The Holly chieftain., 1900-01-19

1I-77
name could be seen IN TIE O.lyhtsse
daylight But still she had nams. II
was "El Cato Negro. or The Blae;:
Cat" n. z Z
The crew Of 4El Cato Negro swis 4
mixed lot Of rascals. some being Swic-
ish, born in South America, soHe ha.ns
French, some Portuguese. and some na-
tive Indian. The Elack Cat' had
bad name among the officials sf Ar
gentina. and she was, in reality. tho
fastest and most successful smuxgler
in the world.
. She was entering the river. even now,
with cargo Of rides and ammunition.
and also Of rum and tobacco. on which
there IL heavy duty in Argentina, and I
was making in the dark for certain
spot where the contraband cargo could
be landed without fear of detection.
The language spoken on board the
BLACK Cat" was something beyond
3uted words to describe 1t was GER
yainly 5argon OF English. mixed with
Spanish. French or any other LAM
guage that came handy. The men were.
to man. a desperate, cut-throat gang.
Captain Torrevo. of the BLACK Cat
was on deck peering at the lights OF the
steamer, which was passing short
distance ahead OF the schooner. He
grinned with satisfaction as he thought
how lucky 1t was for him that the
night was too black for the men on the
steamer to see the Black Cat"
The captain had taken extra precau-
tion to avoid collision of any kind.
and half dozen lookouts were dis
tributed throughout the schooner. With
but half her sails spread to the gentle
night breeze, the BLACK Cat" gllded
easily and noiselessly through the
water.
The Royal Mail was now far up the
river, and her lights could just be dis
tinguished; they f1ickered, then were
gone. The BLACK Cat was crossing
the path OF the steamer. not more than
three minutes after she had passed.
Hist" came cry from lookout
in the bow. me hear cry-cry-see?
Listen!"
"Ho! Me hear uni" said another
lookout who had strained his ears
What um be? Man in water?"
Him over there." shouted fellow
who was as black as the night itself.
"Hark! Hear de same zing over?"
Captain Torrevo had rushed forward,
and was listening intently
Family there came to his ears the
words. Help! l am drowning. Help!'
Boy in the water,' said the captain.
whose ears never deceived him on the
water. Hey! Port there. Hard!
Stand by there to rescue, Lower away
boat"
Men sprang to obey the captain, and
in an instant there was a small boat
resting on the water. with four
swarthy and almost murderous looking
men in it-for what? To rescue hui
man being from drowning. These men
would take the life of another as quick
ly as look at him II his life was neces-
sary to their own safety. But the cry
for help that came from the black wa
ter of the river had found response
in their own hearts. as it might have
found in the hearts of the manifest and
most courageous of the sailors on a
man. -of-war
When Rob struck the water, after
his sudden plunge from the deck of the
Royal Mail" he went down deep into
the river, and for moment was bereft
Of his senses But this was simply for
the moment, and up he came again to
the surface. to battle bravely for his
life. He saw the receding lights Of the
steamer, and cried out as Justify as he
could for help But the steamer had
gone too far for his voice to be heard
on board, and 1t was heard instead by
the men on the "Black Cat"
Suddenly Rob, who was not trying to
swim. but simply to keep himself
afloat, which he was able to do. heard
the plash of oars near him. Then he
heard the voice of man calling out to
him:
Hoy! Hoy! Where him be?"
Here / ami" shouted Rob. This
way! This way"
A few strokes of the oars brought
the boat nearer still. and then the boat
was allowed to drift, while man
stood in the bow ready to seize the
person who needed help as soon as he. /.
came in reach.
Light, quick!" said this man in the
bow.
Suddenly CLEAN lit up the dark
ness, and the rays of small lantern
were turned on the water. Rob was
then about ten feet from the boat He
at once took few strokes toward it.