The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-13
--THE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
BY HARRY COLLINGwOOD
CHAPTER XII.

The gangway was soon rugged and af-
ter testing IL by passing along IL three
or four times one of the schooner's crew
disappeared In the bush. A quarter Of
an hour later he returned, closely fol-
lowed by a number of armed natives in
charge OF gang OF slaves, who-poor
wretches-were secured together In pairs
by means OF heavy logs OF wood lashed
TO their necks. These slaves were mostly
men; but there were few young women
with t.em. two or three OF whom carried
quite young babies lashed on their backs.
And every slave not excepting the women
with children, was loaded with one large
or two small tusks OF ivory These un-
fortunates were driven straight on board
the schooner, the ivory was taken from
them they reached the deck. and they
were driven below; the clink clink OF
hammers which Immediately afterwards
proceeded from the schooner's hold bear
ing witness to the business-ike prompti-
tude with which the unhappy creatures
were being secured. counted them as
they passed In over the gangway; they
numbered SO; and. Judging from the
schooner's size, ! calculated that she had
accommodation for about $50; her cargo
being therefore incomplete, I feared we
should be called upon to endure Senior
Madera's presence for at least another
day or two The wretches who consti-
tuted the schooner's crew were very
noisy set. laughing. chattering. and shout
Ing at the top OF their voices and alto
gether exhibiting by their utter careless
ness perfect consciousness OF the fact
that there were no men-o'-war Just then
anywhere near the river. How heartily
] wished there had been n pennant OF
some sort at hand: 1 felt that I would
not have cared what might be It's ma
tionality. would have found means to
board the craft. conveying the news of
that wretched slavers wherea bouts and
afterwards assisting, IL possible, in her
capture
/ remained snugly ensconced In nv hid
ing-place until the clearing up and wash
ing down OF the decks Informed me that
work was over on board the schooner for
that day. and then set out cautiously to
return TO the house. I managed to ef-
feet retreat into the cover of the bush
without betraying myself; and then.
moved by quite uncomfortable impulse,
bent my steps once more In the direction
of the hilltop. from which I had that
morning effected my reconnaissance
though II took me considerably out OF my
way-determined 10 have Just one more
look round before settling myself for the
evening.
IL was about o'clock p. m. by the
position OF the sun when once more
stood beneath the overshadowinR foliage |
OF the tree which I had used as an OBJ
servatory; and ten minutes later I found |
myself among its topmost branches The |
atmosphere was luckily quite clear n |
fresh breeze from the eastward having
prevailed during the whole OF that day;
but purpish haze was gathering on the |
western horizon, and my heart leaped into |
my mouth-to make use OF a we'll worn |
figure OF speech-when, standing out In !
clear relief against this soft purple-gray |
background. saw, far away in the |
southwestern board, the cleaning white |
sails of ship stretching towards the
land under easy canvas. IL was this lat |
ter fact OF the ship being under easy
canvas, which so greatly gratified me. |
A SLAYER or an ordinary trader, would |
have been pressing In under every stitch |
that would draw-as indeed would n man |
o'-war IL she were upon some definite |
errand-but only a man-o'-war would ap- |
proach the land In that leisurely manner !
with evening close at hand The stran- |
ger was a long distance off-perhaps ms |
much as twenty miles-and u was. OF |
course. impossible 10 see more than that |
she was n ship Of some sort: but had by |
that time acquired experience enough 10 |
know. from the tiny white speck which |
CLEANED up against the haze. that she /
was coming In under topsails only. /
What would not have given Just then |
10 have held my tristy telescope I'm my |
hand once more Just for an hour or so? ]
Suddenly remembered having one day |
seen very fine instrument belonging TO /
Don Manuel In HIS own especial den IL |
was really an astronomical telescope but. /
like many similar Instruments, II was also /
provided with terrestrial eyepiece for /
had looked through II across the river, /
and had marvelled at Its far-reaching /
power. IL was fitted 20 a tripod stand. /
but could be disconnected at will: and the /
bold Idea presented itself TO me OF Dor |
rowing this instrument for a short time |
In order to ascertain. n possible. the ma
tionality of the stranger. IL was OF \
course just possible that she might be /
English. In which event IL would mani /
festly be smellies and my own duty /
to attempt 20 join her.
Go be Continued Tomorrow