The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-06-18

addressed his men in Spanish" answered
Richards In some surprise. why do you
ask. sir? Have you ever fallen in with
such man as i have described him to
be?"
We'll. ye--that is not to my knowl-
edge" / replied hesitatingly The fact Is
that Richards description of the pirate
leader had somehow brought vividly be-
fore my minds eye the personality OF NJ.
lie Breton. the first lieutenant OF the
French gun-brig yestale: and IL was this
which doubtless prompted me to put the
absurd question TO my companion as 10
the nationality OF the man who had so in
humanity treated him. Not, IL must be un-
derstood. that / seriously, for a single in
stant. associated NJ. Ie Breton or the
Vestale with the diabolical act OF piracy
10 the account Of which I had just listen
ed. We had at that time no very great
love OF or respect for the French, Il is
true; but even the most bigoted OF Eng
lishmen would. think. have hesitated to
hint at the possibility OF a French man
of-war being the perpetrator OF such a
deed
The meme idea. the bare suggestion OF
such a suspicion, was so absurd that I
laughed at myself for my folly In allow
ing IL TO obtrude itself. even I'm the most
Intangible form, for single moment on
my mind. And yet. such is the perversity
OF the human intellect, could not, In
spite or myself. quite get rid OF the ex-
trava CANT idea that NJ lie Breton was I'm
some inexplicable way cognizant OF the
outrage; nor could forbear sketching,
for Richards benefit as accurate a work.
portrait as l could OF the French lieuten-
ant; and-I suppose on account OF that
same perversity-I felt no surprise what
ever when he assured me that I had faith
fully described to him the arch-pirate who
had left him and HIS crew TO perish IN
the flames. Indeed, in my contradictory
state OF mind I should have been disap-
pointed had he said otherwise. The mans
conduct-his stealthy but searching scru-
tiny OF the ship; his endeavor. as I re-
garded H. 10 mislead US with his broken
English: and his excessive curiosity. ~
hinted at by Captain Vernon. had struck
me as peculiar, to say the least OF IT, on
the occasion OF his visit TO the Daphne. I
had suspected then that he was not alto
gether and exactly what he pretended 10
be: and now Richards Identification of
him from my description seemed to con-
firm, in a great measure, my instructive
suspicious. unreasonable, extravagant.
and absurd ms admitted them TO be.
My first impulse-and II was very
strong one-was to take Mr. Austin into
my confidence TO unfold 10 him my sus-
picions and the circumstances which
had given rise to them, frankly admitting
at the same time their apparent enorm'ty
and then 10 put the question to him
whether. in his opinion, there was the
slightest possibility OF those suspicious
being well-founded
SO strongly, so unaccountahly was I
urged TO do this that I had actually set
out to find the first lieutenant when re-
Election and common-sense came 10 my
aid and asked me what was this thing
that was about to do. The answer to
this question was. that with the self-suf-
ficiency and stupendous conceit which my
father had especially cautioned me 70
guard against. was arrogating to my
self the possession OF superhuman sagac-
ity. and (upon the fiimsy foundation OF a
Wild and extravagant fancy. backed by n
mere chance resemblance which after all
might prove 10 be no resemblance at all II
Richards could once be confronted with
NJ lie Breton). was about 10 inslnuate
charge OF the most atrocious character
against an officer holding a responsible
and honorable position-a man who doubt
less was the soul OF honor and rectitude.
A moments reflection sufficed 10 convince
me OF the utter impossibilty OF the same
man being In command OF pirate brig
one day. and an officer Of a French man
o'-war the next. I might just as reason
ably have suspected the Vestale herself of
piracy: and that, I we'll knew, would be
extremity OF idiotic absurdty had, In
short-so I finally decided-discovered n
mares nest. and upon the strength OF II
had been upon the very verge OF pro-
claiming myself hopeless idiot aud max
ing myself the perpetual laughingstock "
the whole ship. I congratulated myself
most heartily upon having paused I'm time.
and resolved very determinedly that I
would not further dwell upon the subject,
or allow myself 10 be again lured into en-
tertaining such superlatIvely ridiculous
notions.
Yet only four days later I was harassed
by temporary recurrence OF all my sus-
picions. and IL was with the utmost diffi-
Guilty that combated them. I succeeded,
II is true. In so far maintaining my self
control as To keep n silent tongue; but
they continued persistently 10 haunt me
until-but steady whittier away. Dick,
my lad7 You are out OF your course alto
gether and lufflng into the winds eye In
stead OF working steadily 10 windward,
tack and tack. and taking the incidents OF
your story as you come 90 them