The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-01

from our vessels side, Captain Vernon
beckoned to be and said.
Just step down below with me,
Hawkesley; / want 10 have a talk with
| you"
i followed him down into his cabin,
whereupon he directed me TO be seated,
drew chair up TO the table for himself,
and laying his hand upon a bundle Of
papers said:
discovered the night before last on board
the Virginia; and as / anticipated would
be the case. they contain several items
OF exceedingly important information.
one OF these Items has reference to the
existence, on an island some forty miles
up the river. OF an immense slave depot
as also OF a slave hulk in both OF which,
IL the information here given happens TO
be reliable. a large number OF slaves are
at this moment awaiting embarkation.
The papers seem also to imply that there
is very snug anchorage close TO this is
land, with a navigable channel leading
right ,up to IT,
Now l am exceedingly anxious. for
many reasons, to test the truth OF this
Information. and / have therefore ar
ranged with Captain Dubosc to send a
joint expedition up the river 70 survey
the alleged channel, TO destroy the depot
and the hulk. IL such are found to exist.
and TO free any slaves which may hap
pen 10 be therein.
From certain remarks 10 be found here
and there In these documents infer
that the depot and hulk are in charge
OF white men. but II is, unfortunately.
nowhere stated how many these white
men number They cannot. however.
muster very strongly there; they proba-
bly, do not number above dozen alto
gether; the expedition therefore will
only be a small one. consisting only Of
our own cutter and that OF the Vestale.
/ have determined TO give the command
OF our people to Mr.. Mildmay, he being
the most experienced officer at survey
Ing now remaining 10 us. with you TO
lend n hand. The French boat will be
under The command OF NJ. st. Croix. the
second lieutenant OF the vestale and
both boats, though OF course under inde-
pendent commands. will act In concert
This paper" placing one before me, 'is
az you will perceive, a sketch-chart OF
the river and the two crosses in red Ink
indicate the positions OF the depot and
the hulk. II differs somewhat you will
notice, from the admiralty chart" to
which he pointed as he spoke, "and II
will really be a great point 10 ascertain
which. II either. OF the two is correct To
an individual unacquainted with the river
the channel there on the larboard hand
going up would naturally suggest itself
as the preferable one. being so much
wider than the other. but the soundings
marked on this sketch go TO show that
the water is much deeper In the south
channel. This is one Of the points I
want cleared up. And another is the
bearings and compass courses along the
deepest water In each reach OF the cham
mel.
'I have already explained all this TO
Mildmay OF course: but thought /
would also explain IL to you. because,
knowing exactly what l want you will
be able TO render more intelligent assist
working in the dark. There is only one
thing more. You are a tolerably good
hand with your pencil, I know; do you
think you could make an exact copy OF
this sketch-chart TO take with you, so as
TO leave the original behind with met"
assured the skipper that both could
and would, whereupon he furnished me
with the necessary materials and left
me In solitude 20 perform my task, going
on deck himself 70 superintend the prep
The sketch-chart found among the pa
pers on board the Virginia was only a
small AFFAIR drawn upon a sheet OF FOOLS
cap paper; but II was so carefully exc
OF an experienced hand and consequent
ly In all probability, perfectly accurate.
My copy. therefore. 70 be OF any value
AZ all. would have 20 be, not free hand
fac -simle, There was a great deal OF
work In II. and not much time wherein
70 do ~; 90, after a little thought / hit
upon the plan OF fastening the outspresd
OF the stern windows, and watering a
thin sheet OF paper over H.
To be Continued Tomorrow