The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-12-11

|
 were all filled with seven-kno
 breeze straight to our course. We wer
 astonished to hear the captains or | ders to take in canvas. AS each piec
 was wrapped, we scanned the horizon | for an indication of a squall, bu
 when we rode the sea under pole'
 nearly bare a few fleecy clouds stil
 hung in the air and all else was th'
 blue of the Southern sky.
 | Hour after hour passed thus. Al took things easy but Captain Outline who allowed few hours to pass with out taking the latitude and longitud' of the vessel. He seemed fearful al he seized the instruments, but wher | his previous calculations were proved correct, he smiled. Shortly. he would relapse and pace the deck as if trou' bled.
 All was peace and pleasantness aboard the Marie Lou. except to me. I heard the hiss each instant. On the fifth day, sail was seen. It rapidly drew near: and the captains brighten ed look bespoke the Marie Lou's in' terest in the stranger. At orders from Captain Cutliffe, we put cut q jib and | spanker. and he himself stood at the wheel as we made our way towards the approaching vessel. It was soon made evident that she was Royal sloop of war.
 When the two ships were near to- gether, a boat was lowered from tns Marie Lou, and Captain Cutliffe board ed the sloop. Upon his return, we | were ordered to make sail and parted company with Her Majesty's war yes | sel.
 Jack Holcombe was one of the men who rowed the captains cutter, and he hat u under orders to abandon our courss and make for Calcutta. The next | morning, after First Officer Stanley had ordered the men to lower enough sail to allow the trim Marie Lou to run free with only a man at the wheel, Captain Cutliffe called all aft and made a speech.
 Men," he asked. Ifs there one aboard who Is not English?" and none answering, he continued. saying that he had signed all anew at Melbourne with the understanding that each went with him. whether to Newcastle or Yokohama.
 You ali know" he shouted. "the treachery of Her Majestys subjects of | India. The bad native has seduced the allegiance of the bad white. and the counsel of the bad white has had ef- feet upon the good native. But upon the deck of this good ship. each and all are for God and Victoria. Had thought one was otherwise, he would not have been here, but in the hold. with chains on his ankles and man. acles on his hands and the rats for his company. It is not the time for threats, however. To this loyal crew. I fear not to say that the cargo of this ship is destined to cause trouble to IIor Gai iaatv'c enomieG of India Nor do I hesitate to say that our papers are not in proper form. and if an un- friendly vessel attempts to stop us, 1t will be our first duty to run away. and being unsuccessful in that, to scuttle the Marie Lou. and each die as God and Victoria dictate. My men. though commander. I have in this sought to be comrade. You now know the destina- tion of this vessel and it's direness."
 A wild cry went up from those hardy
 Englishmen. As for me, as I raised my arm again to swear allegiance to
 the Queen and pledge my life for the
 preservation of her empire. I stumbled
 as l stepped forward. As I fell with | my face to the deck. the drums of my
 ears vibrated with the prophecy of my
 old companion of Madras: 'Vishnu sees l all; you will come again to do his be- | hest
 1 Having, l was carried to my bunk | Holcombe sat beside me. as l saw 1T
 fieeting moments of lucidity. I woke
 with start. and heard the chime oi
 a bell. I counted the strokes. and
 when at four they stopped. although
 the faithful friend beside me told me il l was the gong of the ship. I swore tha
 it was the bell of the mosque of Mad
 ras summoning the priests to prayer
 and I looked for a sign from those
 who seemingly owned my soul.
 In the top of my bunk. in the squalit ] forecastle of the Marie Lou, appeared z
 tiny ray of ruby light. It grew larg-
 CT, and presently. as I stared, an ey'
 appeared which gazed into mine. Thei
 I heard again the Hateful summons
 Yes, yes" I cried wildly, T return TO,
 thee and thee only; reveal thy desire | l come to fulfill."
 My fellows of the crew say that
 raved for days. When calmness re. | turned, I found Holcombe sitting be- | side me endeavoring to force me to eat
 a morsel of food. When I looked into his honest face and saw the serious
 ness of his features as he jabbed the food at my lips, 1 could not refrain i from laughter. Then he jumped upon
 me and yelled: Come boys. quick and tie his head" He even grasped me by