Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1900-11-10
Copyright, 1900, by r. f. Fenno & Co.
XII.

H.Ms 8. vIcTRK.
By next morning had resolved to
take the captain Of the Chattahoochee
directly l saw him into my confidence.
He was an Englishman. The liner. al:
though it had an American name. sail
ed under English colors. On her deck
was on English ground. and thought
l might count on his protection. was
taking too much for granted. as !
soon found. The plainest truth does
not always prosper when it Is contra.
dicted seemingly by well substantial
ed lie.
had not long to wait for my inter
view with Captain Sherborne. Instead
of coming into the. SECOND cabin he sent
for me, and | was led before him very
much like a malefactor. with steward
on one side of me and quartermaster.
my, friend Of the previous night. on the
other. had the papers on me In an In
ner breast pocket.
was not. taken to his own cabin on
the. poop deck. but to the purser's In
central part of the ship. half cabin.
half Office. and that officer was also In
attendance. The captain was, square
set. weather. beaten sailor man, very
bluff and CHEEKY. no doubt. when It so
pleased him. but his mottled red face
in its fringe of white whiskers could
shine fierce and forbidding as light.
house through a fog, and it did so Just
now.
"You are the person calling yourself
Hardcastle who has been breaking the
ships rules by trespassing on the first
saloon accommodation? saw you my.
SELF
az admit it. What Is the penalty? To
pay first cabin fare. presume? Then.
Mr.. Purser. take the necessary amount
and give me. receipt. l won't change
my cabin"
l tossed a couple Of iyers on to the
little: table in front OF. which the skip
per sat. and the purser. little. old.
spare gentleman with long white
beard. took the money up. but looked
at the captain doubtfully.
"Stay. stay. my fine fellow. It's not
going to end like that The trespass is
only the smallest part. There has been
a robbery on board. 1t has been re-
ported to me this morning. and. and
"You suspect meY' He nodded: ION
what grounds, may ask? am enti-
tied to be told that"
81 shall tell you nothing. l am cap
tain of this ship
"But will not be SO very long, think.
after this voyage. If you adopt such a
high handed and unwarrantable course
as to accuse a passenger Of theft, yet
give him no reason for it"
This shot told. His fiery eyes falter-
ed for moment, and there was less
assurance In his voice when he went
on, 81 am answerable to my employers.
not to you
"And, pardon me. to the public, Of
whom am one. and to the British gov
ernment. whom represent, Captain
Sherborne."
His jaw fell. ind he looked rather
helplessly at the purser. who stopped
over and whispered few words In his
ear. They only seemed to still further
stir up his bile and more sturdily vindi-
cate his authority.
"By heaven" he shouted, "I'll not be
bounced by every longshore scallywag
that chooses to face me out with thun-
dering lies! On board my own ship too!
British government be hanged! What
have to do with 1t In midatlantic and
with so fathoms Of blue water under
my keel? Besides. it's what you say.
How are we to know It's true? You ad-
mitted you were sailing under false
colors. What's your real namer
That moment l had intended to tell
him everything, but now did not trust
his discretion.
"You shall know all In good time
when it suits me. Meanwhile ! hol1
you responsible"-
"YaH! You're worse than sea law.
yer. tacking and veering ali round the
compass. Answer my question. Did
you steal those papers"
What papers2 WhoseT'
"The dukes, Terry Grada's, you
know. You were seen near his state
room"
That's untrue, for l never went
there and don't know where 1t is. But
e.s for the papers Well. yes. I have
them here"-I touched my pocket
land | mean to keep them"
The skipper all but bounded from his
chair. 81 think you must be stark.
staring mad; raging lunatic, no less.
I shall have to clap you In irons and
send you down for safety to Sand al
ley. Hand them over now in brace Of
shakes, or Pip
He rose menacingly. Keep your
distance. Don't lay finger on nor
don't touch those papers. No one must
see them. They belong to the British
government"
"Then how came they in the posses
sion Of this duke? Yah! Try another"
"He acquired them wrongly and will
have to answer for that and other
things-he and those with him."
Including that millionaire youth,
suppose, Captain Wood, who seems
even more upset at this robbery-your
robbery"
could contain myself no longer.
o1a 10 not Cantoin Wood He is an