Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1899-06-01
DICK RODNEY;
5 Or, The Adventures Of
; An Elton Boy.
BY JAMES GRANT.


the port-tack ITO use q nlan-o'-Waf
phrase)i and with nearly all her can
vas set, ...r.,.i. iI,o....I
She was about four miles on the reef
at the entrance OF the bay, and was
bearing directly toward It, Her can
vas gllmmered like snow In the moon
shine and we could see the red lights
OF her cabin windows fash at times
upon the sea astern and the Wilderness
of her long flush deck, az she careeped
before tho breeze, d.. .....
Yet how was II, we all asked, that
there was not breath OF wind with
us?
Perhaps she brings II with her"
suggested Hislop.
And how II came to pass that she
appeared right In the ofllng and out
side the bay all at once?" asked Tom
Lambourne. ..t.
"She must have rounded the high
blum while we were all palaverng,"
said Probart.
Nothing more was said for time,
but whether II was the effect Of imag'
nation or of an overstrained eyeslght
know not, she seemed to melt as II
were In the brightness OF the noon
shine-to become 80 lndlstInct that we
could see the line Of the horizon
through her topsalls; and next II
seemed as II her hull, her spars and
rigging we're edged with bright prls-
matte hues,
1t ls impossible for me to describe
the blank establishment, or rather the
intense CONSERVATION, OF our men on
the disappearance Of this vessel which
was the object Of 80 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 q
Highland boy at Elton was wont Ia
tell us, of ships which In the days OF
osslan traversed the steep hills and the
salt lochs OF Morven with equal IA
clllty.
1T is O shlp--or rather the repre-.
sentatlon OF a verltable shlp--which
cannot be far off the Island, and IL
making for It at this moment" said
Hislop, emphatically.
How far do you think she Is, sir?'
asked Hugh Shute, mockingly.
Perhaps twenty miles-perhaps Q
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 alacrlty the prepare
lions for putting to sea.
It may be that somewhat OF the pro
fessional restlessness Of sailors con.
iirmed their resolution.
They we're already tired of their 80.
journ on the island, and, inspired by
the desire OF reaching Tristan do Gun
ha, which is inhabited by about eighty
families OF Portuguese, English and
mulattoes, among whom Hlslop as
sured them they might linger lone
enough before they we're taken Off by
a passing ship-qulte as long as II 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 char
or compass, how could they hope t
steer with certainty in any direction
They all might perish In detail by
the most dreadful deaths In their oper
boat, gasplng 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 q severe disappointment
on the disappearance of the illusory
ship, in no way shared the wild and
lll-regulated wishes Of the crew
though assured that would be com.
PEELED to follow their desperate for
tunes.
Hislop and still fingered; 30 we
were told peremptorily that II we did
not come on board 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 Lambournt
was about to shove Off, when Probart
who had the bow oar, suddenly re-
membered that he had left his Ratchet
near our wigwam, and asked me ia
get It.
l jumped ashore, and was proceed
ing along the beach for 1t, when sud
denly l was confronted by Antonio
who from thlcket had been watch
ing our operations and departure.
His tawney skin--for he was naked
to the waist--his ferocious aspect, his
head of matted hair, his colossal
strength and atrocious character were
not without due effect upon the
boats crew at this crisis.