San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-24
CHAPTER XIV.
MISS MANsELL's STORY.


face of the man at the wheel. He listen
ed to the cannonading of the canvas
aloft. He gazed modify round the sea.
He then made step to the companion
hatch, intending to descend, but was
stopped by Mr.. Hardy's figure rising.
"Well?" said the commander.
"She has taken the broth and the
sherry, sir, and believe she will do, :"
exclaimed Mr.. Hardy.
sis she rationale"
"Quite, SIR"
"Lor bless me, and how does she
talkf"
GAS lady"
questioned her at all, Mr.. Hardyp"
"Wouldn't take the liberty of doing
it, sir. Left that to you.
"Is she strong enough to support a
conversation, do you Think"
There could be no harm, perhaps, in
trying it, answered Mr.. Hardy doubt
fully. "She's a deal bewildered, Of
course, as is natural"
81 suppose she wouldn't object to my
looking in on herr" said Boldock, with
an expression of natural modesty i'm.
proving his face.
"Poor thing, what's she to do? 1t
can't be helped" said Mr.. Hardy. "Of
course she'd be glad if her hair was
done up and feel easier if she was prop
erly dressed. How is she to be clothed, I"
he continued, "supposing she lives, has
been bothering me, sir. -
"What are her things?' inquired
Boldock.
"a sort of dressing gown that when
dried may make kind of dress, and
what they call flannel petticoat, f" said
Hardy, looking. with his leer, at the
commander.
81 know what that is, " said Boldock.
''It is good, serviceable garment for
females. She'll have to make shift
somehow. We must hope to speak some
thing with woman aboard. I'll go
and see her." he said in his deep, COM
planning voice.
He descended with courage to the
cabin, but when there his heart little
failed him. He was bachelor. He had
bpOub buC ElChtpt paw Va hio iAAO ob oee'f
knew little of women and their ways
and was nervous IN their company. lie
made a slow step or two to the door OF
the cabin in which the girl lay and
bowed. The girl smiled, exposing a
very good set of teeth.
81 am the commander Of this brig,
madam" said he. my name is Boil
dock-Commander Boldock of the Royal
navy. / have ventured to look in upon
you to see how you are. y
81 am better and stronger and shall
feel quite we'll tomorrow, l am sure,
answered the girl.
$50! You are English like to know
that we have saved the life of fellow
countrywoman, said Boldock, sitting
down on locker. "You have been very
miraculously preserved. "
sit is a dream" said the girl in lit
tie more than whisper, rolling up her
eyes.
"Can you recollect how it was or
why it was that you were floating in
the sea gagged?"
ooh, yes. / have perfect recolec-
tion," answered the lady, letting her
eyes fall from their upturned look to
heaven and fastening them upon Boil
docks face. 81 have perfect recollec-
tion," she repeated, with a countenance
of horror. at was dreadful, merciless,
monstrous. Shall tell you the storyT
Her emotion started the blood, and
her cheek got little color.
"Not unless you feel equal to the
job, T" said the commander.
"But will you first tell me what ship
this is-where l am-what part of the
world we are inF"
"You are ON board the surveying
brig Wellesley, a colonial vessel She
belongs to Sydney and is the property
of the government, =" said the command
er, land am in charge of her. We are
bound" he continued in his deep voice,
speaking as though feeling more and
more aggrieved, con a surveying expe-
dition. We want to determine the place
of certain shoals and line of coral
reefs that's brought up more than one
ship all standing. We are at present in
the south Pacific, about fortnight's
sail from Sydney"
She listened eagerly, the intellect so
Frightening in her vision that when he
was done her fine dark eyes glowed upon
him.
"My name is Margaret Mansel, T" she
began. Boldock bowed. 81 am gov
erness and went to Australia two years
ago to seek living, but could do no
good for myself, so | sailed week or
two since for England in ship called
the Queen"
"a bark" said the commander.
"Benson's her master. ] know them
both"
Among the passengers, said Miss
Mansel, speaking in a low, level voice,
"were ten men. They formed the great
err proportion of the people the Queen
carried in the cuddy. They were mys-
terious lot, and from the hour of my
first sitting with them at table, over
hearing them and observing them, l
l..