News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1910-06-29

ten years full pay, eXtry an over an
| above wot the court allows he said
Ten years pay an a ten years drunk
It's enough to make a sinner of any
man."
Hozier laughed. Two days ago he
would have asked no better luck thar
the helping Of Dom Corria to regain
his presidentship Now there was Iris
to protect. He would not be content
to leave her in charge of the first
grimy collier they encountered, nor
was he by any means sure that she
would agree to be thus disposed of
He was puzzled by the singular una
nimity of purpose displayed by his
shipmates. But that was their affair
His was to insure Iris safety The
future he must leave to Providence.
And, indeed, Providence cQntrived
things very differently.
By nightfall the launch was hun
dred miles west of the island. Norrie
got eight knots out of her, but it need
ed no special calculation to discover
that she would barely make the coast
of Brazil if>she consumed every ounce
of coal and wood on board. We're it
not for Hozier's foresight she would
have been drifting with the gulf
stream four hours after leaving the is
land. AS it was, unless they received
fresh supply of fuel from another
ship, they must unQuestionably take
the straightest line to the mainland.
During 1.-The day they had sighted
three vessels, but at such distances
that signaling was useless. Moreover,
they had to be cautious. The cruiser,
trusting to her speed. might try long
cast north and south of the launch's
supposed path. The hours of daylight
were tortured by constant fear Even
Iris was glad when the darkness came
and they were hidden
At O'clock in the morning, by
general reckoning, they We're midway
between island and continent They
were all wide awake, too weary and
miserable to sleep. Suddenly a fog
horn smote the oppressive gloom. 1t
drew near. A huge blotch crossed
their bows. They heard some order
given in a foreign language, and De
Sylvia whispered:
THE Sac Geronimo! The cruiserT
In a little while, perhaps twenty
minutes, they heard another siren. 1t
sounded a different note, quantity
harsh blend of discords. Whatsoever
ship this might be, it was not the Sac
Geronimo.
Coke's gruff voice reached every ear:
"This time we're nabbed for keeps
unless you all do as 1 bid you he
said. when the fog lifts the cruiser
will see us. There's only one thing for
it. Somewhere, close in, is a steamer.
She's tramp, by the wheeze Of 'er
horn. We've got to board 'er an sink
the launch. If she's British or Amer
lean, o. K, as 'er people will stand
by us. If she's dago, we've got to
collar 'er, run every whelp into the
forehold an answer the cruisers sig
nails ourselves"
Hozier, who had eontriyed to draw
near Iris while Coke was speaking,
breathed softly, so that none other
could hear:
This is rank piracy. But what else
can we do?"
as it wrong?' she asked.
"Weil-no, provided we kill no one.
We are justified in saving our own
lives, and the average German or
Italian shipmaster would hand us over
to the Brazilians without scruple."
Iris was far from Bootle and its
moralities.
81 don't care what happens so long
as you are not hurt" she whispered
"Mr. Hozier," said Coke thickly.
Eyes, sir"
"You've got good eyes. an quick ears.
Lay out as far forrard as'you can an
pass the word for steerin'."
Hozier obeyed. The discordant bleat
of a foghorn came again, apparentlyl
right ahead. In a few seconds he