The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-12

SueZ harbor on her way down toward the
worse heat OF the Red Sea beyond.
A passenger, a young man of ) or 8
and 70, lounged on campSlooi under
the upper bridge, and watched the
Parakett's captain as he walked briskly
across and across, and presently when
the little sailor faced him, he nodded as
though he had decided something that
was in his thoughts.
We'll. sirT' said Capt. Kettle.
Il wish you wouldn't look so anxious
We've started now, and may as well
make up our minds to so through IT
comfortably.
Quite So" said Kettle, I'm thinking
out how we are to do this business in
comfort and safety" and with that he
resumed his walk.
The man beside him had introduced
himself when the black workers were
carrying the parakett's cargo of coal in
baskets from the holds to the lighters
alongside, and Kettle had been rather
startled to find that he carried letter
of introduction from the steamboats,
owners. The letter gave him no choice
of procedure 1t stated with clearness
that Mr. Hugh Wenlock, solicitor, had
laid his wishes before them. and that
they had agreed to further these wishe
Through the agency of their servant,
Cantain Owen Kettle in consideration
of the payment of 200 pounds sterling.
The Parakett was a cargo traa.A and
carried no passenger certificate. but
letter of recommendation like this was
equivalent to a direct order, and Kettle
signed Mr.. Wenlock on to his crew list
as Doctor and put to sea with an
anxious mind.
Wenlock waited awhile, watching
souald Suez sink into the sea behind,
and then he spoke again.
Look here, captain" said he, those
SoGth Arabian ports have got lot
worse rantaicn thGn they really de-
serve The people down there 20 years
ago We're a pack of pirates, III grant
you. but rowadays they've e: the fear
of the gunboat always handy, and that's
a wonderful civilizing power. | tell you,
captain. yo-l needn't be frightened: that
rirate business is exploded for now and
always"
81 knog all about the piratical han
kerings of those South Arabian niggrrs,
sir" said Kettle, stiffly, land know
what they can do and what they can't
do az well as any man living. And
know also what | can do myself at
prsh, and the knowledge leaves me
pretty comfortable. But. if you choose
to think me frightened I'll own that
am. It's the navigation down there
that gave me cold sbivers the first mo-
mert YOU mentioned it."
s'Why, it's no worse than the Red Sea
here. anyway" 4
s'The Red Seas bad. but you can get
good charts of it and rely on them.
South Arabian cost is no better, and
the charts aren't worth the paper
they're printed on"
81 worldn't like you to wreck the
steamer down vbere. IT might be awk
ward for me getting back"
"Ouite So said Kettle. You're think
ing of yourself, and | don't blame you.
I'm thinking of myself also. I'm mali
that's met with great deal of misfor-
tune, sir, and from one thing and an
other I've been eight years without a
regular command. / had the luck to-
bring in a derelict the other day and
pocket a good salvage out of her, and
my present owners heard of it, and they
put me as master of this steamer just
because of that luck. | am not anxious
to pile mp this steamboat on some I'M
chartered reef"
I'm as keen as you are not to get
the steamer wrecked, and if there's any
way she can be kept out of a danger
Gus area, and you can manage to set
me ashore where / want in boat, just
Won say, and I'll meet you all | can.
But at the same time, skipper, if you
don't mind doing swan. you might
give me a good deal of help over my
matter in return
II haven't heard your business yet.
sir. AL you've told me is that you want
to he set down in this place, Dunkhot,
and be taken off again after you've stay
ed there four-and-twenty houres."
"Well. Won see / didn't want it talked
over beforehand. IF the newspapers got
hold Of the yarn. and made a lot Of fuss
ahout II. thov might upset q certain mar
rage that I've very much set my heart
uron."
Capt. Kettle looked puzzled. Il don't
seem to quite follow you, SIR
You shall hear the tale from the
beginning: We have plenty of time
ahead Of rs just now. You remember
the wreck of the Rangoon?"
''She vas coming home from East In
dian ports, wasn't she. and got on fire
somewhere off Cape Guardafui! Only
about ten of her people saved, if re-
member
That's about right, said Weniock:
offs % years ago now. Among others
lost was a Col Anderson and his wife
and their child Teresa, aged 4, and
what made their deaths all the more
sad was the fact that Anderson's elder
brother died just week before, and
he world hove come home 20 find a
reerage and large estates waiting for
him"
Il con feel for that man." said Kettle
81 can feel most for the daughter
said Wenlock.
''Irow do you mean. sir?'
''NVell. Col. Andersop's dead and his
wife's dead. hut the daughter isn't. o.
NJ env rate she was very '"uch alive L?
months ago. that's all. The whole lot
oF them. with Others, got into one Of
the P8nqaon's Eoole. end after fr'zZliny
aYnvt nj seat til they were nearls
sta~vod. got ehucl,od on that South
Arehian coast. which you saw is SO
roclrv and DANGEROUS. and were
drowned. I'll hnrring Teresa. That IS,
she WIS uuiled out Of the water by y .
local nigrers ard w9s brought up by
them. and I've absolutely certain infor-
Tho