New-York tribune., 1907-12-22

drove through lr5 picturesque streets IN prodl
daylight Both Royson and the Captain
were delighted with the lines OF the Aphrodlte
when thew saw her IN the spacious dock Her
tapering bows and raSIsh build gave her an
appearance Of greater size than her tonnage
warranted ROVSon was SAILOR enough . per
celve that her rnastS and SparS were intended
.or use and when he reached her deck 70
which much scrubblng and vigorous holy
StOnIng had gwen the color ot new bread. ne
knew that none but men trained on a wIrShlP
had coIled each rope and polished every men
OF shining brass
And his heart sank a little then. The looks
and carriage OF the few sailors visible 1T the
moment betokened their training. How could
ne hope To hold his own with them l ne hrSt
dav at sea must reveal his incompetence He
would be the laughing stock Ot the crew
He was almost nervous when an underSIzed
hairy parsonage showed i grInning face up a
corlranionwav and hailed Stump 1ovtullv
Then the Captain did thing which went Tar
10 prove that true gentIlity IS not matter OF
department o. TuInCIng phrase
" Keep mum before this crowd, ne NUT
tered Stand by. and III pull YOU through
stump extended a gigantic hand - the
hairy one. " Glad 70 see You again old Never
Fail" he roared D." Let me INTRODUCE our sec
ond mate. Mr. Tagg-Mr. King An now
Tagg W At 5 for breakfast Mr.. King an me
can eat Frenchman II You have noth1n
taStIer aboard
Rovson was relieved 70 find that he had
practically no duties 70 perform uuNI l4IC
Yacht sailed She had been coaled and pro
viSioned bv a MarSeilles firm OF shipping
agents. and only awaited telegraph1c orders
TO get up steam. IN case the wind was un-
favorable for beating down the Gull OF Lions
when Fenshawe and his party arrived
Every member of the crew was Of British
birth and Britons are not as a rule endowed
with the gift of tongues Hence. ROvSon was
the oniv man on board who spoke French.
and this fact led directly 10 his active par
Of 4 =
love and death IN which all unConSclouSlv he
was PLAYING 4 leading part On the day after
his arrival IN the French port, the head part
of the firm of local agents came on board.
and explained that by InadVertenCe some cases
Of claret of inferior vintage had been substI-
tuted for the WINE ordered. The mistake had
been discovered IN the counting house. and he
was all apologies
Royson and he chatted together while the
goods were beng exchanged. and IN the end
the polite Frenchman invited the officers TO
dine with him. and visit the PalaiS de tSlaCc
where some daring young woman was an
E.,unCed {. - do things IN a motor which IN
England attempted only by motor OmnI-
buses.
Stump. who would not leave the Yacht per
mitted Tagg and RoySon To accept the prof
fered civllity They passed pleasant
ing. and saw the female acrobat negotiate
thirty-foot jump head downward. taken
through space by the automobile Then they
elected to walk 10 No. Basin. a distance OF
a mile and half. IL was about eleven o'clock
and fine night The docks road thorough
fare cut up by railway lines holding long rows
of empty wagons, seemed to be deserted
Tagg. who was slightly lame though active
as cat on board ship was not able To walk
fast. The two discussed the performance and
other matters of slight interest. and paid little
heed to the movements of half dozen men.
who appeared from behind some coal trucks.
until the strangers advanced toward them IN
a furtive and threatening way. But nothing
happened The providers sheered off quickly
IS they came. Tagg who had the courage
which Providence sends to puny men. glanced
up at RoySon and laughed.
Your size saved us from fight he said.
That gang IS up to mischief
Il wonder what they are planning" SAID
Royson. looking back to If he could dis
tInguIsh any other wayfarerS on the Ill lighted
road.
Robbery. with murder thrown IN" was
Tagg's brief comment.
They had the air OF expecting somebody
Did you think that What do YOU If
wait in the shadow few minutes9"
Better mind our own business. SAID
Iagg, but he did not protest further and
the two halted IN the gloom of a huge ware
house.
There was nothing visible along the straight
vista of the road, but after few seconds
silence they heard the Clatter and rumble of u