The Princeton union., 1900-12-06
| I put in, with a little laugh Of satisfac-

The captain ylared at me, but his
eyes fell before my steady glance. and
| could read his thoughts plainly; the
growing doubts, the fear that he might
be all in the wrong, the trouble that
might come upon him If he misused me
without clearer proof. Yet lie carried
it with a high Land to the last.
I'll settle with you later, my fine
fellow, and handsomely. You shan't
bluff me-
IF | might suggest, Captain Sher-
borne, your place is on your bridge.
don't presume to teach you your duty,
but man is apt to forget it when he
loses his temper and his self control.
We can square our little matter later.
But warn you against using any vio-
lence. I may have friends in that ship
astern''-
l could see fresh rage gathering in
his face at my words, but he restrained
himself, and with no more than part
ing oath and an order to cast me loose
he flOundered out of the cabin.
went on deck without further let or
hindrance and took my situation by the
fore companion. I was much interest
ed in what went on around. Every one
was excited at the approach of this
splendid warship. The rumor that she
had some business with us had already
run like wildfire around. and it was
strengthened by the many colored flut-
tering bunting with which she con-
stantly signaled us. The excitement
increased when orders were given to
slow down. Any change in a steamers
progress always attracts attention on
board, and our decks fore and aft were
crowded with passengers. l could see
those Of the first class talking eagerly
together, gesticulating and pointing to
the Warship. Many glasses were level
ed at her, and I could gather that her
interference with our voyage was not
taken in good part. In these days of
record passages across the ocean fer
~" the delay of even an hour is a seri-
Gus matter.
Now the butcher of the Cha:tahoo.
chez joined me where 1 stood, some
what apart. He was an acquaintance
through Roy, somewhat surly and un-
communicative, but l found him sud-
denly quite garrulous and friendly. He
was an old man-of-war's man, and his
spirit was stirred at the sight of the
white ensign.
"1t's grand, yon. Grand to see that
iron kettle, $4,000 tons displacement,
riding triumphant like a wee birdie on
the surface Of the MIGHTY waters. 1t
means mans conquest of nature,
science and knowledge and above all
pluck. There's a sicht, my man! The
finest and newest cruiser afloat-H. Nj.
s. Victrix''-
"You know her, then?"
AYE, laddie. My own sisters third
cousin is fourth engineer aboard. and I
was all over her not a week Syne when
she lay in the Solent She was under
orders then for the China seas. Dell
ha' me if know what brings her into
midatlantic''
'Some special order, suppose?"
"War mayhap. These are fearsome
times, laddie. and read in the papers
there was trouble brewing. What if
she is sent to warn our shipping?''
1--WE shall soon know. See, she has
lowered a boat. and we're going row
under easy steam to take them on
board
The Victrix lay half mile off, and
her boat. looking like a cockleshell
compared to her great bulk as it left
her side. came bravely along. lifted
over the long Atlantic swell by the we'll
cadenced stroke Of 1G oars. In the
stern was group Of three. and as
they got within range of my glasses |
saw that one was naval officer no
doubt in command of the boat. and two
other persons in plain clothes.
One was my colleague in the intelli-
gence office, Swete Thornhill. The 9th
er-yes. there was no mistaking that
rosy. scorbutic visage-the other was
Snuyzer, the detective. decided then
and there what should do. saw
that it was possible by acting promptly
to tell Swete Thornhill all he knew and
yet preserve my incognito. So Slip
ped down into the second saloon and
wrote him half dozen words.
Dear Swete-1 got the papers and have thrown
them overheard. Don't let on about me more
than necessary, but make the skipper bring yea
and Snuyzer down here, forward, for few words
private talk in my own cabin or anywhere out OF
earshot with others. I have strong reason for
still lying low. Yours W. WooD
took this to the purser's cabin and
was lucky enough to find him there
poring over interminable and yolumi-
nous accounts Of victualing. They in
terested him far more than what was
going on above.
"You will oblige me by getting this
into the captains hands. at once" l
said very peremptorily. 1T is for one
Of the gentlemen who are now close
under our quarter in the man-of-war's
boat"
He took the letter and read it's supar- .
scription with some surprise, not to say
alarm. 1t was: ION her majesty's
service. To Major Swete Thornhill, D.
s. O., r. A., c. o. Captain Sherborne Of
the S. S. Chattahoochee. Confidential
and most immediate,"
Certainly, sir" said the purser, his
whole manner suddenly changed, and