Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-10-04
CHAPTER XVI

puzzled He gazed into those features,
and he thought they seemed all kindness
and love. And his gaze was returned
For while the youth was really mysi-
fed. Perhaps, he thought. there must
be some mistake after ALL Perhaps
burlington did not betray him. He took
few turns up and down the deck. and
finally he resolved 10 call the strange
man to the cabin and question him. AS
soon as lie had come to this determine
tion he went to the gangway, where the
man vet stood, and touched him upon
| the shoulder.
What is p asked Buffo.
Come to the cabin. will you?"
Paul led the way aft, and the lame
man followed. Many of the crew no
ticed the movement, and many were the
mods and sidelong shakes of the head
it caused, for all the crew had by this
time come to know that there was some
mysterious connection between Paul and
the one-eyed pirate.
The young surgeon was alone with the
man who had occupied so much of his
most earnest thought, but the latter
] evinced no uneasiness or fear. He took
a seat opposite the youth, and then
prepared to wait for some one 10 com
mence the business.
burlington" said Paul, as soon as
he could sufficiently compose himself to
speak calmly, Il have called you here to
| ask you some serious questions. and |
hope you will answer me truly. You
are. of course, aware that l attempted
last night to make my escape from this
place and these people? And you must
be aware. too, that Mari Laroon over
! took mef'
| Certainly"
And is it not reasonable to suppose
that some one in whom l reposed conf
dence betrayed me?"
Il should think So
Excuse me for the question. hut l
must ask it. Did you betray meT
| burlington did not answer this ques-
ton at once, He gazed into his inter
| locutor's face, and then bent his eyes
to the floor.
your silence almost amounts to an
affirmative answer TO me-" said Paul,
with spice of bitterness in his manner.
Very WELL" returned burlington. re-
| turning Paul's gaze calmly and steadily.
Il was thinking, no, what answer 1
! should make, but whether any explana-
| ton would be of use. l can simply say
that l did betray YOU. | showed the
captain the letter you gave me; and but
| for me you might have been in Naga-
saki."
"Wry did you do this:' the young
man asked, striving TO keep back his
anger.
Because / felt i, to be my duty"
calmly returned the other We all
I L .1,asv
| haps il l were TO explain this point you
are now"
youth, rising from his seat. Il thank
now whom 10 trust. have nothing
more to say
| Without a word burlington arose and
moved toward the ladder. His step was
very slow and heavy, and in addition
Ia his lameness. he seemed TO have an
1 impeachment Of motion that proceeded
from within. Paul could see his face,
and he could see that there was a sad.
unhappy look upon ii. N an instant the
whole current of his feelings changed.
"Stop-stop one moment. ne uttered.
Tell me why you did this thing
/ Because l meant that : 90 should not
leave the brig" answered Bufo. stopping
at the foot OF the ladder and turning to-
ward his Questioner. As he thus spoke.
! he turned again and moved mp the steps.
| As soon as burlington was gone
Paul began to. pace up and down the
cabin floor. aud at the end of half an
/ hour he had fully made up his mind
/ that Bufo burlington was more ready 10
serve the interests OF the pirate captain
] than shy one else.
II was now dinner time. a Paul
was aroused from his reverie by the en-
trance OF the steward, who had come 10
| set the table. After dinner the second
/ lieutenant took the deck. while the FIRST
lieutenant, took twelve men and started
off TO hunt up more of the horses. With
this party Buffo burlington went, and
as we shall have occasion to note some
thing that befell them on their route. we
viii so with them.
Mr.. Langley. the lieutenaE.. knew all
the crooks and turns of the woods where
the horses wandered. and as il was rev
approaching the season when hoses were
/ in demand. Laroon wished % get up aR
that were fit TO break. and dispose OF
them: for. as we remarked before. the
pirate made much money by tie raising
Of stock on his estate, and the merchants