The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-02
--THE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLINGwoOD
CHAPTER XVIII.

| flock OF green parrots to dispute our
landing.
We had not been at work above an hour
or so on the following morning before
We had reason 10 suspect that some at
least of the unusual number OF canoes
around US were suspiciously watching
our movements, IL not actually following
US up the river. This, however. for the
time being caused us little or no uneasi-
ness. as we felt assured that should their
attentions become inconveniently obtru-
sive. bullet or two. or failing that a
round shot from our carronade, fired over
their heads. would promptly send them
TO the right-about. Later on in the day.
however, / must confess that / for one
began to experience a slight qualm OF
anxiety as | noticed the steadily increas-
ing number OF canoes, some OF them
carrying as many as ten or a dozen men,
In our vicinity. They were all ostensibly
engaged In fishing. IL is true; but that
was only a pretense, or that they were
meeting with unusually bad luck. was
evident from the small number OF FISH
captured. Still. up TO noon. though the
behavior of the natives had been grow
ing more suspicious and unsatisfactory,
no actual hostile demonstration had been
made: and we landed upon a small bare.
sandy islet to cook and despatch our din
ner.
been carefully checking the chart Of the
rived copied by me from the one found
on board the Virginia, and comparing x
with our own survey; the general result
being to prove that IL was very fairly ac-
curate, quite sufficiently so at least to
serve us a safe guide TO any vessel OF
light draught, say up TO ten feet or so.
making for the island on which was the
alleged slave depot. This chart told us
A.. tel, ,t,, az
tance OF some six miles OF the island in
question, a statement verified to some ex-
tent by the fact that on an island situate
az about that distance from us we could
make out. with the aid OF our glasses an
object which might very well pass for
large building OF some kind. The river
channel between us and this island was
entirely free OF visible distractions. and
we therefore hoped that. by little
extra exertion, we might succeed in COM
pleting our survey right up 10 the island,
and gaining possession OF IL and the hulk
thus achieving the full object Of the ex-
pedition--before nightfall.
BY the time that we were ready to
make a start once more. however, the
canoes had mustered in such numbers
that even old Mildmay, who had hitherto
poo-poohed my suggestions as TO the pos
sibiity Of a contemplated attack, began
the length OF acknowledging that per-
haps there might be mischief brewing
after all. St Crox, however. treated the
matter lightly, roundly asserting that tho
extraordinary gathering was due TO moth
ing more serious than the native curiosity
10 behold the unwonted sight of a white
man, and to watch our mysterious opera
tions. There was undoubtedly certain
degree Of probability about this sugges-
~ nm fol we 4Qy
II a larger share OF credence than the
event justified, showing of from our
sandbonk and resuming our surveying
operations without first adopting those
precautionary measures which prudence
obviously dictated.
at o'clock p. m, by which time we
had passed over about three OF the six
miles which lay between the sandbank
and our supposed goal. the French boat
being at the time about half n mile astern
OF US, a loud shouting arose from one OF
the largest canoes In the fotlla, her pad
dies were suddenly elevated In the air.
and the whole feet with one accord rapid
ly closed In between US and the French
men, completely cutting us of the one
from the other.
'Hillop exclaimed Mildrnay, whats
the meaning OF this7 Just clap a round
shot into the carronade there, you Tom,
and pitch II well over the heads OF those
black rascals Pull port, back starboard.
and slue the boat round with her nose
toward them. That's your sort Now,
Tom, are you ready there for'ard7 Then
we'll elevate the muzzle and stand by to
fire when ! give the word. Hold water,
starboard oars. and port oars pull a
stroke; we're pointing straight for the
Frenchmen Just now. Well OF all; now
were clear, and no chance Of hitting our
friends. Firel''
CTo be continued tomorrow)