The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-18

''Do you know the fancy has seized
upon me TO have look In on the deck
OF that schooner. II we are duly eau
aged without very much risk. Somehow
] do not think they will be keeping par
ticularly bright lookout on board her
slowed t pS away Comfortably COZ % in the galley
out OF the rain. Have you nerve enough
for the adventure?'
Certainly l have. SIR replied, bold
brain.
Then keep sharp lookout for her.
and. when you see her, work your pad
die so as to drop the canoe alongside un-
der her main-chains, and stand by 10
catch turn with your painter"
LAY. ay, sir" ! replied. and we once
more reiapsed into silence and renewed
Five minutes later a shapeiess object.
loomed UP close aboard OF US on our port
bow. and, sheering the canoe sharply TO
iarboard we dropped her handsomely.
and without sound alongside the
schooner just in the wake OF her main
rsPdby S9s turn S9
and I'm another moment stood alongside
my superior officer In the schooners
main chains
Placing our heads close to the dead
eyes OF the rigging. 40 as TO expose our
selves little as possible. we waited pa
tently for another fash Of lightning
Smellie looking after and / looked for
ward, by hastily whispered agreement
Presently the fash came.
Did you catch sight OF the lookout?'
whispered Smellie TO me-
mo, cir" whispered back, did your
mo; but | noticed that the skylight
and companion are both closed and the
slide drawn over-probably, to exclude
must have turned in"
Very probably" l acquiesced; there
Is not much to tempt them to remain out
OF their hunks on such night as this
True" remarked Smellie, still in the
most cautious Of whispers. II feel more
than half-inclined 10 climb inboard and
make q tour Of the decks"
"All right, sirr'. ] agreed; Let ns slip
off our shoes and get on board at once.
You take the starboard side OF the deck;
a take the the P0rt PSTtcssae sas We can meet
Agreed was the reply; and slipping
of our shoes forthwith we waited for
another fash of lightning. and. then;
noiseleesly in on deck and proceeded on
our tour OF investigation
On reaching the schooners deck we
separated, and ] made IL my first busi-
ness to carefully examine the skylight
and companion. In the profound dark
ness It was quite impossible to see any,
soon ascertained that the former was
shut down. and that the doors of the lat
ter were closed and the slide drawn over
within about six inches, as Smellie had
said. 1t must have been frightfuily hot
/ down in the cabin. but the officers ap-
/ parently preferred that TO having a de-
iuge of rain beating down below The
II lamp turned down very low: but 1 could
II see no one. nor was there any sound OF
h movement down there-at which l wac
II considerably surprised. because IL the
schooner really belonged TO Senor Ma
II dera. as I had supposed. one would have
II expected to find one or two persons at
II least on the alert In attendance upon the
Having learned all that It was possi-
II bic TO learn in this quarter, l next pro-
II ceeded aft as far as the taff-rail. where
II / found the deck encumoered on noth
II sides by two big coils OF mooring haw-
IL ser. the other ends OF which were Sc
II cured, as I had noticed earlier In the
II day, TO n couple Of tree trunks on shore.
II next proceeded leisurely forward, not
II Ing on my way the fact that the schoon-
II er mounted battery OF four brass nine.
i FOUNDERS on her starboard side-and oi
course her port battery would relS oe shs
II covered In with grating up througn
II which arose the unmistalSable odor
II which betrays the presence OF slaves IN
ships hold. All was. quiet however.
having probably obtained I'm sleep tenn
l porary forgetfulness OF their miserable
l condition. On reaching the galley ! founo
that the door on the port side was
closed; but on. applying my ear 70 the
chink / fancied could detect through
the steady swish OF the rain. the sounds
resOsg Fdrsnfa ,he s 81 galley WS IL
foremast and on clearing this a faint
CLEAN Of light Indicated the position oi
The fore-scuttle.
an tndeavor 10 discover the presence OF
possible anchor-watch the light was
suddenly obscured by the interposition oi
.be second lieutenant's body. az he eau
kSusly peered don 10 the forecastle