The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-21
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
TO be published In daily instalments on this page
HE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLNGwOOD
CHAPTER XIII.

shall feel greatly obliged IL he will send
a prize crew on board US to take posses
sion.'
"Ay. ay. will"
Armitage thereupon disappeared. and.
we. being at the time to leeward OF the
sloop, a slight but distinct commotion be-
came perceptible on board her. Presently
a figure appeared in the fore-riggtng, and
a deep, gruff, hoarse voice hailed:
Schooner ahoy! Did you say as Mr..
Smelie and Mr.. Hawkesley was on board
your"
Yes, did DO you not recognize my
voice. Collins?'
LAY. ay. sir in course does now."
was the boatswain's hearty response.
Then there followed. In lower tones. GER
tain remarks OF which we could only
catch such fragments as:
lieutenant hisself. by-reefer. too;-
man-rigging. you sea-dogs-give-sailors'
welcome"
Then in an instant the lower rigging
became black with the figures OF the men,
and, with Collins as fugleman, they greet
ed our unexpected return with three hear
~ cheers as ever pealed from the throats
OF British seamen.
For tne life OF me ! could not Just
then have spoken word had IL been
ever so necessary. That hearty ringing
cheer gave me the first convincing as
surance that I was once more safe and
amond friends. and at the same time
enabled me 10 fully realize, as i never
had before. the extreme peril 10 which
I had been exposed since last saw the
craft that lay rolling gracefully upon the
ground swell. within biscuit toss Of us
The men were Just clearing the rigging
when a small. slight figure appeared on
the sloop's quarter, and Capt. vernon's
voice hailed us through the speaking
trumpet:
Schooner ahoy, How many hands shall
] send your
"A dozen men will be sufficient. sir"
replied Smelie. And shall feel obliged
II you will send with them the necessary
officers 90 relieve us We are both hurt,
and in need OF the doctors services"
You shall have the men at once was
the reply. shall send Burnett to you.
or can you come on board the sloop7"
I'VE will rejoin the sloop, sir, thank
you. Our injuries are not very serious"
replied Smelie.
Very well be II So" returned the skip
per, and there the conversation ended
The next moment the clear ee-tee-twee-
tle-tweetle- weetle- -wee-e-e-e OF the boat
swain's whistle came floating down TO us.
followed by his grur. Cutters awayw
and presently we saw the boat glide down
the ships side. and, after n very brief
toward us.
Five minutes later the prize crew. under
Williams, the masters mate. with young
Peters, a fellow mid OF mine, as his sec
ond In command stood upon the schoon-
er's deck. and Mr.. Austin, who had ac-
companed them. was wringing our hands
as though he would wiring them of
Snielie saw the exquisite agony which
our warm hearted FIRST luff was uncon-
sciously iu1lcting upon me by his effusive
greeting, and thoughtfully interposed with
a
Gently. Edgar. old fellow. I am afraid
you are handling poor Hawkesley a little
roughly lie has received rather bad
hurt In the right shoulder tonight In our
fight with the schooners people"
'Fight?-schooner's people! beg your
pardon. Hawkesley; hope I haven't hurt
you. Why, you never mean 20 say you
have had To fight for the schooner" Aus
tin interrupted, aghast.
We'll, we took her by surprise; but
her people proved very troublesome. and
very pertinacious In their efforts 20 get
her back again." Smeille replied but
come. let as get on board the old Daphne
once more. / long 20 set foot on her
planks again: and. like Hawleesley here,
shall not be sorry to renew my acquaint-
ance with Burnett"
So said, so done We made our way into
the boat. leaving the prize crew 10 secure
the prisoners. and n few minutes later
stood once more safe, N not altogether
sound. on the deck OF the dear old
Daphne.
CTo be continued on Monday