Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-11

or discovery. If the sailors knew the name of the
boat they seize they might discover the mis-
take, hurry back, and give the ALARM and then all
his efforts would have been rendered useless. There
the chance that Captain Joe was not aboard.
and delay in game like this where minutes, not
hours, counted, would prove fatal
The sound of the band, nellowed and harmoni zed
by distance, to him family through the quiet
ude of the night, and he with thankfuiness that
the moon was still cloaked with Clouds lending the
shelter of darkness That at least, was in his favor
The time dragged heavily He sat quietly, making
ftful attempts at conversation, and ably seconded
by the mate, whose suspense by now was equal to
his own.
Tom was now telling a story that at any time
would have been lengthy, but which, IN broken
sailor Spanish and with long wnded intent promised
with fair of imagination to last throughout
several hours And to this the officers listened with
apparent interest. The Captain ordered another
bottle of wine, and as he poured it for his guests
heard the hail of the returning boat, its gentle thunp
against the ladder and the creaking OF the swings as
the men came on deck. This the time when the
suspense became almost unbearable, and the
Captain and the mate were prepared for either an
alarm, acean exposure sudden shout that there
something mysterious, and any OF these would
turn the tide against the scheme.
Footsteps swiftly down the companionway
and Spanish sailor appeared framed in the door
Breat HESS and tense, Captain Moore felt inclina-
ton to hold himself down to prevent involuntary
rising from his seat. Tom stopped in his story
turned squarely around, and looked at the sailor:
The Lieutenant nodded at the man, who stood at
salute.
Il have delivered the letter, sir, was all he said
Captain Zeke breathed again, the man received his
dismissal and wheeled about, and Tom, as If 1t was
all of no import ance resumed his story. The music
died away with an abrupt flourish, and all was still
Suddenly the Captains heart gave great leap as
from over the came the sound of steam
winch working rapidly and the harsh grinding of an
anchor chain telling him in uncertain tones that
the Cape Cod was getting her anchor aboard and
would "Mosey as fast as she knew how. The OF
icers noted it too, and said, Not moment too
soon, Capt ain for your letters We glad to have
them over for you
Not nearly so glad as 1 am" the Captain
sponded dryly, and Tom openly INDUCED in ex
pansive grin The steward, as if under standing
orders appeared with another bottle, and the pop
ping of its cork seemed parting salute, for IN the
subsistence of its sound there came another the slo"
threshng of screw, the Cape Cod got under way.
Twenty minutes more just twenty minutes more
and Captain Joe would be safe! Twenty minutes
would give the Cape Cod few miles at least, and
then before the San Pedro could get under way she
would add few to the score, and IN the dark
elude pursuit or outsteam her would be captor
The officers to station their men preparatory
to their departure; but Captain Zeke insisted ON
showing them over the ship. Fifteen minutes more
away before they reached the Bird &c, and
here again the Captain held them for time by
various pretexts.
They went forward to the chart house, on whose
white face there showed plainly visible in the dim
light, the blue and gold letters Lord Nelson. The
officers stared it spellbound, gave sudden gasp.
and like pair of automatons leaned Imply back
against the rails of the bridge They recovered and
sprang into sudden activity of the most volube
Kind, an. activity
where dignity was