The Chanute times., 1900-02-23

near him, and not to make any at
tempts to escape. Indeed, there was
no possibility of escape. Rob might,
II he felt so inclined, jump overheard,
but they were far out at sea, and to
commit so foolhardy an act was sim
ply to leap to ais death. So Rob bid
ed his time, took things as easily as
he could, and waited till the schooner
should have returned to Argentina 10
try and reach his uncle.
In truth, Robs condition on board
the BLACK Cat" after that one burst
of passion from Torrevo, was not hard.
The captain exacted no arduous tasks
| from him. He was well fed, and had
he been there willingly he would have
found much to enjoy in the novel situ-
| alton.
The swarthy crew treated him with
a friendliness born of their fear of Tor
revo, and their respect for Torrevo's
friends.
So, by the time the "Black Cat"
came to her anchorage at an obscure
spot near the wharfage at Rio de ia
neiro, Rob was in tranquil state OF
mind.
1t was evident that Torrevo had
made this trip many times before. He
knew all the ropes, and no sooner had
the schooner made anchor than he was
ashore visiting his old cronies and ar
ranging for fresh cargo to be carried
to the cave on La Plata.
On shipboard Torrevo drank CO.
piously, but was never under the infiu-
ence of the liquor he drank. But Rob
found that when free from the neces-
sity of maintaining discipline among
his crew he gave free license to his
appetite Thus it happened that when
the fresh cargo was ready to come
aboard, Capt. Torrevo was hopelessly
and maudlin drunk. He staggered to
where Rob stood on deck, carrying
blank paper in his hand.
See here, boy" he said, striving TO
maintain his equilibrium and speaking
thickly, 81 can't do this. Old Elvin
demands full tally. He's no fool,
Elvin. See, his people here are not to
be trusted. And he don't trust me.
You'll have to do this"
What is there to do, captain"'
asked Rob, somewhat afraid Of the
blackeyed drunkard.
"Why, you fool Mark down what
comes aboard. See, now?"
ooh, yes. I'll do that. You go TO
bed"
That's a good boy" said Torrevo.
With implicit confidence in the
young American he went to his cabin
Rob procured pen and ink from
the captains room and, taking a con-
venient position on deck, making a
table of a square chest, he carefully
jotted down in a clear, firm hand each
article as it was brought on board and
lowered into the hold. There were
bales of tobacco and bales of silk
There were casks of rum and hundreds
of bottles of wine. There were more
rifles and more ammunition-enou
Rob thought, for an army. All these
in proper order, and with each separate
quantity specified, Rob noted in hi!
tally.
This took all of two days. BY th'
time the loading was finished Torrevt
had slept off his drunkenness and the
BLACK Cat" set sail again for the
south.
Rob had done a simple act, but ii
was destined to have great influence on
his future, as also upon Torrevo's
Had Torrevo foreseen the result ol
that spree he would undoubtedly have
restrained himself and remained so
ber.
At last, after three weeks voyaging
the BLACK Cat" reached her anchorage
in the little bay. One of the crew was
sent = ashore by Torrevo, and Rol
learned that this method was used tt
notify Captain Elvin when the "Blacl
Cat" arrived with contraband cargo
In a few hours the tall, ugly English
man reached the place on horseback
and was followed by the same gang o
swarthy laborers Rob had seen before
Rob was in constant fear lest Lemue
Starne-or Lemuel Elvin-should alst
come and recognize him. But thu
Younger man never came there unless
on urgent business with his father. ant
Rob was safe this time.
Ito be continued.)