The Banner-Democrat., 1899-01-21
CHAPTER xX-Continued.


"If he does will you fight him.?
THAT'S what / am here for, SAID
Fox.
By this time they had reached the
shore. where Frenauld was waiting
with the boat, and Fox and his party
started for the Wanderer.
The man who had been favored with
the captains replies at once became an
oracle-the most important man IN tne
town for the time, and-a central ngure
about which wondering groups gain
cred wherever he went.
The reason for Capt Fox's return
was now plain to the dullest compre-
hension. He he had been sent from
New York to meet and destroy Capt.
Kidd. the monster pirate OF the oceans.
And it was the general belief tnat II
Capt. Kidd had the temerlty to come
within sight OF Capt. Fox's ship that
the fate OF The former would be sealed |
to q dead certainty.
Heretofore Ralph Denham had been
the naval hero OF Sag Harbor. but with
an inconsistency and forgetfulness
peculiar to the race at all times and ID
all conditions, they forgot the old IDOL
in the glarinS presence OF this graho
new one.
Captain Fox was the man. and some
of the more sanguine residents, Doctor
Hedges among them, believed !nac ne
would have Kidd within the week. IL he
was within reach. =,
SQUIRE Condit never did run with the
crowd: he was eccentric, and he had
the boldness to assert himself. AS
deacon he could not conscientiously lay
wager, but he told Doctor Hedges:
"Pil give you farm of two hundred
acres doctor. If this fellow Fox catches
Kidd: that Is, il Kidd is in these waters:
n vou'll give me one hundred acres OF
equally good land, il Ralph Denham
catches him.
aTll agree to that, said the doctor,
eagerly. -,
Squire Condit was sorely perplexed.
Like Lieut. Hedges end Lea Hedges ne
was sure there was something wrong,
and his wife and daughter were also
sure hut neither one could say, even
Indefinitely, where that something
wrong was.
Telling Don to show Colonel Graham
to the cabin, Fox, on reaching the deck
of the Wanderer, drew Frenauld 10 one
side and said, in low tone:
THAT man Thrasher should be here
by this time" ..ohoa
the town, sir?"
"That is lust what l do mean. 60
ashore again; IL he is there, bring him
aboard at once; If not, wait till he ar
rives. You understand me?"
Il do, clearly. -.
And you will still maintain stric'
reticence with the people ashore, unless
YOU can add to the impression that WI
sra here 10 watch for Captain Kidd"
AN right, sir" replied Frenauld
turning away with much admiration 10
the adroitness with which Fox was turn
inc This report to his own account.
Captain Fox was prevented from go
ing down to talk to Colonel Graham o.
the arrival of gig from the Sea HAVE
hearing Lieutenant Hedges, the once
In command.
The instant Fox saw tho fine sturd
sailor. he advanced to him with exteno
cd hand, saying, after the cordial salu
tation was over: .
There will be plenty OF work fc
both of US pretty soon, Lleutenah
Capt. Denham will be here In Ie
days with a supply ship Tor the oe
Hawk and Wanderer. In the meal
t;roa how are YOU off for ammunition
ave have a fair supply, sir. replit
the Lieutenant. handing Fox what II
brave fellow supposed was his oW
cantain's letter, instructing him 10 r
mort to Fox.
without looking at the letter, F.
said: ,o.. 90
inc Won to report to me. Well, we sh'
consider that done. Now, send me
once n list of all your arms, their co
dition. the amount and kind OF ANN
milton on hand; the strength OF yo
crew. with a report on the genera U
dition of the Sea Hawk. You 81
lieutenant, while l am not In ac''
command. it is very essen''ai l'r ne :,
know exactly what l am respons''
for" ;nt,v ri,
ond nroner'" said Mr.. Hedges, mi
Impresse with the precaution ana
dence OF executive ability evinced
his superior. Might ask. sir, II tn
Is a possibility OF the Sea Hawk De
ordered to sea any time very soon9
"A nossibility, but not a strong pr
ability. NY belief is. that Capt ID
ham will be back before your ship
to sea. But the chances are that
Wanderer may leave tomorrow or n
day; it will depend on reports expec
from New York. Should l go TO Sc
will borrow all your ammunition'
am about out, and you can get a
pleniSh from tne supply sup
benham will bring on.
Il shall do as you or'ier IN 'hat
ter.s said Lieut.. Hedges, saiutinS
turning away
Cant Fox watched the comman,
officer of the Sea Hawk until the
that carried him came aiohss'ue
swn ship. -. h,solf
every one erse, as he had good TO
to be. ,.h hie
tomary luck; and the future 10
Golden with a harvest OF rare promi
He was not the man 10 oe ca
away by success. So lar ne nao 2. Z,
much Of the character OF the 81
animal whosd name he had assa
but to cunning he now added "o'
ful caution.
His immediate plan was 10 cal
the Sea Hawk, and fill her with nls
and such Of Denham's men as coul
Induced TO embark under the black
isut fearing hal he might 70 gel
psJsss hs lo..u teltest his s0nsM