The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-03-13
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signaling distance.
signals she wants to speak us, SIR"
said the fourth officer, who brought the
message. Cant make out her num-
Der, but she's new man-of-war cruis-
en- British, and Mr. Aston says she
must be steaming % knots an hour"
"She's after those papers, Captain
Sherborne, unless I'm much mistaken
I put in, with little laugh of satisfac-
ton. perhaps there will be some one
on board who knows me-"
The captain glared at me, but his
eyes fell before my steady glance, and
l 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 he carried
it with high Land to the last.
"I'll settle with you later, my fine
fellow, and handsomely. You shant
bluff me-"
IF l might suggest Captain Sher-
borne, your place Is on your bridge. I
don't presume to teach you your duty,
but a 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-
lencc. may have friends in that ship
astern'
| 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. l 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 f1ut-
tering bunting with which she con-
stantly signaled us. The excitement
increased when orders were given to
slow down. Any change in steamers
progress always attracts attention on
board, and our decks fore and aft were
crowded with passengers. could see
those of the first class talking eagerly
together, gesticulating and pointing to
the warship. Many glasses were level
ed at her, and l could gather that her
interference with our voyage was not
taken in good part. In these days of
record passages across the ocean fer
ry" the delay of even an hour is seri-
GUS matter.
Now the butcher of the Chattahoo-
chez Joined me where I stood, some
what apart. He was an acquaintance
through Roy, somewhat surly and I'M
communicative, but found him sud
denly quite garTulous and friendly. He
was an old man-of wars man, and his
spirit was stirred at the sight of the
white ensign.
ITS grand, yon. Grand to see that
iron kettle, 10000 tons displacement,
riding triumphant like wee birdie on
the surface of the MIGHTY waters. It
means mans conquest of nature,
science and knowledge and above all
pluck. There's SIGHT, my man! The
finest and newest cruiser afioat-H. NJ.
S. NictriX"-
"You know her, thcn?"
"Aye, laddie. My own sisters third
cousin is fourth engineer aboard, and I
was all over her not week syne when
she lay in the Solcnt She was under
nd tbor fpY No FhinO lni1
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?"
Eve shall soon know. See, she has
lowered boat. and we're going now
under easy steam to take them on
board"
The victrix lay half mile off, and
her boat, looking like cockleshell
compared to her great bulk as it left
her side, came bravely along, lifted
over the long Atlantic swell by the well
cadenced stroke of 16 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 intclli-
gence office, Swete Thornhill. The 9TH
er-yes, there was no installing that
rosy, scorbutic visage-the other was
Snuyzer, the detective. l decided then
and there what l should do. l saw
that 1t was possible by acting promptly
to tell Swete Thornhill all he knew and
yet preserve my incognito. So l slip
ped down into the second saloon and
wrote him half dozen words.
Dear swcte-I got the papers and have thrown
them overheard. Don't let on about me more
than necessary, but make the skipper bring you
and snuyzer down here. forward. for few words
private talk in my own cabin or anywhere out Of
earshot with Others. 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
porting over intermlnable and volumi-
nous accounts Of victualing. They H.
terested him far more than what was
going on above.
"You will oblige me by getting this
into the captains hands at once"
said very peremptorily. ut is for one
Of the gentlemen who are now close
under our quarter in the man.of-war's
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