The Holly chieftain., 1903-02-06
CHAPTER vi.

DsssNs e-et
My stay in Liverpool was not long
one. at once communicated with my
friends N New York, assuring them OF
my safety. I spent considerable time
lowering around the ofIlces Of the
steamship company thirsting for
word or hope for Maubikeck and
those who had left ON board the ILL.,
fated Queen. But the only thing that
was really known was that four boats
left the Queen at the time Of the col
lision. and ours was the only one
heard from. And as the boat we
were in was the last to leave, those
who remained on the steamer must
have shared her fate.
There was besides my anxiety on
Maubikeck's behalf. a motive of haste
In my resolve. If. Maubikeck was re-
ally lost, as no one who had seen the
dark form OF the sinking Queen melt
away in the fog as had could doubt,
then l was wasting time in Liverpool
that should be spent on the trail of
Maligni. felt a terrible yet almost
holy responsibility resting on me,
now that Maubikeck was gone. He
had given me my life at the cost OF
his own.
And In that last moment Of parting,
when had but half realized the full
purpose of his heroic action, he had
cried out to me from the fog and
blackness to find and rescue Nita
Barlotti II i reached land alive And
now those last words Of my preserv-
er rang in my ears like an imperative
call to perform solemn duty. In
obeying Maubikeck was but further
ing my own purposes. But may say
truthfully, that so heavily and solemn
ly did that last cry Of Maubikeck
weigh upon my soul, II tne carrying
out of his wishes involved the re-
linquishing of my own. would have
gone on his errand unhesltatingly,
and let my own ambitions sink out OF
sight until my debt to his memory
was fully paid.
Thus 1t was that. having given up
all hope for Maubikeck, and having
provided myself with all the things
needful to replace those had lost
on the Queen. was anxious to start
at once for Sardinia in quest Of Ma.
ligni and his slave, Nita.
On the deck of smoothly-gliding
steamer that was rapidly entering the
port Of Cagiiari. the chief southern
seaport of the Island of Sardinia, 1
stood, with my marine glass levelled,
taking in with interest the scene that
was being opened up before me.
The city Of Cagliari has popula-
tion closely approximating forty thou
sand. 1t is the most important city
In fact. the capital-of Sardinia. With
the exception of what little trade and
commerce goes to Sassari, on the
north. Cagliari is the emporium OF
trade Of the island.
Before leaving Genoa on the steam
er had performed two duties--one
for Maubikeck and one for myself.
The one in behalf Of Maubikeck was
simple. l had telegraphed to Liver
pool to learn II any news had been
received Of my Inflated fellow-pss-
sengers. ! received reply from the
president Of the company that one of
the boats--a companion to the one /
had been in-had been picked up,
and ten more unfortunates had been
saved from destruction. But nothing
whatever had been, heard Of the
Queen or any who had been left ON
board. and It was finally concluded
that she had sunk. and the marine
insurance had been paid.
The duty to myself was the employ
Ing Of guide and interpreter.
Fortunately for me had recol-
iected that the banking house Of Dorr
4 Company OF New York. with which
I had had q long-standing friendship,
had Z branch at Genoa, and / had
called upon them. made myself known.
and informed them that was on my
way to Sardinia and wished to en-
gage the services Of an honest guide
and interpreter. OF course Igdid not
tell them anything about the real
object Of my excursion into the island.
gave them to understand that was
merely bent on pleasure-a hunting
trip after mounon.
The mouaon IL . small animaa OF
the shsep tsibs and thrivss In Wild
state on the eardinian mountains. II
ID not unusual for French, 0esman
o. Easfish spoetsnsa v p u 0ar.