Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-16

men who had sailed out of the Texal, ara
1t was quickly discovered that not one of
them could speak English. Each one
brought his bag of clothing over the rail-
with him. but water and provisions We're
left behind. A man who was doubtless
the mate of the crew advanced to Captain
Hopewell and entered into a long explana-
ton. not one word of which was under
stood. 1t was, however, guessed that MS
ship had sprunk aleak and he had been
obliged to abandon her. He was made TO
understand that they were welcome and
would be landed in London, and by and by
the twelve of them withdrew in body AMI
stretched themselves on deck and went to
sleep. Nancy had looked into the faces OF
all In a critical way, and while the Dutch
mate was telling his story her eyes never
left his face. When the strangers had
withdrawn. she descended to the cabin and
a few minutes later Captain Elisha fol
lowed her and said:
Nancy I'm jiggered if this amt funny
thing. l can't say that things look exactly
right to me-"
TN tell you what, Elisha" she replied,
| in her quiet way, IF a ship had bin on fire
or in a sinkin' state them men would never
have brought all their clothin' and heaped
in the water and provisions they did"
No, by Josh, they wouldn't; but how do
they come to be afioat?'
Dunno, but there's mystery about it.
There's the hull crew except the captain.
How did he come to be left behind? And
didn't you notice how the men looked the
brig over and kept dodgin' and whisperin'
I'm believin we shall have trouble with
EN-, Elisha"
But they can't be pirates"
Probably not"
And there's no war between u.s.
mo, but We can't make out their story,
and 1 do believe that mate was lynn all
the time. 1 wish I'VE hadn't shown light
and brought them aboard
The Dutchmen were tired with their pull
at the oars and slept soundly till the
morning watch of the Mary Ann was ready
to wash down decks. 1nen they rose up,
yawning and stretching, and the last was
hardly on his feet before the breeze came.
Sail was made at once, and as the Mary
Ann laid her course Captain Hopewell
called the cook aft to see about preparing
breakfast for ! re extra men. He had his
eye on the strangers at the same time, and
noted that they had gathered in bunch
and were whispering together. Their yawl
was a big and clumsy boaty provided with
oars and sail, and as there was no room
on the deck of the brig to stow it the cap
tain went forward and tried to make the
Dutch mate understand that the contents
should be hoisted aboard and the yawl sent
adrift. He made himself clear enough,
but as If his words and gestures had been
a signal the twelve Dutchmen at once
sprang upon the crew of the Mary Ann,
all of whom were deck They were
stout, determined men. and the move was
so sudden that no resistance was made.
Nancy heard the. scuffie and appeared on
deck to find Captain Elisha and all his
men prisoners. They were prisoners and
yet they were not bound. When they made
no struggle the Dutch mate took off his
cap to Nancy and sought to make it clear
to the others that they were to be sent
adrift in the yawl.
wall, dye understand what he's drivn'
att" asked Captain Elisha as he turned to
Nancy.
II do, Elisha" she replied, land I'm not a
bit surprised. They mean to turn us ad'ift
and go sailing away with the brig"
But, by Josh, how can they do 1t! It's
the same as piracy! Men. let's make a fight
fur it,''
stop Elisha. called Nancy There's
no show fur us! They'll beat we to death
before you can knock one of 'em down.
Don't drive them to murder when there's
no call fur it,
And am to let EN- have possession of
brig and cargo?'
You'll have to. If you are easy with 'em
we'll get away all right, and may sight
a vessel to help us before noon"
AYE, captain, we've show agin EN-"
called the mate. but with that big yawl
we needn't be afraid If we are at sea fur
a month. We are fur the boat"
That settled it. 1t is due to the strangers
to say that they made not the slightest OBJ
lection when more water and provisions
were lowered into the boat, and when the
men packed and lowered their bags and
Nancy brought up big bundle of things
from the cabin. They had no jeers or in
suits to fling after those they had sent
afloat but at once made more sail on the
brig and headed her on a new course.
Nancy had smuggled the chart and a spare
compass into her bundle. and as the boat