The Holly chieftain., 1900-02-16
CHAPTER TX.

was sorrowful over his gloomy pros
poets. but he was wise enough to hide
his feelings whom Captain Torrevo was
near him, and not to make any at
tempts to escape. Indeed, there was
no possibility of escape. Rob might,
he felt 30 Inclined, jump overheard,
but they were far out at sea, and to
commit SO foolhardy an act was sim
ply to leap to his death. So Rob bid
ed his time. took things as easily as
he could, and waited till the schooner
should have returned to Argentina to
try and reach his uncle.
In truth. Rob's condition on board
the BLACK Cae' 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 stu
alton.
The swarthy crew treated him with
friendliness born of their fear of Tor
revo. and their respect for Torreyo's
friends. hF
So, by the time the BLACK Cat"
came to her anchorage at an obscure
spot near the wharfage at Rio de Ja-
metro, 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 Torreyo 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 1t 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
thick1y, II 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.H
( What is there to do, captain?h
asked Rob, somewhat afraid of the
blackeyed drunkard.
Why. you fool! Mark down what
comes aboard. See, now?"
"oh. yes. I'll do that. You go to
bed" tis
That's good boy said Torreyo.
With implicit confidence in the
young American he went to his cabin
Rob procured pen and ink from
the captains room and, taking con-
venient position on deck, making
table of a square chest, he carefully
jotted down in clear, firm hand each
article as 1t 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-enough,
Rob thought. for an army. All these,
In proper order, and with each separate
quantity specified, Rob noted in his
tally.
This took all Of two days. BY the
time the loading was finished Torrevo
had slept on his drunkenness and the
BLACK Cat" set sail again for the
south.
Rob had done simple act, but It
was destined to have great influence on
his future, as also upon Torrevo's.
Had Torrevo foreseen the result OF
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 Rob
learned that this method was used to
notify Captain ElvIn when the BLACK
Cat" arrived with contraband cargo.
In few hours the tall, ugly English
man reached the place on horseback,
and was followed by the same gang of
swarthy laborers Rob had seen before.
Rob was in constant fear lest Lemuel
Starne-or Lemuel Elvin--should, also
come and recognize him. But the
younger man never came there unless
on urgent business with his father. and
Rob was safe this time.
Ito be continued.)