Connecticut western news., 1919-07-10
CHAPTER XxxIlI.
Before the Governor.

gripped the frightened Haines.
 "Tell them in the boat to do as ] said; then come back here."
 My God, sir, she's goin' down."
 "Not for some minutes yet. There are thousands of pounds in that chest; you've risked life for less many a time. Jump, my man!"
 The boat lay in close, bobbing I'D and down dangerously, yet held firmly beneath the opened port. The box was heavy enough to tax the strength of two men to handle it, but of a size and shape permitting it's passage. Sanchez had raised himself again, and clung there to the edge of the bunk watching us.
 "Now let down easy, lads," called. 'No, place it amidships; get it even, or you go over. Fix it to ride steady, and stand by-we'll pass a wounded man out to you!"
 I stepped across to Sanchez. He saw me coming, and drew back, his ghastly face like a mask.
 "No you don't, Carlyle!'' he snapped angrily. Keep your hands off me. So you want me to die with my neck in moose, do you? was born gen. tleman, and, by God I'll die like one and go down with my ship. Get out of here nowi You won't? You will, or else die here with me! I'll give you a minute to make your choice"
 He left no doubt as to his meaning. From beneath the blaEket, the black muzzle of pistol looked straight into firm, the face fronting me savagely sardonic.
 'Td like to kill you, Carlyle" he hissed hatefully. By God, I don't know why I shouldn't. Every time I look at you see her face. If you take step nearer pull the trigger-go!
 It was hard pull back to the Santa Marie. Dorothy greeted me first, and we stood close together at the rail as the men hoisted the chest on deck. She said nothing, asked nothing, but her hands chung to my arm, and when ever I turned toward her our eyes met.
 There was a sudden cry forward, and voice shouted:
 "There she goes, buckles! That's the last O the Namurw
 I turned swiftly, my hand grasping her fingers as they clung to the rail. The battered hulk slid downward, tho deck breaking amidships as the stern splashed into the depths; then that also toppled over, leaving nothing above water except the blunt end of broken bowsprit, and tangle of wreckage tossed about on the crest of the waves. I watched breathlessly, unable to utter a sound; could only think of that stricken man in the cabin, those wild eyes which had threatened me. He was gone now-gonei
 yet held Dorothy's hand tightly clasped in my own, and the depths of her uplifted eyes questioned me.
 eve will go. aft, dear, and will tell you the whole story" 1 said gently. "for now we are homeward bound"
 
 write these few closing lines year later in the cabin of the Ocean Spray, three master, full to the hatches with a cargo of tobacco, bound for London, and a market. Dorothy is on deck, eagerly watching for the first glimpse of the chalk cliffs of old England. I must join her presently, yet finger below to add these final sen tences. II
 There is, after all, little which needs to be said. The voyage of the Santa Marie north proved uneventful, and, after that first night of storm, the weather held pleasant and the sea fairly smooth. had some trouble with the men, but nothing serious, as Wat kins and Haines held as did, and the pledge of Dorothy's influence brought courage. I refused to open the chest, believing our safety, and chance of pardon, would depend largely on our handing this over in good faith to the authorities. Watkins and 1 guarded 1t night and day until the schooner rounded the cape and came into the Chesapeake. No attempt was made to find quarters below, the entire crew sleeping on deck, Dorothy comfortable on the flag locker.
 Tt was scarcely sunrise, on the fifth day, when we dropped anchor against the current of the James, our sails furled and the red English colors fly ing from the peak. Two hours later the entire company were in the pres ence of the governor, where told my story, gravely listened to, supplement- ed by the earnest plea of the young woman. I shall never forget that scene, or how breathlessly we awaited the decision of the great man, who so closely watched our faces. They were surely strange, rough group as they stood thus, hats in hand, waiting to learn their fate, shaggy-haired, un- shaven, largely scum of the sea, never before in such presence, shufiing un- .a 'ra-s--as.a.