Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-14

II AZ
her figure was lost in the shadow cast
by the clouds which hung over her.
See what you can make Of her, Mr..
Hardy" said the commander.
The quaint sea dandy, with his leer
and his shoes aud bows. made a plunge
Tor the companion cover and swung in
to it as the commander swung out He
peered and peered. While he looked the
sun sbone a little brightly and lighted
up the ocean in the direction of the
bark. Mr.. Hardy continued to gaze;
then, starting with cry of surprise, he
exclaimed:
II beg your pardon, sir, but caught
sight of the hull of that ship just then,
and if she's not the Queen then I'm
Prince Albert, sir.
"Let me look again." said the COM
| maDder hoarsely.
Long and thirstily did he stare. His
table OF red face, with enc eye screwed
| up. hung immovabie at the telescope.
The sun continued to throw his morn
ing brightness on the ocean, and the
color Of the blue between the clouds
was growing purer After a little the
commander looked round at Mr.. Hardy,
with an expression of passing suffoca-
ton in the cast and color Of his features
They stared at each other.
Upon my word" exclaimed Boil
| dock in that sort Of voice which he
would use in church, Il believe you are
| right. caught the length of the hull
| distinctly when it was hove high-a
bark painted green, answering unques-
tionably to the burden Of the Queen.
Why should it not be she?" he roared
out, overmastered by excitement ''She
should be somewhere hereabouts. We're
inside Of days sail of Halloran is.
land. Step below, Mr.. Hardy, and give
my compliments to Mr.. Matthews and
ask him to come on deck
While Hardy was gone Boldock kept
his telescope upon the distant bark,
which sometimes sprang her spars into
the lenses, and once or twice q strip Of
greeDish hull. The sunshine frightened
her flag. It was red, but Boldock could
not make out whether it was distress
signal. Now arrived Mr.. Matthews,
who had kept watch from 4 till s, and,
having breakfasted, had turned in for q
snooze.
keep in the companionway, " said
the commander, standing outside, land
take this telescope and look at yonder
vessel and tell me what you think of
her."
Mr.. Matthews was scarcely wide
awake. He had tumbled out Of his bunk
with seaman's hurry. After great
deal Of maneuvering with the unwieldy
telescope he caught the object A grin
of amazement that worked the flesh
about his lips into hunchback's wrln-
kles widened his mouth. He looked
again, and then in tones firm with con-
viction he said to the commander,
THAT bark down there, sir, is the
Queen"
| "Blow my sweet windv' murmured
the commander, with q look of stupefac-
tion. at is always the wrong weather
at sea. Why doesn't some air come
| along?"
| Most undoubtedly the Queen" re-
peated Mr.. Matthews, who continued
to seesaw with the long brass tubes as
they rested on the edge of the cover,
himself standing inside.
| Forward, there!' bawled the COM
mander.
l Sir, answered a voice.
Send the Queens men aft"
Aye, aye, sir
!. The five of them presently arrived,
staggering and lurching like drunken
seamen on the slope of the deck as they
walked.
;. Here" said Boldock to the first Of
them. who happened to be Tom, get
you inside that hatch, my man, and
look through that telescope and tell me
what ship that is.
The instant Tom caught her he howl.
ed out, with his eyes still at the glass,
"Blowed if she amt the Queen. ~ Ali
allowance was to be made for great ex.
element. If that ship was the Queen,
the mems clothes were on board Of her,
their certificates Of discharge, seven
pounds of tobacco belonging to them
|. were in their chests and O few pounds
in money.
"Ort you come" said the command.
er. Next man.
One after another the five stepped in.
to the hatch, and after lodging and
ducking and moving and sweeping
with the immense telescope declared
that the bark yonder was the Queen
They then went forward and looked al
her in little crowd upon the forecas
tie.
The heavens were clearing, the hori
zon opening. the atmosphere brighten
ing. the colors AID lines of the bari
, stealing ont clearer and sharper.
If she's not the Queen" said Mr.
Matthews. this briggs not the Welles
, ley"
. Are the scoundrels who stole he,
, aboard Of herr exclaimed the com
mander.
!, ''She locks to ne to have broker
{ adrift from her moorings,' said Mr.
D Hardy.
Q "Mcorings! Where would you moo,
1 herr said Boldock
3 eff Halloran island"
a And why note" cried the command
: er. instantly seeing the point. "Ther.
has been lot of dirty weather of late. >
al THAT fore topmast staysail looks m /,