Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-08-08

sent to the bridge I'll be glad If the
mate will join me here. The nights
fine, and 1 expect the boatswain can
take the ship past Lundy without sink
ing the island"
The passenger appeared to the stew
ard, who was present, to be also slight
" touched with an after dinner man
ner. The mate, when he came, had
the same impression, but nevertheless
that officer also collapsed. as his su-
perior had done, leaving Rentore still
quite composed. The chief engineer.
who had Joined the feast at the re-
quest Of the giver Of 1t, along with the
mate, was simultaneously overcome.
"Most extraordinary" remarked Rem
tore. Never saw men so easily upset
I'm going on deck. Perkins, you might
see the steward gets out that case Of
whisky for the men forward and the
stokers."
On deck the passenger lit cigar.
mounted to the bridge and joined the
boatswain, who had charge Of 1t.
"I've sent a bottle or two Of hard
stuff forward" he said to him affably.
"You might 60 down and have your
share. I'm sailor enough to watch her
If you leave me the course"
"Thank zee kindly. sir" answered the
seaman, who, like the rest Of the crew.
was blessing his stars for having given
the Grip the carrying Of such bene-
factor. keep her sou'west by west.
and she'll take no harm for the minute
I'll be gone"
When the boatswain's cap had van
ished down the ladder Rentore turned
to the hand at the wheel.
"You shouldn't be out Of this, my
man." he said. "Off you 60. and drink
my health. can keep her head
straight"
He gripped the wheel, and the sailor
saw the compass card kept steady to
the course. Then he, too, disappeared.
and silence reigned fore and aft along
the decks of the Grip.
This lasted for perhaps half an hour
then Perkins appeared upon the
bridge.
They're gone under at last!" he said
in tones very different from any he had
previously used. "Shall I let our. lads
loose"
YES" answered Rentore. "Tell some
Of them to see quickly to the fires-l
can feel the old tubs speed slackening.
And send hand here to relieve me-"
Perkins descended to where the cases
were ranged and tapped on each. They
opened as he did so, and dim figures
from them darted swiftly to his bid
ding. The Grip had got fresh crew.
Next morning, just before daylight, a
small coasting steamer crept into the
anchorage of st. Mary's, Scilly, and
brought up close alongside the palatial
yacht Boccanera, belonging to a multi
millionaire Of American extraction. 1t
had been lying there for some days
while its owner explored the islands In
accordance with intentions previously
announced somewhat widely in the
public prints.
The Boccanera was visited by q
boa tful of armed men from the new
arrival. The anchor watch on her
deck was overpowered, the remainder
of her crew battened down, and the
millionaire was robbed under threat of
violence of every portable article OF
value he had with him, including a
large sum Of gold and his wife's jew
els, reputedly Of fabulous worth.
Word Of this daring robbery reached
the shore, but by that time the stran-
ger had utterly vanished beyond sight.
During the night following the Grip
reached Southampton and was berthed
ready to commence discharge next
morning. Not even the police on duty
noticed that her crew all slipped
ashore one by one during the darkness.
It was the Jumpers, coming down to
commence work on the cargo, who
found the place deserted. They ex-
plored the forecastle last, and from be-
low it came a muffled knocking. Rails
ing the hatch leading into the fore
peak, there emerged from that liter
ally black hole a string Of discon-
solate figures, Captain Mather bring
Ing up the rear in crestfallen fashion.
"Here," he demanded, rubbing bis
eyes, "where in blazes are weT
Southampton" in course, he was told.
where's the ship been?" he added
brokenly. II know no more than q
baby. I'd best see the police. II
they'll catch me that yachtsman I'll
hang him for them myself"
A sentiment in which the multi