The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-01-06
CHAPTER Nv-Continued.


After this long and apparently salts
factory conversation between captain
Fox and his lieutenant, they went on
deck, where they found the rudder IN
good working order, ard the men loung-
ing about the hot decks, While the ON
GERS smoked, and wondered among
themselves what this conduct on the
part of "the skipper" meant.
The men and officers Of the Wanderer
had so much confidence in the foresight
and daring Of their leader, that they but
seldom talked among themselves as 10
explain in advance.
So fa-> he had done by them exactly
as he had promised, and they had
every reason.to believe that their good
luck, and the captains good manage
ment, would continue for many a day to
come.
There was not a man on the ship,
from Don, the cabin boy, to the captain,
with the one exception Of Ralph Den
ham, now incapable Of reasoning, that
ever thought that the Wanderer was
bound for New York when she left Sag
Harbor.
The men did not know whero they
were going, nor did they particularly
care, SO that they were on the move
with some object to gain, or, in lieu OF
that, Of danger In view.
With the exception OF Frenauld, the
officers were nearly as coarse and
brutal looking as the men, but they
fully appreciated hevalue OF good con-
duct on shore, and OF silence, or ret
icence, when those qualities were
found necessary, to hide the defects OF
their early training.
Three times. during the afternoon,
Fox and Frenauld visited the little
gem of a cabin in which Ralph DenhaIn
lay, still unconscious.
Once they administered to him
small glass Of wine, with few drops OF
the green, sweet, soporific drug In it.
and one drop of cOlOrless fu1d which
Frenauld declared was sufficient to de-
stroy the will-power OF giant fol
four and-twenty hours.
A few hours after dark the captains
gig was lowered, and into 1t got Fren-
auld and three men, all carrying their
arms and considerable bundles.
The rowers and the officer in COM
mand followed, the hooks were slipped
out, and. at "a low command from the
officer in the stern sheets, the oars
dropped into place, caught the water
like one blade, and the gig sped away
for the cliffs, beneath which fire had
been burning for some time.
Frenauld and his men landed near
the fire, where they found an old In.
dian, sent there by Uncas, awaiting
them. .'.....
The gig returned at once to the ship,
anchor was weighed, and the Wanderer
stood out to sea, but she did not sail in
the direction Of the port Of New York.
Frenauld did not at all relish the mis-
sion on which he was sent, but he came
in obedience to an order that he could
not disobeySif- he would. When de-
nvered, this order met his warm appro-
val, for he had great faith in his captain,
whose unapproacfably brilliant talents
as villain won his esteem, and at times
excited his envy. But when Frenauld,
sitting by the shore, saw through the
darkness, like vanishing star, the
ships lights dropping down the hori-
zon's rim, his spirits also fell.
Bidding the sailors spread their
blankets and 60 to sleep, Frenauld lit
cigar, and handing the old Indian
another. he invited him to draw up to
the fire. y
The Indian could not>speak very good
English; but as he succeeded IN making
himself clearly understood, we shall
not attempt to reproduce his dialect, or
rather his broken speech.
Lighting his cigar, the Indian, who
said his name was "Old Somonk,
squatted on his launches, and across
the little fire, whose Pickering flames
threw unequal lights on their faces,
they stared at each other.
%Uncas sent you here, said Frenauld,
more for the sake Of talking than with
any hope Of getting desirable iniorma-
ton.
ugh, Uncas," replied Old Somonk,
and he seemed to blow the words with
o jet of smoke from his puckered lips
iu the direction Of the young officer.
=. -Uncas is great chief.
Ugh; Uncss big sachem," grunted
Old Somonk.
Got wife?'
No; no wife"
Why doesn't a fne-looking man like
Uncas get wife?"
Don't know; mebbe don't want one.
"Ah, like enough. Strange that that
hadn't struck me as possible reason
before" said Frenauld, taking an un-
usually long pull at his cigar, and COM
ing to the conclusion that Old SomonK
was not as much OF fool after all.
when is Uneas to come here?" asked
Frenauld, looking UP at the black sky
as he asked the question, as il it were
quite possible for the answer to come
from that quarter.
"One sun more, Tomorrow
What arc we to do in the meantime?"
Old Somonk slightly elevated his
shoulders, but his face gave not the
slightest sign OF interest as he grunted:
Don't know.
That is very consoling. OF course
yoo know the country hereabouts very
well?" -,
Born here" was the reply, with a
pin.-1ipary grunt.
Looks as II he might have been born
before there was any such place as
this" said Frenauld, sotto voce; then
h until Uncas comes.
III? no, no." said Old somonk, with
ded emphasis.
e old Harry! then how long will
= koung Somonk, my son, be
go home to squaw."
sold mummy, with skin
s, ha3 got wife and
initiate their white
Apge tastes" NUT
T. koud, "and your