San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-31

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The young lady had sunk into a
chair, and the commander and Mr..
Matthews stood beside her.
''They called me from my cabin,
caught me by the throat, gagged me
and dropped me into the sea, answer
ed the girl, beginning to tremble.
"Who did it?" said Matthews.
81 believe-I could not swear-it
was Mr.. Dayenire and Mr.. Caldwell.
1--WE found her floating" said the
commander. 'Such things have been
heard of, but jockey would call them
top weight among the presentations. "
"Oh, the rogues, the wretches, the
accursed villains" cried Mr.. Matthews,
turning an enraged face toward the sea
over the bow.
"How long have you been adrift"
said the commander.
"Since O'Clock this morning.
where are the others?" asked the
girl.
81 don't know. We were four boats
Poole, who was to leeward, Stacked his
sheet and went away, and the others
followed, thinking, dare say, that he
had sail in sight The boats can't be
far of. "
When Boldook heard this, he went
below and returned with a binocular
glass, which he gave to man. who
climbed with il on to the main royal
yard and searched the bright, shivering
waters in all directions, but he could
see nothing to report.
"a boat is little, and the sea is big. "
said Boldock. "All the people may be
aboard a vessel whose topmast cloths
are just out of sight Of that fellow up
there, and which, therefore, has no
more existence to us than anything ly-
ing or not lying In the river Thames at
this moment"
He spoke with his usual deep note OF
remonstrance, and Mr.. Matthews look
ed at him.
"Did Captain Benson take charge Of
the ladies?'' said Miss Mansel.
"He is Dead" said Mr.. Matthews,
with a face of utter gloom.
"Murderedl" exclaimed the girl in
light gasp.
why, no, believe not. I'm willing
| to give the demons the benefit Of that
doubt" answered the mate. "As I was
stepping over the side I asked where
the captain was, and the fellow Troll
lope, who was standing in the gangway
with the scoundrel Davenire, answered
quietly, He's dead Shot, suppose?
/ said, with look at him. L declare,
by my soul before God, cried Trollope
so savagely in earnest that his face
blackened with the blood that rose into
his head, that when told him we had
seized the ship he dropped dead Of fit
upon his cabin floor. believe him"
said Mr.. Matthews. Benson was the
man to 60 off so"
HE had full neck and his veins
ran in fire." said Boldock. 81 knew
him. A good sailor"
His nostrils dilated with thought as
he stood in silence watching the pro-
ceedings ON the main deck. Tackles had
been got on the yardarms, the provi-
sions and liquor had been handed out
of the boat, which rose and sank along
side ready for hosting.
"What are they going to do with the
Queen, Mr.. Matthews?" said Miss Man
sci.
81 have no notion. The moment the
last boat got away they trimmed sail
with the smartness of old hands and
stood away about south-southeast
'She is scarcely out Of sight, :" said
the commander, straining his vision
into the compass bearing named by the
mate.
"She is a very fast ship, sir, ex-
claimed Mr.. Matthews, with a melan-
choly shake of his head. But what in
the name of mercy was their object in
throwing you overboard?'
Miss Mansel told him the whole story.
He listened with an air of dependency,
often signing.
at was the captains fault" he ex-
claimed, breaking out quickly, with
something Of fever in his utterance.
He had reason to suspect the ten men;
his arms chest had been robbed; the
yowling Of the midnight joker at the
flying jib boom end was, to suspicion, a
good full hint of what was coming.
Why didn't Captain Benson have them
all seized? Never a man, never pas
senger of the ship but would have stood
by him had they made a difficulty on
the vessels arrival"
Mr.. Matthews" said the courteous,
deep voiced commander, you are wea-
ried. Pray step below and take some
wine and rest," and he led the way,
first calling to Mr.. Hardy to give an
eye to Miss Mansel.
Mr.. Matthews sank upon a locker and
bowed his head in his hands.
II am of opinion" said the COM
mander, after contemplating him for a
minute or two. that glass of bright
red Jamaica would do you more good
than wine.
II would thank you for it, SIR" said
the mate, looking up.
Boldock went to his cabin and return