The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-04-11
CHAPTER vi.


friends IN New York, assuring them Of
my safety | spent considerable time
lowering around the Offices Of the
steamship company thirsting for a
word or hope for Maubikeck and
those who had left on board the i'll
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 YVES the last to leave, those
who remained on the steamer must
have shared her fate.
There was besides my anxiety on
Maubikecks behalf. 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 I 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 bis heroic action, he had
cried out to me from the fog and
blackness to find and rescue Nita
Barlotti If | reached land alive. And
now those last words Of my presers-
er rang in my ears like an imperative
call to perform a 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, if tae carrying
out Of his, wishes involved the re-
linquishilg Of my own, would have
gone on his errand unhesitatingly,
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 Maubikeek, 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 a smoothly-gliding
steamer that was rapidly entering the
port of Cagiiari. the chief southern
seaport of the Island of Sardinia,
stood, with my marine glass levelled
taking in with interest the scene that
was being opened up before me.
The city of Cagliari has a 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 ant
commerce goes to Sassari, on tht
north, Cagliari is the emporium o.
trade of the island.
Before leaving Genoa on the steam
er | had performed two duties-on'
for Maubikeck aid. one for myself
The one in behalf of Maubikeck was
simple. | had telegraphed to Liver
pool to learn II any news had beer
received of my Inflated fellow-pas
sengers. | received a reply from thu
president OF the company that one o
the boats companion to the one
had been ia-had been picked up
and ten more unfortunates had beer
saved from destruction. But nothing
whatever had been heard of thu
Queen or any who had been left OF
board. and 1t was finally concluded
that she had sunk, and the marine
insurance had been paid.
The duty TO myself was the employ
ing Of a guide and interpreter.
Fortunately for me had recol
lected that the banking house Of Dor
& Company OF New York, with whicl
had had long-standing friendship
had branch at Genoa. and | ha
called upon them, made myself krowr
and informed taem that | was On m
way to Sardiuia ard wished to er
gage the services CT an honest guild
and interpreter. OF course | did no
tell them anything about the rea
object of my excursion into the islant
/ gave them to understand that wa
merely bent on pleasure-a huntin
trip after mouaon.
The mouhon is a small animal 9
the sheep tribe and tlriyes in vii
state on the Sardinian mountains.
IS not unusual for French, Germa
or English sportsmen to go to Sal
dinia to hunt them, and as a reaso
for my voyage, the moufion serve
very well.
Signor Brarderi, the head of tn
Geroa branch Of Dorr & Co., was
quiet, affable gentleman, very polit,
and spoke English we'll He SCENE
eager to do whatever he could fc
me. and promised to furnish me wit
/ just the person needed.
Signor Rranderi rang a bell In HI
private Office, where we had beer 81
ting, and a clerk responded TIL
banker spoke to him in Italian, and th
/ clerk bowed and went away. Short
thereafter another person came an
stood respectfully before us. 1t wa
} my interpreter.
t "Mutterelli,' said Signor Brandel
IN English, Il have an engagemel
4 for you. This gentleman is frien
Z of our house in New York, and