The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-07-25
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVI.
A VERY MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.
In extreme disgust at the loss OF the
notorious Black Venus, Captain Vernon
reluctantly gave orcers Tor The rosunip
ne on OF & tne hdd ase' ana @ 'he e ppahe ppa Tss he
ing the shippers intention to kive look
in at all the likely places along the coast
as far north as the Blight of Benin.
This was terribly tedious and particu-
larry trying to the men, IL being all boat
work. The exploration OF the Fernan
Vas river occupied % hours, whilst In
were away from the ship for four days
and three nights; the result being that
when at last We went into Sierra Leone
we had ten men down With fever. ana
The worst OF IL all was that our labor
had been wholly I'm vain. not a single
prize being taken, nor suspicious craft
fallen I'm with. Here we found Williams
and the prize crew OF the Josefa await
ing us according TO Instructions; 40 ship
ping them and landing the sick men.
Captain Vernon lost no time In putting
to sea once more.
ON leaving Sierra Leone n course was
shaped for the Congo, and after long
and Sa,s very TEDIOUS passage during the
against light head winds, we found our
selves once more within sight OF the river
at daybreak.
Ii was stark calm with q cloudless sky.
from the southwark and eastward. caus-
ing the sloop to roll most uncomfortably.
We were about ~ miles of the land and
al about half way between us and IT, be-
calmed like ourselves. there lay a brig.
which our telescopes informed us was
the Vestale. ON this fact being decisive
ly ascertained. Mr.. Austin came up to me
and said:
There Is you bette noire. the vestale.
once more. you see. Hawkesley. | have
been thinking great deal about what
xrnt gaf 10 fnn Ina nNf.
ing her. and have come To the conclu-
sion that II is quite worth our while to
look into the matter, at least so far .s
Will enable us to Judge whether yosc
suspicious are wholly sroundless or not.
If they are--if, in fact, the craft proves
to be what she processes herself-well
and am good we s. can dismiss the AFFAIR
give our undivided attention to other
matters. But | confess you have 10 n
certain extent lmbued me with your own
doubts as to the strict integrity OF yon-
der brig; there are one or two little mat
ters you mentioned which escaped my
notice and which certainly have rather
suspicious appearance.
IL therefore intend-if the craft is
bound into the river like ourselves to
make an early opportunity to pay her
visit on some pretext or other"
Have you mentioned the matter to
Captain Vernon yet. sir?" I inquired.
"'No. not yet" was the reply. IT must
nave ~ lliNle more 'leUnlte 10
say before | breach the matter 10 him.
But here comes the breeze at last. a
sea breeze, too. thank Heavenl Man tho
braces for and aft; square away the
yards and brazil In the mizzen. Hard up
with your helm, my man. and keep her
dead away from the mouth OF the
river"
The faint blue line along the western
horizon came creeping gradually down
toward us and presently n catspaw or
two rufiied the CLASSY surface OF the
water for moment and disappeared.
Then n deliciously cool and refreshing
draught OF air famed our faces and
swelled out the light upper canvas for
an Instant died away, came again a
trifie stronger and lasted for perhaps
half a minute. then with a flap the
canvas collapsed. filled again. the sloop
gathered way and paid or with her
head 20 the eastward; n bubble or two
floated past her sides. a faint ripple
arose under her bows grew larger, be-
came audible, the CLASSY surface OF the
water grew gently RULED and assumed
as exquisite cerulean tint, the wheel
began 10 press against the nelmsman's
hand. and away we went straight for
the mouth OF the river--and the brig.
(To BE Continued Tomorrow