The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-16
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily instaments on this page
--THE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
BY HARRY COLLNGwOOD
CHAPTER XXI.

and entertained us I'm the time OF our
sore need. Leaving the boat at the head
Of the creek. therefore. in charge OF the
coXswain, with instructions to the latter
TO fire a couple OF muskets in rapid sue
cession should our presence he required.
or. in the event OF that being inadvisa-
BILE. TO make the best OF his way along
the footpath and up 10 the house, we set
out-the bright flush on smelles bronz-
ed cheek. the Joyous sparkle in his eyes
and the eager spring i'm his elastic foot
step betraying plainly enough the pleas
ureable anticipations which occupied his
mind
Traversing the path with rapid foot
steps we soon reached the palisading
which enclosed the garden. passed
through the gate, and found ourselves I'm
sight of the house. There II stood just
as we had last seen IL, door and windows
wide open. the muslin curtains at the
windows waving idly in the ftful breeze.
and the bamboo lounging- -chairs-one Of
them overturned-under the veranda.
We stepped briskly out, warm work
though we had found IL breasting the
hill, and passed up the main avenue lead
ing To the front door-Smellie keeping his
eyes intently fixed upon the said front
door. doubtless I'm the hope of seeing
Dona Antonla emerge. and OF enjoying
ntI lliSN bldHtf bl ShINIlSf anu hfliSHAs
of course had no such lnducement to
look straight ahead and my glances
therefore wandered carelessly here and
there To the right and felt. noting the ex
quisite shapes and colors Of the flowers
and fruit and the luxuriant foliage and
delightful shade of the trees.
Whilst thus engaged my wandering
thoughts were suddenly arrested by the
appearance Of several large and heavy
-. - -
path: and whilst was still idly wonder
ing what visitors Don Manuel could have
so recently had and from whence they
could possibly have come, my eye lighted
upon n single drop OF blood then an
other. then quite a little line OF blood
drops. They were, however. only such
as would result from a trifling cut OF
scratch; so ! said nothing about II. A
little further on, mp the pathway, tall
thorny shrub thrust its branches some
what ohtrusvely over the border of the
path: and one OF the twigs-a good stout
one-was broken and hung TO it's parent
branch by scrap Of bark only. Curl
osity prompted me TO pause for a mo-
ment 10 examine the twig; and I then
saw that one OF the thorns was similarly
broken, its point being stained with blood
still scarcely dry.
This solved the riddle. Someone
passing hastily had evidently been
caught by tho thorn and rather severe
ly scratched. A few PAGES further on
n shred OF white muslin hung froId an
other bush; and I began 10 fear that
DcnG Antonia had been the sufferer.
Reaching the house we walked in un-
ceremoniously, delighted at the idea
of the surprise we should give our
friends. Proceeding 10 the parlor, or
usual sitting-room. we found IL empty
with. TO our great turprise, the table
and one or two chairs capslzcd. a torn
scarf lying on the floor. and other evil
dences OF "A struggle OF some sort
The sight brought us abrIbtlv 10 a
standstill on the hreshold--Smellie and
| looking at each other inqulringly, as
though each would ask the other what
could be the meaning OF II all. Then
with quick stride my companion pas
sed IN before me, glanced round the
room and uttered n low exclamation OF
horror I at once followed glanced In
the direction indicated by Smellie's out
stretched finger. and there. behind the
door lay the body OF poor Pedro. face
downwards on the floor. little pool Of
coagulating blood being Just visible
on the mating beneath his forehead
Quickly STOPPING he turned him over
on his back lie was quite dead. though
not cold. the cause OF death being clear
ly indicated by a small bullet-wound
fair In the center of his forehead.