The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-26
THE NEWS DEMOCRATS DAILY STORY
To be published in daily instalments on this page
-THE
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLINGwOOD
CHAPTER XVI.

( to take advantage of the opportunity
which our being at anchor afforded him
10 lift the rigging off the mastheads
and give II and them thorough over
haul AS for me, j was engaged dur
ing the whole OF the day In charge OF
boats crew. alling up our water
casks and tanks and foraging In the
adjacent forest for a supply OF fruit.
not n single native canoe having ap-
preached in during the entire day.
II was, consequently. not until late In
I the afternoon when the neck OF the day 9
work was broken that had an opportuni-
| ~ OF exchanging q word or two with the
| first lieutenant on the subject OF our
neighbor. the brig. and then II was only
a word or two. Mr.. Austin opened the
conversation with:
well. Hawkesley. what do you think OF
our friend NJ lie Breton, now that you
have had an opportunity OF bettering your
acquaintance with him?"
We'll, SIR" / replied. ''on the whole I
am inclined to think that there h just
a bare possibility OF my having been mis-
taken in my estimate Of him and OF the
character OF the brig Still
still your mind is not quite easy" Mr.
Austin laughingly interrupted me. Now.
what could you possibly have noticed Of a
suspicious character In the poor fellows
conduct this morning.
Nothing" I was obliged to acknowl-
edge 'I am quite prepared to admit, sir.
total absence OF those peculiarities OF
manner which | am certain EXISTED dur
ing HE first visit TO the ship But did
you not think II strange that he should
be in such a tremendous hurry 10 come
on board us this morning? Al first | was
inclined 10 think his object might be
10 prevent a visit from some OF us 20 the
brig: but that suppostion Is met 10 some
l. ,.,tta ton tn for lie
evening The delay may. OF course. have
afforded them an opportunity 10 make ar
rangements for our reception by putting
out OF sight any"
ANY ten-tale evidences of their dis
honesty" laughed the first lufr. Really,
Hawkesley I must say I think you are
deceiving yourself and worrying yourself
unnecessarily. or course, can quite un-
derstand how, having harbored those ex
traordfnary suspicious OF yours for sogreat
n length of time. you now find Il difficult
70 dismiss them all In a moment but
have patience for a few hours more: an
excellent opportunity is now offered ne for
satisfylng ourselves as TO the brig's bona
lhdes. and you may rest assured that I
shall make the very best use OF n.
lind shall be the only guest OF the
lrrenchman tonight--the rest OF the Off
GERS are far too busy 10 leave the ship.
and indeed I can hardly be spared and
would not 60 hut for the fact that II
would look uncivil IN we In a body declined
their invitation: but I will see that tomor-
row you have an opportunity OF going
on board and estgating for yourself
And now I must be of 10 make my
self presensable or I shall he keeping
my hosts waiting. and perhaps spoil their
dinner"
With that ne dived below: and turned
away TO attend to some little matter con-
nected with the progress OF the work. a
quarter OF an hour later he reappeared
on deck. clesn -shaven. and looking very
handsome and seansnlike in his best suit
OF uniform; and. the gig being piped
away he went down over the side. Civ
Ing me a parting nod as he did so
I watched the boat dash up alongside
the brig; noted that the side was manned
In due form. that our worthy "nrst" was
received by group of Officers on the
quarterback conspicuous among whom
I could make out with the aid OF my
glass NJ rf Breton. evidently perform
Ing the ceremony or Introduction: and
then the work being rnished. ropes coilcd
down. and everything once more restor-
cd 10 It's proper place. the hands were
piped 10 tea and descended 10 the mid
shipmen's den, thoroughly tired out with
my unwonted exertion.
When I again went on deck about an
hour later the stars were shining bril-
liantly the moon. about three DAYS old
was cleaning with a soft. subdued ra-
dance through the topmost branches of
the trees on the adjacent shore. and the
night mist was already gathering 80
thickly on the bosom Of the river that
the brig doomed through n vague, shad-
owy, and indistinct as a phantom craft
The tid> was ebbine. and her stern WAS
turned toward us but no lights appear
cd cleaning through her cabin windows
which struck me ss being a httle strange
until 7 remembered that NJ. Ie Breton
has spoken Of her captain beine iil
CTo be continued tomorrow)