The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1915-07-24
| tain seemed to add to our peril by
every order ha gave"

every order he gave.
l examined him critically as he sat
facing me. He was about forty-five,
with a merry, round. good-natured
face, red with the southern sun, blue
eyes, and a short, fair beard. His
speech was refined and cultivated,
and as we chatted he gave me the i'm
preston that as an enthusiastic lover
of the sea he had cruised the Mediter-
ranean many times from Gibraltar up
to Smyrna. He had, however, never
before put into Leghorn.
After we had arranged that his cap
tain should come to me in the after
noon and make formal report of the
accident, We went out together across
the white. sunny piazza to Nasis.
I'VE shall be here quite a week, I
suppose he said as We were taking
our vermouth. We're on our way
down to the Greek island. as my friend
Chatter wants to see them. The en-
gineer says there's something strained
that we must get mended. But, by
the way" he added, why don't you
dine with us on board tonight? Do.
We can give you few English things
that may be a change to you"
This invitation gladly accepted for
two reasons. One was because the
suspicious of the captain of the port
had aroused my curiosity, and the 9TH
er was because had, honestly speak
ing, taken a great fancy to Horribly.
The captain of the Lola, a short,
thickset Scotsman from Dundee, with
barely healed cicatrice across his
left cheek, called at the consulate at
two o'clock and made his report, which
appeared to me to be very lame one
He struck me as being unworthy his
certificate, for he was evidently en-
tirely out of his bearings when the ac-
cident occurred. The owner and his
friend Chatter were in their berths
asleep, when suddenly he discovered
that the vessel was making no head
way. They had, in fact, run upon the
dangerous shoal without being aware
of it. A strong sea was running with
a stiff breeze, and although his sea-
manship was poor, he was capable
enough to recognize at once that they
were in very perilous position.
Very fortunate it wasn't more seri-
Gus, sir" he added, after telling me
his story, which wrote at his dicta-
ton for the ultimate benefit of the
board of trade.
Didn't you send up signals of dis
tress?" l inquired.
mo. sir-never thought of it,"
And yet you knew that you might
be lost?" l remarked with recurring
suspicion.
The canny Scot, whose name was
Macintosh. hesitated a few moments,
then answered.: We'll, sir, you see the
fishing-boat had sighted us, and we
saw her turning back to port to fetch
help"
How long have you been in Mr..
Hornby's service?" l inquired.
six months, sir" was the mans
reply. Before he engaged me, was
with the Wilson's of Hull, running up
the Baltic. I've held my masters GER
tificate these fifteen years, sir. 1
was with the Bibbys before the Will
sons. and before that with the Gen.
eral Steam. l did eight years in the
Mediterranean with them, when l was
chief mate"
And you've never been into Leg
horn before?"
Never, sir"
l dismissed the captain with a dis
tinct impression that he had not told
me the whole truth. Was 1t possible
that an attempt had actually been
made to cast away the yacht, and that
it had been frustrated by the master
of the felucca, who had sighted the
vessel aground? How, I wondered,
had the captain received that very
ugly wound across the cheek? was
to inquire of him.
That evening when the fiery sun
was sinking in its crimson glory I |
took a cab along the old sea-road to
the port where, within the inner har-
Dor, ! found the Lola, one of the most
private vessels / had ever
seen. Her dimensions surprised me.
She was painted dead white, with |
shining brass everywhere. At the |
stern hung Imply the British flag, at
The masthead the ensign of the Royal
Yacht squadron.
On stepping on deck Hornby came
'orward to greet me, and took me
along to the stern where. lying in a
ong wicker deck-chair beneath the
awning, was a tall, dark-eyed, clean.
'haven man of about forty. His keen
ace gave one the impression that he
vas a barrister.
my friend, Hylton Chater-Mr.
GORDON Gregg" he said. introducing
Is. and the clean-shaven man ex-