Gilpin observer., 1899-08-03
DICK RODNEY;
Or. The Adventures of
An Eton Boy.
An Eton Boy.
Rx JAMRo GRANT.


She was large. square-rigged ves-
sel-a ship running close-hauled on
the port-tack Ito use man-o'-war
phrase). and with nearly all her can
vas set.
She was about four miles off the reef
at the entrance of the bay. and was
bearing directly toward it. Her can
vas glimmered like snow in the moon
shine. and we could see the red lights
of her cabin windows flash at times
upon the sea astern, and the whiteness
of her long flush deck, as she careened
before the breeze
Yet how was it, we all asked, that
there was not breath of wind with
us?
Perhaps she brings it with her."
suggested Hislop.
And how 1t came to pass that she
appeared right in the offing and out.
side the bay all at once?" asked Tom
Lambourne
"She must have rounded the high
bluff while we were all palavering."
said Probart.
Nothing more was said for time,
but whether it was the effect of imag.
1 know not she seemed to melt as II
! were in the brightness of the moon
shine-to become so indistinct that we
could see the line of the horizon
through her topsails; and next it
seemed as If her hull, her spars and
rigging were edged with bright pris-
matte hues.
1t Is impossible for me to describe
the blank astonishment, OF rather the
intense CONSERVATION, of our men on
the disappearance of this vessel, which
was the object of SO many hopes and
wishes.
Some time elapsed before the poor
fellows rallied sufficiently to speak on
the subject: and meanwhile, there
| flashed upon my memory some strange
| and weird old Celtic tales. which a
Highland boy at Eton was wont to
tell us, of ships which in the days of
| Ossian traversed the steep hills and the
salt lochs of Morven with equal ia
cility.
1T is a ship-or rather the repre-
sentatior of a veritable ship-which
cannot be far off the island, and is
making for it at this moment" said
HlSlOp, empnatlcally.
How far do you think she is, sir?"
asked Hugh Shute, mockingly.
Perhaps twenty miles-perhaps a
hundred-it is impossible to say"
So thoroughly were our companions
scared by the recent spectral appear
ance, which they connected in some
way with the dreadful character of
Antonio ell Cubano, that they at once
commenced with alacrity the prepara-
tions for putting to sea-
1t may be that somewhat of the pro-,
! fossional restlessness of sailors con-
firmed their resolution.
They were already tired of their So
| journ on the island, and, inspired by
| the desire of reaching Tristan da Cum
ha, which is inhabited by about eighty
families of Portuguese. English and
mulattoes, among whom Hislop as
sured them they might linger long
enough before they were taken off by
passing ship-quite as long as IL they
remained on the Isle of Alphonso-and
\ where for subsistence they would be
forced to work as day laborers in the
savannas and on the highways.
AS for the Island of Diego Alvarez
our Scotch mate. who seemed to know
| everything, assured them that 1t pro-
duced only moss and sea grass. and
that II cast there they would die of
starvation. Moreover, without chart
or compass, how could they hope to
steer with certainty in any direction?
They all might perish in detail by
the most dreadful deaths in their open
boat, gasping with unquenched thirst
under the blaze of tropical sun. He
said much more; but they would listen
to nothing save their own fears and
restless impulses.
/, too, was weary Of the island; and
though feeling all the dependency
that follows severe disappointment
on the disappearance Of the illusory
ship, in no way shared the wild and
ill-regulated wishes Of the crew,
though assured that | would be COM
pclled to follow their desperate for
tunes.
Hislop and l still fingered: SO We
were told peremptorily that II we did
not come on boaYd at once they would
shove off without us. Thus compelled.
we stepped in most reluctantly and
seated ourselves in the stern, and he
assumed the tiller. The oars were run
through the rowlocks, and Lambourne
was about to shove off, when Probart,
who had the bow oar suddenly re-
membered that he had left his hatchet
near our wigwam. and asked me to
get 1t.
jumped ashore, and was proceed
ing along the beach for 1t. when sud
denly l was confronted by Antonio,
who from a thicket had been watch
ing our operations and departure.
His tawney skin-for he was naked
10 ha La LII, fnrnnI.,..n IL