The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1897-05-14
9YNERY NEMHlI ~

''why?" asked Dick. In establishment.
Wen, you may think me absurdly
cautious. but 1t il only for your own
sake I am. You know how anxious I
am for your success with Camilla
Dick grew hot with mingled embar-
rassment and gratitude. e
This man." the colonel continued,
once tried-as think you yourself told
us-to capture the Emperor by des-
perate stratagem: my sister-in-law has
had a particular horror Of him ever,
since She heard this. for she
thinks he must have been act
uated by motives Of personal mall
ice-you know how her en-
thusiasm runs away with her. II she
IS not told. she probably will not think
OF connecting this man with that In
cident merely because Of the name In
any case. IL she Is to learn Of the iden-,
t1ty, let 1t be through me, and. not
through you. from whom she might
think the information in bad TASTE
don't quite see It." said Dick; .but
no doubt you're right: I'd rather bite
my tongue out than hurt her feelings.
and I'm very grateful to you for the
hint
Rain now began to fail heavily and
they were obliged to go below. The
wind rose In gusty starts, sail after
sail was reefed, and by the middle Of
the afternoon the brig was scudding
along before the gale with her masts
almost bare. She was at all times uli-
usually fast, but she was now flying
along at nearly half again her ordinary
rate. and for six whole days she never
relaxed her speed.
In spite Of the rain and the spray,
which from time to time swept over
her, Dick and Camilla spent a good part
OF every day on deck. keenly sympa-
thizing with each other in delight at
the swift, celebrating motion Of the
vessel and the unchanging restlessness
and grandeur Of the waves over which
she passed so lightly.
OF the rest Of the company on board
they took but little heed. The mate new
er came their way. The captain was
reported still unable to stir outside his
cabin. where Dick, after one or two
more ineffectual requests for admit
lance, was quite content to leave him.
The colonel had struck up q consider
able intimacy with tombstone, whom
he pronounced to be not nearly such q
= oAA0u 90 A4O 4OVACOs VuSu TIE Bid 3
motion was not too violent he went on
tours OF inspection with the new cap
tain, and was even found one morning
alone In the hold, examining the cargo
with incomprehensible energy and in
terest.
''I can't think" said Estcourt, laugh
ing, what on earth you can find to
amuse you in the sight Of all these
casks and cases.
ut is the thought Of what they con-
tain that fascinates me-" replied the
colonel, who was In a humorous mood.
''What!" cried Dick. ''stores and fit
tings fascinate you? That's a dry
taste!"
"Ah!" said M. de Montaut. "but I
have the poets vision; look beyond
the mere articles themselves to the re-
suits they may effect. These packing
cases. you say, are but necessaries for
the refitting of your ship. see more
than that. From the parts reconstruct
the whole in imagination. see. rising
from these fragments, an entire vessel,
with fate Of her own, and fraught
with many destinies. Nay, who knows
he added. with mock sententiousness,
''but the ship that lies hidden in this
despised cargo Of yours may change
the course Of history!'
Dick laughed again. my dear col
onel," he said. ''you see good deal
more than do: find 1t uncomfortably
dark down here"
''Ah, that's because I'm standing be-
tween you and the light" replied the
colonel, taking up the lantern. Coma
let's go upstairs again." And he led
the way back to the middle deck.
During the night Of the 22d the wind
fell to a steady breeze, and on the
following morning they saw the sun
again at last. standing over headland
that lay on the larboard quarter.
The colonel appeared at breakfast
with a chart. and Dick, borrowing 1t
from him. explained the position of the
Speedwell to Camilla.
Here" he said, putting his finger up
on the map. lis the stretch Of coast
along which the wind and the Guinea
current have been hurrying US so fast.
Here Is Cape Palmas, which we have
just passed. and now we shall see nc
more of the shores Of Africa. You see
we have been carried little too far
to the east already, and Ascension lies
right below us in mid-ocean there
And how far is it?" asked Camilla.
Twelve or thirteen hundred miles, u
said the colonel. who was also looking
on with interest.
Hardly SO much as that; wish II
were" said Dick. But am afraid
eight or nine days from the outside will
take US there"
'And from there, asked Camilla, still
poqing over the chart, chow far Is 1t te
st: Helena?''
sr can't say exactly. To the Cape 1,
Is about two thousand five hundred
miles. but that is the straight course
by which you go some way outside Of
st. Helena. and don't even pass nea,
enough to see the famous pigeons"
What are they?"
"oh. they're only kind Of pigeon
| peculiar 70 that q island; but they're
rather we'll known for their beauty and
because they're found nowhere else
They often come circling around q shil
at an immense distance from the land
| md the sailors catch them to take home
4 TO their friends: but they mostly di,
before the voyage Is over
"Have you ever seen them?" asked
the colonel. What are they like?''
1 They're small gray birds, very grace
full and liRht on the wing with. hri0h