The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-08-17

awkward questions for them at hons.
They could not murder him. They
were not men of that stamp. Nor
could they put off the deed. The ar
rangements were made. The plot must
be executed. Then what was there for
them to do, the boy thought, but to APP
proach him as the skipper had done,
relying upon his bad name for sue
cess? They were simple men, after all.
1t may be that they did not realize
how deeply they would commit them
selves in making that proposition.
They'll not hurt me-, thought Mark.
They'll send me south in that schoon-
er. Maybe they'll carry me off to the
states That's what they II do. Twill
give them time to get clear"
Skipper Tom was as good as HIS
word. That night the Ny Love was
towed off shore, and, under cover OF
darkness shamelessly scuttled. Mark
saw her, in shadowy form, as she
heeled and went down; and he grieved
for as fine a schooner as ever sailed
the Newfoundland seas. a desperate
deed thus to sink herl A foul deed for
which punishment should be melted
out-for this and for the robbery of
John Arnot & Co. who were nonest.
generous traders
No watch was kept on Mark. 1t did
not appear to the conspirators that he
could escape. Red Mans island is not
so large that boy could not be found
IL he hid himself away. But they for
got the punt, which, all fitted out,
was moored to the rocks. In the dead
of night, when the skipper and all lay
sound asleep. Mark stole from the dy-
ing fire to the waters edge. A quick
search assured him that the punt was
provided with sails and food and wa
ter. He cast off the painter and sculled
| noiselessly into deep water.
While he was setting the sail he
heard man stumble along the rocky
shore-stumble in haste.
What are doing there. b'y?" Skip
per Tom called
The wind caught the sail The boat
heeled slightly under its influence, and
moved swiftly from the shore.
Sure, skipper" said Mark. ct be
bound for Rocky Harbor. It's a fair
wind l have"
The punt was soon borne out OF
sound Of Skipper Toms voice. The
island and the helpless men maroon
ed there We're soon lost in the night
behind A fair, strong wind took the
Httie boat across the channel to the
coast. Rocky Harbor lay twenty
one miles to the south. Mark could
make the port by the night following
! If the wind held good. But could he
make 1t in time to organize a party
to return? Punishment was what these
men deserved. Could he get back be-
fore the strangers schooner arrived
from the south? The men were In
a trap. but the schooner would take
them out If she came in time.
Contrary winds came. The punt
made slow Roadway. Mark feared that
he could not make Rocky Harbor by
night The difficulty hnu
solved for him. AS he rounded the
Cape of Bells a great steamer dis
closed herself. She was British man
o-war-one Of the fleet Great Britain
keeps in those waters to protect her
people on the shores where French
and observation-disclosures have equal
rights to fish, as the treaty provides.
They patrol the coast So it was not
at all surprising that she was steam- ,
ing round the Cape of Bells. A
Yes, my boy" said the captain, I
when Mark had told his story. IT'S in
the line of my duty. I'll run down
to Red Mans Island, and take those
scoundrels into custody"
Within few hours the skipper the
supercargo, the cook and the crew of
two were in irons. Within two days
the schooner from the south was seized
and her crew sent to keep company
with their accomplices. There was no
denying the charge. Evidence of guilt
and to spare was found in the heaps
of cargo ashore and in the auger holes
in the bottom of the My Love, which
diver from the man-o'-war discov-
cred.
Within two months the conspirators
were in Jail at st. Johns.
At the same time Mark Trimlet was
behind the counter in John Arnot &
Co.'S store at Rudy Cove. his good
name restored.