The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-01-02
CHAPTER XVII.
CAPTAIN BELCHER OPENS THE
ENVELOPE.

CHAPTER XVII.
CAPTAIN BELCHER OPENS THE
ENVELOPE.
The prospect of sitting down to
breakfast with the captain of the
Nights hade gained nothing in at
Effectiveness from his self descrip.
ton as a ladies man, but to under.
go the ordeal seemed the wisest
policy. And there would be more
scope for Selling any opportunity
that might occur If l availed myself
of the run of the ship, than il !
sulked in the sitting cabin.
When l emerged from the cabin
into the cuddy l found the captain
already seated at the end of the
table, and it was a relief to see
that the meal was not to be eaten
tete-a-tete. The place on his left
was occupied by sheepish looking
man with an enormous shock of
red hair, whom l afterward discov-
cred to be the mate. There was
also a Portuguese steward in at
tendance.
At my entrance Belcher looked
me over with bold stare, and
pointed to the seat on his right.
Now Their, Antonio, you black
swab, bacon and eggs for the pas
senger," he roared at the steward.
"O'Brien." turning to the mate,
lust trot out your company man
ners before a lady. If catch you
showing your knife into your ugly
mouth again so long as this bloom
ing cuddy Is a first class saloon, I'll
send you to grub forward along of
the crew. l hope you slept well
miss?"
"At any rate, l slept very
soundly, but perhaps the less we
say about that the better" nerved
myself to reply, trying to make a
|pretense of eating in spite of the
nausea with which the rank suffi
ness of the place nearly overcame
me.
For some reason my answer with
its suggestion of a modified play
fulness. pleased the captain, and
he laughed boisterously.
Funny thing, when you come to
think of it." he said. "A chancellor
of the exchequer going in for
tempting a poor, honest sailor man
into the smuggling trade. Spends
all his time hindering contraband
and then goes into the business
himself. Makes a difference,
reckon, when it's outward bound
smuggling and the goods is a
pretty girl"
did Sir Gideon Marske leave
any message for me?" | asked, ig
noring his coarse reference to my
forcible detention ION board.
Not word. unless It's in a Ger.
tain little envelope he gave me
the sealed orders l spoke Of, and
not to be opened till we're past
Brighton" replied the captain.
Belcher appeared to be satisfied
with my submissiveness, and pres.
emily rose and signed to the mate
to follow him up to the deck. AT
the foot of the companion he halted
and looked round at me.
go where you lige on the ship,
he said. "Or out of 1t, II you prefer
to jump overheard" he added, with
hideous grin. From what your
distinguished patron let drop, !
reckon he wouldn't blame me for
such an accident"
When, little later. taking ad-
vantage Of his permission, | went
on deck, / had no doubt that the
crew had been selected with an eye
to unquestioning subservience to
his orders, no matter what they
might be. A more hangdog set OF
cutthroats surely could not have
been collected in the purlieus OF
any seaport In the world. For the
credit of my country I was glad to
find that the round dozen Of them
with the exception Of drunken
engineer and the semi-ibecile mate
were all NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Greeks and Lascars.
II was noon before we passed
Dungeness. and | knew that II
would be quite late in the after
noon before we arrived of
Brighton. and the fateful missivs
| In Belcher's possession was
opened.
Dinner was served Mt l o'clock
under the same conditions as
breakfast. with the disquieting DIFF