Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-15

ping point on tie voyage Tor most Eng
lish vessels. Estcourt. seeing that the
brig stood In to the east and took y
more direct line. concluded at once that
she was to touch at Madeira or the
Canary Isles.
'No." said the captain. when he
naxarded this conjecture: II wish we
could. put into Funchal Nor Santa Cruz.
they're both pleasant places. when
you've day or two to spare: but my
orders are to sail straight for Boavista
In the Cape verd Islands. There's some
passengers to come aboard there"
+ "Passengers!' cried Dick, in astonish-
ment.
"oh. they won't trouble US long" said
the captain; "they go of again at AS
censlon. suppose they're going about
looking after the government colonies
In these parts. When we're rid Of them.
we shall have cleaf run to the Cape.
Dick felt by no means 80 anxious
about their departure. He was pleased
to think that he would, for some days
at any rate. have the monotony Of his
voyage. enlivened by new companions.
and he began to look forward eagerly
to the moment when he would no longer
be alone at every meal with old Worsley
and his flow Of demoralized CONVERSE
ton.
A few days more and Madeira was
left on the starboard quarter: they
passed through the Canarles. between
Teneriffe and Grand Canary. and on
April 18th came at last In sight Of
0oavista. and dropped anchor toward
evening in the roads on the northwest
OF the island.
Within quarter Of mile OF them
lay q large merchant-vessel with Eng
lish colors at the top, and Dick was not
long in getting a boat lowered and row.
ing OF to visit her. She turned out to
be the Hamilton. from Southampton TO
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 the crew
being away in search Of water. II
hear" said Dick, that, you've some
passengers for US. Who are they?"
Madame Schultz and M. Frochard."
replied the captain. They're Swiss
colonists for Observation-Disclosures and
sister; and there's a Spanish seaman,
named Glider. who's working out his
passage to the Cape"
I'm disappointed to hear that" said
Dick. II had hoped for one or two
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 hrst.rate fellow for
stories. and speaks English capitally:
and his sisters real beauty. If only
she wouldn't keep to herself 80 much"
Thu h0o 20 nfp
from the shore. When they came near
to the shi2s enc of them left the resi-
and steered for the Speedwell.
There go your passengers" said the
captain to Dick. "They said good-by
to me before leaving this morning, and
now all that remains Is for you to take
their baggage over in your boat. II
you'll be so good.'
Certainly" replied Dick; I'm ready
as soon as 1t is loaded"
"Avast there!" said the captain;
we're not SO rinhospitable as that. You
must. stay and meet the rest Of our
company at supper"
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 soon afterwarc.
They were a very uninteresting lot;
chiefly Portuguese and English men of
business. voyaging for mercantile
houses with a South American connec.
ton. But the crowded table, the hum
of conversation, and the continual
laughter were q 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 ap-
pear again that night Dick soon after
ward turned in himself. aDn5s-
He was already drowsy, when he be-
came slowly conscious that he was lis
tening to a noise which seemed to have
been going on for an indefinite length
Of time.
It 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 dream, utterly remote from the real
world, and yet in a way even 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 dreamless sleep.
When he 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 to arrive there. It was
a fresh, breezy morning. and the brig
was cutting the waves CALAMITY as she
went southwark in long tacks. 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 long, low coast-line of Africa
was visible to larboard under a rainy
sky.
Dick took a careful survey, and be-
gan to prophesy to himself about the
weather.