The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-05-13

'Oh, they won't trouble us long said
the captain; they so off again at AS
cension, / suppose they're going about
looking after the government colonies
in these parts. When were rid Of them,
we shall have a clear run TO the Cape.
Dick felt by no means so anxious
about.their departure. He was pleased
to think that he would, for some days
at any rate. have the monotony OF ms
voyage. enliyened by new companions,
and he began to look forward eagerly
to the when he wouid no longer
be alone at every meal with old Worsley
and his flow of demoralized conversa-
ton.
A few DAYS more and Madeira was
left on the %starbOard quarter; they
passed through the Canaries, betwe"n
Teneriffe and Grand Canary. and on
April 18th came at last in sight of
Boavista. and dropped anchor toward
evening In the roads on the northwest
OF the island.
Within a quarter of a mile Of them
lay a large merchant-vessel with Eng
lish colors at the top. and Dick was not
long in getting a boat lowered and row.
ing off to visit her. She turned out 10
pN tiiN IidtIllItii, VI ~
Bahia. Her captain greeted Dick cor
daily, but he was almost alone on
board, all the passengers having gone
ashore for the day, and half h crew
being away in search Of water. Il
hear" said Dick, that you've some
passengers for us. Who are they?'
Madame Schultz and NJ. ~Frochard,"
replied the captain. They're Swiss
colonists for Ascension-brother n
sister: and there's a Spanish seaman,
named Gildez, who's working out his
passage TO the Cape"
Tn disappointed TO hear that" said
Dick. Il had hoped for one or W
fellow-countrymen to talk to. We're
deadly dull on the brig"
OH said the captain Of the Hamil-
ton, laughing. you'll be lively enough
now. Frochard is a first-rate fellow for
stories. and speaks English capitally;
and his sisters a real beauty, if only
she wouldn't keep TO herself so much"
The boats were now seen putting off
from the shore. When they came near
TO the ships one Of them left the rest
and staered for the Speedwell.
There go your passengers said the
captain to Dick. They said good-by
10 me before leaving this morning, and
now all that remains is for you to take
their baggage over in your boat, if
you'l be so good
Certainly" replied Dick; I'm ready
as SOC as IL is loaded"
"Avast there" said the captain;
we're not SO inhospitable a: that. You
must stay and meet the rest of our
COmDanV at SUMNER
The remainder of the passengers were
just coming on board. Estcourt was in
trOduced to them all in turn, and they
sat down to supper too afterward.
They were a very uninteresting lot;
chiefly Portuguese and English men of
business, voyaeing for mercantile
houses with a South American connec-
ton. But the crowded table, the hum
of conversation, and the continual
laughter were a change TO Dick, and he
delayed his departure till the last mo-
ment.
When he returned to his own ship
he found that his new companions had
already gone to their cabins. Their
baggage was carried down to them, and
finding that they were not likely to APP
pear again hat night Dick soon after
ward turned in himself.
He was already drowsy, when he be-
came slowly conscious that he was lis
tenlng to a noise which seemed to have
been going on for an indefinite length
of time.
1t was the sound Of two voices, wheth-
er far OFF or near he could not tell;
but the other seemed still like a voice
in a dream, utterly remote from the real
world, and yet in a way ever more real
to him than that which preceded and
followed it.
over and over again he thought him
self on the point of remembrance, but
he never quite reached it, and in a
short time the bland. soothing tones
overcame him like a spell, and he fell
into a dTeamiess sleep.
When ne awoke next morning the
mysterious noises Of the night had
passed entirely from his recollection. He
FASTENED on deck. and found that he
was the first 10 arrive there. 1t was
a fresh, breezy morning. and the brig
was cutting the waves glllantly as she
went ~soutaward IN long tac!ls, Four
or five miles away to starboard the
Hamilton was winging her way to
the westward, the courses Of the two
vessels diverging more and more with
every minute. The islands lay like tiny
clouds upon the horizon behind them,
and the Ions, low coast-line of Africa
was visible to larboard under a rainy
sky.
g.. Dick took a careful survey, and be-
gan to prophesy to himself about the
weather.
CHOSE VINO are expecting today TO be
the same as yesterday" he murmured,
sententiousl%. win be probably a good
deal"
AS he spoke the words died away
on his lips and the torpor of helpless
astnnishmnnt seiZel unnn him. He