Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-07-26
NUMBER 80.

sion beyond the range OF dozen yards,
and Captain Kettle jumped like a ter.
rier on his opportunity. He sent bis
steamer bard astern, with q slightly
ported helm, and while the torpedo
catcher boat was searching Tor him to-
ward the Fr,nch shore and sending vain
halls into the white banks Of the mist
he was circling slowly and silently
round toward the English coast.
So long as the mist held the Sultan
Of Borneo was az hard TO find as nee
die in cargo Of hay. Did the air clear
for so much as single instant she
would bo noticed and stand self confess
ed by her attempt to escape, and as
result the suspense was vivid enough 20
make Carpfortb feel physical nausea.
He had not reckoned on this cOmplioa-
ton He was quite prepared TO risk
capture in Cuban waters, where the
glamour of distance and the dazzle Of
helping insurrectiOnists would cast
% glow of romance over whatever Oc-
Cured. But 10 be- caught in the English
channel as ayulgar smuggler for tho
sake Of cummerciui profit and To be
hauled back for hard labor in an Eng
lish jail was different matter. He was
member of parliament, and he under
stood these details in all their Diceties.
But Captain Kettle took the situation
differently. The sight Of the torpedo
catcher stiffened all the doubt and limp
ness out of his composition. His eye
frightened and his lips grew stiff.
The schening 10 escape acted on him
like % tonic. and when an hour later
the Sultan Of Borneo was stcaming ner.
rily down channel at top speed Through
the same impenotrable iog) the little
skipper whistled dance music on the up
per bridge and caught the notion for
MOT, pleasing sonnet. That evening the
crew came aft in state of mild mutt
ny, and Kettle attended to their needs
with gusto.
He prefaced his remarks by slight
exhibition q: Workmanship. He cut
away the vane which showed dimly on
the fore topmast truck with a single
bullet, and then, after dexterously re-
loading his revolver, lounged over the
white rail Of the upper bridge with the
weapon in his hands
He told the malcontents be was glad
Of the opportunity to give them his
views on matters generally. He inform
ed them gsnially that for their personal
wishes he cared not one decimal Of
jot He stated plainly thNt he had got
them on board and intended by their help
to carry out his owners instructions,
whether they hated them OF not And
finally he gave them his candid assur-
ance that ii any cur among them pre-
sumed 10 disObey the least If his orders
he would shoot that man neatly through
the head without further preamble.
This elegant harangue did not go
home 10 all hands at once, because, be-
ing British snip, the sultan Of Bor-
neos crew naturally spoke in Eve diff.
ferent languages aud few Of them had
even working knowledge Of English.
But the look If Kettles savage little
face a. he talked aud the red torpedo
beard which wagged beneath II convey
ed 10 them the tone Of his speech, and
for the time they did not require more
accurate translation. They had come of
big with the intention Of forcing him
Of necessary with yiolence) 20 run the
steamer there and then into an English
port They went forward again like
pack of sheep, merely because one man
had let them hear the vIrulence of his
bark and had shown them with what
accuracy be could bite il necessary.
"And that's the beauty If "a mOngrel
crew said Kettle complacently. III
they d been English, I'd have had TO
shoDt at least Two If the beasts to keep
my end up like that. "
You're marvel, " Carnforth admit
ted. I'm a bit Of a speaker myself, but
never heard man with a gift Of
tongue like you have got. -
I'm poisonous when 1 spread my
self - said Kettle.
II wish was clear II you, said
Carnforth, with an AWKWARD laugh.
Nv hatevcr possessed me TO leave the
yacht aud come on this cruise | can't
think.
Some people never do know when
they're well of, " said Kettle. well,
sir, you re in for it now, and you may
see thugs which will be- of service 10
you aftcrward. You ought to make
your mark in parliament il you do get
back from this trip. You'l II have some
thing to talk about that men will like
to listen to. instead Of merely chatter
ing wind, which Is what most of them
are put to, so far as | can see from the
papers. And now, sir, here's the stew.
ard come 20 tell Us tea sready. You go
below and tuck in. III take mine on
the bridge here IL won't do for me 10
turn my back yet awhile, or e.so those
beasts forrard will jump on us from be-
hind and murder tAe whole lot while
we aren't looking"
TO BE co..TlNUED.I