The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-05
TO CAPTURE AN HEIRESS.
ny CrrCLIFFE HYNE.

The Parakett had ulSchdl sed ''' last VI
her coal into the lighters alongside, had
cast off from the mooring buoys and was
steaming out Of the baking heat of Suez
harbor on her way down toward the
worse heat Of the Red sea beyond.
A passenger, a young man Of or and
%. lounged on a campstool under the up
per bridge awning. and watched the Par
akeets 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 sir?" said Capt Kettle.
Il wish YOU wouldn't look so anxious.
We've star ted now, and may as well
make up our minds to so through it COM
fortably."
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 Parakeets cargo of coal in
baskets from the holds to the lighters
alongside. and Kettle had been rather
startled TO find that he carried a 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 wishes
Through the agency of their servant,
Capt owen Kettle i'm consideration of
the payment Of 300 sterling.
The Parakeet was a cargo tramp. and
carried no passenger certificate, but
letter of recommendation like this was
equivalent 20 a direct order and Kettle
signed Mr.. Wenlock on TO his crew list as
Doctor" and put to sea with an anxious
mind
WenlocB waited awhile watching squalid
Suez sink into the sea behind, and then
he spoke again.
Look here, captain" he said. those
South Arabian ports have got a lot worse
reputation than they really deserve. The
people down there twenty years ago were
pack of pirates, I'll grant you. but now
adays they've got the fear of the gun
boat always handy, and that's a wonder
full civilizing power. l tell you. captain,
you needn't be frightened; that pirate
business is exploded for now and always"
Il know all about the pratical banker
ings of those South Arabian niggers, sir"
said Kettle, stiffiy, ''and know what they
can do and what they can't do as wen as
any man living, And / know also what
can do myself at a push, and the knowl-
edge leaves me pretty comfortable, But.
If you choose 10 think me frightened, IN
own that 1 am. It's the navigation down
there that gave me the cold shivers the
first moment you mentioned it,"
why it's no worse than the Red Sea
here, anyway"
THE Red Seas bad. but you can get
good charts of it and rely on them. South
Arabian coast is no better and the charts
aren't worth the paper they're printed
on"
Il wouldn't like you TO wreck the steamer
down there. 1t might be awkward for me
getting back"
quite So said Kettle. You're think
ing of yourself, and 1 don't blame you.
I'm thinking of myself also. I'm a man
that's met with a great deal of misfortune
sir, and from one thing and another I've
been eight years without a regular com
mand. l had the tuck to bring in a dere-
lict the other day and pocket a good sal
wage 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 up this steamboat
on some uncharteTed reef"
II 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 dangerous area
and you can manage to set me ashore
where ] want in boat, just you say, and
IN meet you all / can. But al the same
time, skipper, If you don't mind doing a
swap, you might give me a good deal of
help over my matter in return"
Il haven't heard your business vet, sir
All you've told me is that you want to be
set down In this place Dunkhot. and be
taken off again after you've stayed there
four-and-twenty hours"
well you see, l didn't want it talked
over beforehand. If the newspapers got
ho.d of the yarn. and made a lot of fuss
about ii, they might upset a certain mar
riage I've very much set my heart upon -
Capt. Kettle looked puzzled. II don't
seem to quite follow you, sir"
You shall hear the tale from the begin
ming: We have plenty of time ahead Of
US just now You remember the wreck
Of the Rangoon?'
She was coming home from East In
dian ports, wasn't Sine, and got on fire
somewhere off Cape GAardafi? Oniy about
ten of her people saved IL ! remember
That's about right" said Wenlock; "it's
twenty-five years ago now. Among Others
lost was Col Anderson and his wife ard
their child, Teresa, aged 4. and what made
their deaths all the more sad was the fact
that AndersOns elder brother died lust a
week before. and he would have come
nome 60 md peerage and large estates
waiting for him"
Il can feel for that man." said Kettle.
u can feel most for the daughter" said
Wenlock
How do you mean, sir7'
We'll, Col Anderson's dead and his
Wifes dead, but the daughter isn't. or al
any rate she was very much alive twelve
months ago, that's all. The whole Iot OF
them. with others got into one of the Ran
goon's boats, and after frizzling about az
sea ill they were nearly starved. go,
chucked on that South Arabian coast
which you say is SO rocky and danger.
Gus, and were drowned All, barring TIE.
rosa, that is. She was pulled out of the
water by the local nlggers and was brought
up by them, and I've absolutely certain in
formation that not year ago she was liy.
ing in Dunkhot, as quite a big parsonage
IN her way
And she's my lady now, if she only
knew"
Well. not that. The title doesn't de.
soend in the female line. But Col Ander.
sen made will in her favor after shs
was born, and the present Earl, who's got
the estates, would have 10 shell ont 4
she turned up again"
My owners, in their letter, mentioned