said Captain Benson to the officer
| She was small clinker built boat.
with green paddle boxes. and the foam
fled from her sponsors as the foot OF
q cataract hurls into its channel Three
men stood on her bridge, and es she
came alongside with beat Of paddles
that, with the arrest of the wheels. sank
into sullen roar Of water. o man in a
white wide awake and long, lean, yellow
face and linen jacket hailed from the
bridge.
"Ho! The Queen ahoyr'
Hello" sang out Captain Benson.
HAS e'er q stranger been put aboard
your ship since you sailed from Sydney?''
"Yes. SIR" shouted back Captain
Benson.
WAS he put aboard by the cutter
WooloomoCloo?''
The captain lifted his hand.
lyon must allow me to come on
board if You please" exclaimed one OF
the men who stood upon the bridge. He
was dressed in q sort of uniform-a bell
shaped cap with naval peak. and light
cloth braided jacket of military cut The
captain of the steamer shouted down hel
call pipe. The paddles were maneuvered,
the tug drew close alongside, and watch.
ing their opportunity as the slight swell
rolled the two vessels to and from each
other the official looking individual
and another sprang on to the bark and
came aft.
Good gracious mev' exclaimed Mrs.
Dent to her husband. tits Superintend
emit Foxv'
\ The other might have passed for 9
! Bow street runner. His nose was like
the end Of bludgeon, the left eye wa.
twice the size Of the right, and as HI
stepped aft with the superintendent hi
gnzed with o grin o. ragged black teeth
round upon the people. Yet he wa!
some sort Of official, too, to Judge By
his clothes. The superintendent walked
right up to Captain Benson and sale
quite audibly:
"You are the master Of this shin. sir:'
That's so." answered the captain
putting and straddling, and firmly set
Ting his tall hat.
II am here" said the other, "to mr.
rest Mr.. James Murray, manager Of tn,
such and such bank. Sydney, for EN-
bezzlement
Lori" said the captain. What.
the amount, sir:''
Seventy-six thousand pounds
I Captain Trollope whistled long and
low. The fellow with the horrible crir
OF teeth turned slowly and looked q
? him.
IT seems as if others are to have til,
innings. said Mr.. Caldwell in hoars,
!, whisper in the ear of Mr. Cavendish
who was staring with his congenita
: grin. made loathso;ne through the pro
lection of his upper lip by his eyeteeth
II don't see my man." said the su
perintendent. running his eyes over tn
group of passengers. following On Will
level, penetrating stare at the seame,