The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-09-02
I Chapter XIV, 4 3
, ,iSiiver star, Puts 70 Sea. I'D

4, y 49, CHAPTER XIV, n. I.-.i
MINING The "sllverf star Puts 70 Sea. id. b
A fortnight later tho gallant. yacht
westward bound, Jack Marsden Mt the
wheel. TIE day was rot 5and breeze
less, and scores OF white-salled boats
rocked on the swell. Give and Hector
pnced the bridge together while Leck 4
burn summed himself in n comfortable
chair. IL GA I.
tic earth s,ict tiny place that It
scented impossible for an undiscovered
island to exist. Lcckburn was Quite In
different, lie had come for the voyage.
and nothing more. Hector alone was
enthusiastic and firm In his conviction
that the treasure was there, and that
they would find It.
Tor Al that Give and his lordship had
onened their purses, in spite OF Dane
nrotcst, A better equipped yacht never
st ol,t OF harbor. Her crew NUM-
bered sixteen men and one Amazingly
fat boy who rcjoiced in the pretty name
OF Storver Ruby the negro chrlstehcd
him starver on the spot. Tho little doc
tor had Joined them at southamp p. o.
and he was the happlest mcrrlest htt i
| doctor In the world
| In the morning q dense wall OF mist
rolling over tho pillows from, the south
| west, met the silver Star cnd-on. Hec-
| tor, who had foolshly taken upon him !.
self to navigate his own vessel, growled
| sieepy. Hector held Board OF TRADE I,
certificate. and Jack Marsden coula
the first officer. was little beetic
| proved fellow, who seldom spoke except
! to give nm order. Ills mania was the
collection Of medusae. sea-weeds ana
| shell-nsh, and he had generally net
trailing aft and q magnifying glass IN
his pocket
dor, 80 s,o wi Of the yacht brought Give
and the first officer on deck They
1oundercd through the wet. chill mist
| TO the bridge where Hector stood blow
| Ing his numbed fingers and jerking al
the siren cord.
"IIow Is 1t going to be. old weather
wiser asked Give.
"Thcker than SOUP" said Hector
''yvhnt do you think, Mr.. Burnand z" :.
Dane faced round swiftly AS rule
the first officer contentcd himself with
Yes or mo" when answering cues
| ton This time the silent man burst
Into an unexpected speech. ~,
''Let the fog rest sir, he said. 1T
will remain or lit as nature pleases. me
Lizard is a good way behind us, and
|
wards any North American port. am
your servant, sir. and I hope am your
friend"
'l"Youre that. Burnand. you may de-
pend" said Hector wonderlngly. al
''ThanK you. Mr.. Dane AS your
friend and doubly SO your servant. ask
what does this voyage mean, and where
are we going?"
Hector was silent. Clearly on mn ex-
pedition 50 fraught with mystery, doubt.
and danger, he had no right to hide any,
thing from the crew They were PAID
to navigate his yacht. but 1t was not fair
| to take the men into unknown waters
| 10 face unknown perils. lie needed Vol .
unteers, and not pressed men,, lie s"'it'
ly made up his mind.
"Nlarsden." he called. pipe all hands
seg The whistle Fang merrlly, and the
| screw ceased to rcvolve. Black faces
and white faces, natty serge uniforms
and coal -blackencd shirts doomed through
the fog. Leckburn, pipe IN MOUTH
scrambled up beside his friends
"sIlence. lads!" shouted Give. Order
there"
upper spars were lost In the yellow
gloom, and the rim of her smoke stack
was hardly visible from the deck.
Boys" rang out Hector's clear voice
'yOu have all ShlleO Win Hlc peAo'c
You have seen the Silver Star trimmed
for an ordinary voyage. and you know
how she Is trimmed and fitted to-day
You must guess that we are out for
big spin"
Jay, ay, sir: we know that"
"Wel, lads" went on Hector, 'lsten
to me. I'm not bit afraid that you'll
leave me short handed. but III send all
of you back that wish to go when you've
heard what have to say. This is not
pleasure trip. We are after treasure"
There was dead silence. and great
bilow shouldered up and broke with
deafening roar against the Silver Stars
plates.
'"Treasure." repeated Hector coolly.
somewhere In the Antarctic circle. and
It is no chld's play to fight the Ice.
Everyone will receive treble pay from
the moment we sight the first Iceberg
going south until we sight the last one
going north on our return Over and
above that II we win the treasure It will
be divided fairly. Remember the risks
rled If we succeed you will all be made
for life There's your chance to return
to port. Do you hear it,"
Ouch couch 90 90 oouch!" brayed
siren through the fog.
Come lads, tcome," cried the baro-
net, who's for port. and who's for Peril
Island? Full pay, full discharge. and
us. Step forward, please, Count 'em,
Jack. will you? I can't see"
Marsden's deep, honest laugh came up,
followed by the answer:
There amt any, Sir Give; not a
blessed one"
what about the starver?' asked
Hector, evol1ing roar OF laughter,
To- oil III oh cah IN al wight hn