Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-07

keeping You ON board the brig
She glanced at her dressing gown and
looked with some confusion away.
why, said be, reading her thoughts
and beginning to strut up and down
within easy chatting distance, "if I
could get hold Of their place of rendez-
vous, we might fall in with the Queen
herself Then all your property would
be restored to you. We may presume
there would be somebody on board fit to
take charge of the vessel to England"
"n those ten men seize the ship. "
said the girl, ''what will they do with
the passengers?"
"Humv' said the commander. IF we
are to accept their manner Of dealing
with you rs q specimen of their method
and skill-then if those ten fellows have
successfully risen-I would not give
much for any lives in their power"
.'You don't think cried the girl,
with q shudder, and then stopping
while she looked up at him with eyes
of dismay and horror, her figure half
starting from its resting posture.
81 think it may end in your discov-
ering," said the commander with Q
smile, THAT you are the best of Of
them ALL"
| There were several ladies'
"You are a lady. but that did not
seem to appeal to Them" said Boldock
in deep. lamenting voice.
1.-THE wretches, to throw me into the
sea. gagged and almost choked, What
had done?''
Boldock paused in his walk and stared
| at the ocean in silence Miss Mansel s
words had reused the spirit of roast
beef. in him. She saw his face hard,
with that heart Of England which no
nation can resist at sea. 1t was the
working. burning. triumphing face of
the boarder who waits for the instant
OF collision to spring into the chains.
II sincerely trust" said he, breaking
with jerk of head out Of his fighting
mood, that you will remember the
name Of the island or that we shall fall
in with the Queen. ! have seen a few
men hanged.
His gaze went thoughtfully to his
| weather main yardarm, and there rest.
ed. as though he considered height
and scope Of fall. His sight was still
aloft, when cry from the fore topmast
crosstrees made him start.
sail ho!"
Where away" bawled Mr.. Hardy,
running forward and leering
Broad ON the lee bow" answered
the voice high in the song Of the wind.
| II see her, SIR" Numbered Boldock
He lifted the immense brass telescope
of its brackets and resting it on the
rail took aim at the working breast of
soft dark waters on the port bow.
ut is no Ship" said he, "but boat
| with shoulder of mutton sail. One of
the Queens boats for o million! If SO,
the ten men have seized her, and where
is she?''
He handed the glass to Mr.. Hardy.
The girl rose to look, and the COM
mander, seeing she needed support,
gave her his arm.
The brig was thrown up into the
wind, the boat was cleverly sheered
alongside, her sail melting into the bot
tom of her as she rounded, with a sea-
man in her bow stretching out his hands
to catch the ropes end.
Miss Mansel shrieked.
''It is Mr.. Matthew'S" she said to
the commander. He is the chief mate
| Of the Queen, and the men are five of
the crew of the vessel'
'Then the ten have stolen the shin, -
said Boldock.
There was smart wabble of sea on,
and the boat danced friskily alongside.
The sailors sprang into the main chains
and clambered with the silent hurry of
shipwrecked men over the rail, Mr..
Matthews staying to call out to Com.
mander Boldock, "Will you take this
boat, sir?''
AYE. she is good boat. Well hoist
her aboard''
There's plenty Of provisions and
some wine and spirits in her, SIR" sung
up Mr.. Matthews.
we'll have them-well have them
all. Pray come ON board.'' 4
Mr.. Matthews, with a pale, funere
countenance, watching his chance,
into the main chains, and, with thei
sureiiness which spirits sunk to the
cidal degree will sober the limb
made his way over the tall bulwarkS.
Meanwhile the five seamen, observid(
Miss Mansel, had come to q halt and
were lodging and ducking at her as
they shouldered one another in 20 mimi.
table pastures.
"Smite me dark if it amt she her.
| self, Joe" said Tom.
| mo, no. She's too tall. She amt got
the others color, " muttered Joe "She's
what they call her factotum-her iden.
| teal
''It's the girl who was lost, bet Won,
blooming boots" exclaimed a third
seaman Of the Queen. -
Mr.. Matthews dropped laboriously on
to the deck. Instantly Tom called out:
There's Miss Mansel, sir"
The mate was slowly walking aft 70
the commander when, hearing these
words and seeing the lady. he halted as
though withered by . lightning dart.
| Miss Mansel made an effort to approach
the astonished man, exclaiming, 1T il
indeed, Mr.. Matthews-Miss Mansel
none other."
"Well, I am bubbledr' Whispered