The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1897-03-17
CHATTER XIV.

SQUIRE Condit was man OF force.
He could find no one to row him to the
Sea Hawk, but he did find canoe with
q paddle in it; and in his younger days
there was not an Indian on the bay
who could excel him in the manage
ment of one Of those unsteady convey
apceS.
1t is not necessary to recount the
troubles he had in getting aboard the
ship, where his coming caused no little
CONSERVATION to the night watch.
He found Lieutenant Hedges and VAL
entine Dayton very busy. He took them
to one side, told them his astounding
story, and brought Valentine back in
his canoe.
When the Squire found Ralph was in
the house, and in his own room, he ran
and caught the young Captain in his
arms, and for some minutes he was SO
overcome by his emotions that he could
not speak.
Mrs. Condit, good, prudent woman,
closed all the shutters, drew close the
blinds, locked the doors in the direction
Of the servants quarters, and enJolned
on all present the necessity OF speaking
in low tones, she herself setting an ex-
cellent example for them to follow.
Though Valentine was fully prepared
BY SQUIRE Condit's stcry to see Captain
Denham, the whole affair was so sud-
den and startling that he could hardly
credit his eyes, even though he held his
friends hand and heard the familiar
sound of his voice.
It was Dinah who took it on herself
to tell the danger they found Ralph in
when they returned to the hut, and to
give an account of the disposition they
had made of Uncas.
After the first inevitable excitement
of the meeting was over, Ralph took
command. He felt as if he could talk
as easy to Valentine as if they were
alone, and he was anxious to learn OF
everything that had transpired on the
Sea Hawk since he left, and particu-
larly since the second coming Of the
'Wanderer.
Valentine knew enough Of the cap
tain's story to be convinced Of the un-
paralleled perfidy of Fox. but before
learning Of this, the suspicious Of him
self and Mr. Hedges had been aroused
by incidents which he proceeded to
narrate.
He said In substance: That neither
he nor Mr.. Hedges suspected for one
moment that the Wanderer did not go
New York and leave Captain Denham
there. He brought from the ship the
letter Thrasher had given to Mr..
Hedges, which letter he claimed he had
brought with post haste.
/ 1t is very clear to me, said Ralph,
that this Thrasher is in Fox's service,
though the letter he first brought, or
dering me to report to the governor,
am satisfied was genuine"
The whole matter is still mysterious
to me, replied Valentine; though now
that realize that we are in such close
proximity to Captain Kidd. things before
very dark are getting much clearer.
But was going to tell you what we
have done. Fox ordered Lieutenant
Hedges to send all the fixed ammuni-
ton on board the Sea Hawk to his
ship"
He wanted to leave you powerless.
interrupted Ralph; but tell me that
this thing has not been DONE"
Il will explain, and think you will
be satisfied Fox told US that you were
coming on with supply ship, and that
by the time the Sea Hawk was ready %
sail under your command, we should
have all the ammunition we wanted.
All this looked most reasonable, so
this evening and all night, up to 10
O'Clock, we were getting the ammuni-
,tion out Of the magazine, which is full
of cases, one-half Of them, as you
know, are full of copper ingots we cap
;tured from that pirate last April, of the
Isle Of Pines"
Il remember, replied Captain Den
ham.
1T was Lieut.. Hedges honest inten-
tion to send all our fixed ammunition on
board, as the Wanderers boats were to
begin coming for it at eleven O'Clock.
But half hour before that time--say
two hours ago-a young black man sud-
denly appeared on the ship, and his
dripping clothing told how he had come.
Dat was Tello; 1 know dat was my
gran chile, Tello," chuckled Dinah.
Yes, Dinah, he said his name was
Tello, and I recognized in him the
servant of Col. Graham, who is here on
some mysterious mission.
But pardon me, Val; what was this
black boys object in coming here?"
I will explain, Captain; there is Sc
much to tempt one off the line Of direct
sailing that I lose sight Of the point
ahead Well. Othello drew the lieu.
tenant and myself to one side, where
no one else could see or hear, and the1
he took from his big mouth letter care.
fully wrapped up in oiled silk, and told
US to read it.
We took him to the cabin, gave him
a glass of brandy and a change o.
clothes, and then read the letter, which
was signed by Donald Cameron, the
cabin boy Of the Wanderer. I have the
letter with me, but as it is little long
! will give you synopsis. He says he
is sixteen years Of age, was born iI
Glasgow, and was cabin boy last on aD
Indiaman, which was captured and de-.
stroycd off the Island Of Madagascar
by Capt. Kidd. He was the only one
saved, and since then he has been Capt.
iFox's cabin boy.
= Kidd changed his name to Fox after
he had captured and burned an English
war sloop named the Wanderer, com.
fmanded by an officer Of that name.
The Wanderer was once the Adventure
Galley, OF New York. In conclusion
Don says, DO not send any ammuni.
ton from your ship. kidd's object is
to capture the Sea Hawk. Be prepared.
And then Don gave brief account OF
what had become Of Captain Denham.
and asked that his letter be destroyed" "
Then the Lieutenant will not send
,anything to the Wanderer?" said Ralph.
I'VE talked the whole matter over,
Captain. and had just reached coE-
clusion when the Squire came so unex-
pectedly on board" said Valentine.
And that conclusion was that you
would still 60 on as il you did not sus-
pan~ la %