Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-09
5 A SISTERS VENGEANCE s
" BycEoRcE MANvILLE FENN w
cHSSs
By GEORGE MANvILLE FENN

"No." said the lady, with one Of her
most wiEaing looks. II don't believe you.
Sailors are worse than soldiers, and ycu
viii fall in love with one of the lovely
Spanish ladies out there and forget all
about poor little me-"
Forget your cried the captain, pas
sionately; never! Ny love for you grows
stronger every day; and as to beauty.
was there ever a woman so beautiful as
you"
| Captain Humphrey was about to throw
himself on his knees as well as his boots
would allow, but just then the door open
| ed, and fresh visitors were announced,
and the topic of the captains appointment
to the sleop-of-war Queen Jane, for the
determination of the West Indian buc-
cancers, formed the staple of the CONVEX
sation.
| Love had blinded the eyes of the stout
captain lately introduced to the fashion
able beauty, and welcomed on account of
the fact that he had lately succeeded TO
the Deyonshire estates Of the Arm
strongs, consequent upon the death of bis
cousin James. who had been killed in a
duel ~
So, deeply in love with as pretty bit
of arti6ciality as ever dressed, or rather
/ believing himself deeply in love, Cap
tain Humphrey Joined his well-found ship
at Falmouth and sailed for the far west
and the land of the torrid sun. The men
OF Bristol rubbed their hands, thought
of their freights and sat down to their
ledgers. while they waited for the news
Of the hanging of Commalore Junk.
/ nfafp hod ~ 1o
( Mexican gulf for six months, and was
as far off finishing his task as on the
day when he had reached Kingston har-
Dor. and listened to the tales of the buc-
cancers last deeds.
! But it was no myth. Put in where h.
would, it was to hear fresh news Of the
pirates. Now some unfortunate captain
would arrive in small boat, with his
crew. suffering from heat. thirst and star
walton. Now the half-burned hull of
goodly argosy would BE encountered on
the open sea. At any other time news
would come of a derelict that had been
scuttled but not sunk, and seen in such
and such latitude.
Wherever he went Captain Humphrey
was met with news, and at last with re-
proaehes and almost insult by the au-
thorities at the various ports at which he
touched, for the way in which his task
was being done.
For there was he with a small swift
sailing ship, full Of stout seamen, bravely
officered well armed. and with guns big
enough to blow all the schooners in the
west to matchwood, while from the cap
tain to the smallest powder monkey all
were red-hot with desire to meet the
commodore and give him foe who knew
how to fight.
| Messages Travelled slowly in those days,
but all the same Captain Humphrey Arm
strong had received g. dispatch limiting
at a recall. and a friendly letter telling
! him that if he did not soon have some
thing to show he would be superseded and
in disgrace.
| He was a rich man, and at the end of
three months he did not scruple to offer
rewards for information; he doubled his
offer to the man who would bring him
within reach of the commodore's schoon-
err and beginning with ten guineas, he
went on Increasing, as the time went on,
| till he reached hundred, and, at last,
when six months had passed, it was
known all round the coast that Captain
/ Armstrong would give thousand guineas
to be brought alongside the schooner.
| Captain Humphrey ground his teeth
when he was alone in his cabin, and he
swore as Devon captain could swear in
those days; but it did no good, and in
spite of all his struggles, he could only
look upon Commodore Junk as a will-o'
the-wisp.
What will Lady Jenny Think he
groaned. And I meant to do so much!'
At last what he dreaded arrived He
sailed into port one day, to find his re-
call; and he went back on board ship,
ordered all sail to be made, and, ignor-
ing the order. determined to find the COM
modore or die.