The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-06-16
CHAPTER III.

Il
| With anchor tripped and rounded and
sheets hauled home, just as daybreak
| brought into relief the rugged rocks and
reefs which guard the entrance to the
harbor Of Annoy, the Nord Brandt crept
out into the long. steady swell of the
China Sea. There che caught q fresh
land breeze and bore away northwnrd
all unconscious that she was speeding tc
her fate.
| 1t was Walton's f1rst breathing spell
after getting the brig under way, and as
| he came down from the larboard fore
| shrouds he encountered Ben Logan, their
first opportunity for words aside since
| boarding.
What do you say now. Benz" he de-
manded softly, drawing the seaman to-
| ward the weather rail.
| Ben grinned half-dlsmally.
az say we're in for better or wuss,
lad. like a lubber married." he replied.
| II reckon the crew is square, but LIN
foggy as the banks about one thing.
whats that, Benz"
There's pettlcoats aboard"
"The devil you say!" muttered Archie'
with quickened interest.
faye, lad. two O. them. devil or. no
DEVIL got 1t from yonder blathersklte
in in. the he s galley. They came aboard a'or0
That's strange!'
| "Your heads not the only one with
that idee In It," vouchsafed Ben. IRON
what l heered aloft none o the lads
looked for the Ike and none o them
like it. Women has sharp eyes and
| timber tongues, and jacks with pralns
don't fancy chances agin them ouos'
Avast, lad Here's the mate"
The approach of their friend OF the
previous night cut short their discus
sion. and he greeted them with shrug
and laugh.
We're off, lads" said he. 1--WE told
Van Hansen about you, and IT'S all to ms
| liking. But he's In a HI OF bad humor
this morning. You'll know why iater.
Two put you two In the same watch as
being most to your liking"
''Thankee, sir, thankee," said Ben.
twigging his forelock. We're both we'll
pleased, sir, my word for t."
But Walton's gaze was turned aft ana
his mind was with doubtful misg1vings
upon tho occupants Of the cabin. Ihe
presence of women did not seem consist
emit with the contemplated desperate Ven.
| ture. and he moro than wished himself
out of It. And the dark looks on the
faces Of come Of tho crew. who were
rough set of men Of mixed nationaliues'
! Indicated that Walton was not alohe Win
such sentiments.
| Before the sun was fairly into the
| heavens. the perfect day Of which the
dawn had given presage underwent
change. The wind veered suddenly 10
| the north, slapplng tho sails aback, ana
| presently died away to mere catspaws at
| infreouent intervals. The sun lost Its
binding dazzle in a bank OF gray clouds'
becoming first copper-hued ball In the
dull sky, and then vanishing entirely.
while the low line Of shore grew indls-
| tinct, and the horizon to the south and
west was gradually yelled by slowly
rising mist, which threatened ere long
| to shut in the entire sweep OF placid
| sea.
| Through tho close and humid atmos-
| phere one sail only was at that time VS.
| ible. Away off to the southwest, nearly
| hull down, n schooner. carrying lower
sails, was bearing to the northeast AS
| tho wind, abated and the fog threatened
| to close In the Wow, she shook out her
| topsails also and veered to point west
| OF north, on course that should inter-
cept the Nord Brandt at q later hour.
| But this sail, too, was lost long before
noon.
she had seemed to occasion rather
more than cursory interest In the mind
| of Lieutenant Vail, who had como on
deck Immediately after breakfast and
| fell to watching her with clouded eyes.
| This had continued for some time the
young mans nervousness being only too
apparent, when the Nord Brandt's COM
mander, Captain Van Hansen, hove up
| the companionway.
| He was a rough red-bearded man. IN
| middle l!ce, evidently Dutch or German.
| and carried in his countenance a nature
not inviting opposition Perhaps this
was then accumulated by recent events,
which had occasioned the ill-humor his
mate had mentioned. for he at once ap-
| preached Vail. Sowing sr!Hlly' ana
growled:
| Come down hero, lieutenant! I've
something to say to you!'
Vail started slightly. but without mis-
giyngs followed the speaker to tho waist
At the same time Archie Walton was
ordered aft to relieve the man at the
wheel
Having led his companion out OF prob
able hearing from the cabin. Van Haul
sen at once came down to business. say
| Ing with a gruffness the moro marked
because of his murdered English, which
is here expunged:
trYou're lieutenant in the British
navy. I hear. and relieved from the War
Hawk"
well, I'm id sorry for 1t"'
| "A quick frown settled about the off,
GERS eyes. In which CLEAN Of vague
apprehension instantly appeared; and he
demanded, half in his throat:
why so. Captain Van Hausen?"
because in taking passage on the
Nord Brandt you have put yourself
and your women In a bad box. Ileuten-
| ant Vail! Don't think this favor was ac-
corded willingly, sir! Ny vessel Is Just
now chartered by the Chinese govern
| ment. with which your Internal COM
mander had sufficient influence to pro-
cure you this passage, which the cir
oumstances did not permit OF my refus-
| Ing without self-betrayal."
betrayal Of what, Captain Van Hall
SEM"
"Of the fact that We have smuggled
arms aboard. which we mean to sell to
the rebel army said Van Hansen,
| bluntly.
Vail started slightly, then smiled.
~ appreciate the situation now" said
he "a refusal to take us as passen-
gers, the sanction of the government
having been secured would have
aroused the governments suspicion, OF
course, of course! Yes, now appre-
clate the situation, Captain Van Hansen"
20, you do. eh! And what have you
to say?"
MERELY that 1t 10 no affair OF mine.
| sir a. replied Vail indifferently, IT am,