Nobelist.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7696, 19 March 1887, Page 5

Nobelist.

[NOW FIRST PUBLISHED,]

THE GOLDEN HOPE: A KOMANCE OP THE DEEP.- --' 1 dreamt' a dream that teas not all a dream.

BY Wi CLARK RUSSELLi

Author of "A Sea Queen," "The Wbeck of the Grosvenor," "A . Sailor's Sweetheart," &o. [The' Right, op Translation is Re-. BEEVED.] ' .

GHAPrER XXXVI. —The Schooner • ■ -■ '- - is 'Stokbn.?. *■.'■■ .£. •'■': '■- . The wind' was what a : sailor wonld term a topgallant braeze, with -weight; enough. in it to single reef the topsails^ for a priulant skipper,; and uiiderthb wide spread of cloths • which Hiram's alarm had flung upon his vessel, tho echoonor. was driving along like a racehorse at the finish. •: The , long, darkvgreen' surges; came rolling and melting to her in steady - processions, with n leaping of snnbeanis' twixt the clouds from ono dazzle of snow ; line to another, and.it was ;' absolutely : shark-like; the lean ;'of the black, wet, shining sides of the Golden Hopd into', the troughs, then the flying emergence : and the hissing and rending' sounds -at the cutwater and the heel over into the' smothering spume lashod up by the wrath and power of her passage, and tho dull lustre, of her copper to windward,' gleaming sickly through the glimmering' green' draihings of the baffled and retreating Burge^r-for all the world like the malignant hue of thoseamonster'sbelly as it turns with top fin down to seize its

prey. Agatha bad sealed herself on the low skylight whilst Fortescue talked witl tho eaptaiu, and there she remained watching the meu making sail and lcoking around her, doubtful, timid, wondering at first, startled by Hiram's excited ordora and the hoarse and roaring "Cheerily, men!" chorus at tho halliards and wherever a pull was taken, and by the rushing noises of the passing waters on either hand, and the faint thunder of pouring billows and the eoreaming Bud wailing as of a thousand fifes and bagpipes in the rigging, till the whole spirit of tha thing coming into bar. mainly as one mightsnspect through the buoyant leapings and floating rushing, and shootings of the hull, and the increased speed of it, she sprang to her feet with a brilliant flush in her cheeks and the light of the sudden gladness and the deep escitruent of her heart in hor eyes, and with. amazing grace and nimblonoss leapt on to the bulwark -rail and there stood, with her arm round a backstay, gazing out to aea.awny on the weather bow, her dresa rattling like a flig, her hair blowing inboard- for -the wbolo niaea oi it lay on her back again; — her figure leaning 1 wall atvay, and an. air of Iriumph on her fflfle that was' like tho radiance of mirth without expression' of liuigbter, Vhi \viMf-\Mky about tha doolt coiling «p Klis tb« : <«fe?> stared sad ataact paratyseil l>y tliagicl's sudden action, nhiob (hi-y sii|:p<!fled would" be "inst'antipfollnwed: by A loan overboad. . AH akmg-

donbiful'of her men'taj' state,', they", now onppoßed hor really mad, ami fora breaththe fellows'' proae.nce of mind 'went;cVqa.» [ ; out o£ thorn as they stood gaping at her figure and the wild. mysterious appear-' flnoo sho presented with lisr eager ahin-. ing eyes, and singular exultant expire*.* s\on and Btraining altitude, aooh as you might imagine ■in winged ,-wpjp an . : gathering herself together for the'upward tfMHifihV ■ - '- ' '-- - -.. - - "Yet for n\) ibafc one \va& wj'f^fo 1 "^ rjwokly AgftVh&'s bwiw* aa to Clw hubsmis, and Eortisouo had clasped hor with an arm of steel whilst Hiram and some others were only starting to run for her.

"My God, Agatha — ray darling— come down 1 I feared y»u mosnt to ~3nmp-~oVefl>bTdT — lio~ crieanrtunJSTr " breathless with hia first dread. - . She looked at him as if she would appeal, remonslialc aliltlo ; byit.at.°iglit of hia f nee she at once pnfc hor hand on his ulionld'T and jumpeil nn to the- dcolr. "Have I done wrong?" sho said inspecting him with n kind of tearful earnestness that quenched tho sparkling in her oyca and made them so like whatthey were when, nfc Wyloe, somo speech of hia would deepen yet the exceeding tondcrnessof her moot', that the mockery of. her unknowing regard must have created a pain beyond endurance in him rit«ny moment of less agitation than this. ' ''Ye 3,'' ho answered trembling vio«ntly f and feelin/r his hand cold aa ico upon hers thathe grasped. " You should not do each things, darling. If you had fallen " She followed his glance to ttio foam <o leeward that resembled the broiling at the foot of some cataract. "I did not know what you intended. " he again broke off and lud her. to ihe chair, in which b]io sealiid herself. "1 liko this thriljing raoing movement/" sbo said, spoaiiing softly, almost musingly J " it fillßrao with excitement, and it soothes me, too. On tho island I could not bear to be still. If I rested lorigl would feel nn oppression," vaguely indicating her bead by a gesture, " and it left me when I walked or run. Is not this motion glorious?" sho cried, with light coming into her eyes afresh. "Oh, it is a delicious change after the restfulness of the island and tho ceaseless iiresome'erying (if the surf." You could Bee fay her manner thatshn wished to explain fully ths relief the sensation of bounding an 3 !of' swift movement give to hor head ; bat there was ftuort of wanderiujz inher^ a wealctioßS when thought Btrove to bs dolibersite that WB9 past h<>r control. "Agatha/'hesaid, wjth the deperalely rapid pulsations of his heart .slowly calming, " you uiUßt promise me never to jump on lo these bulwarks ngain, oieyer to place yourself in a uituution of danger?" "Oh yea, J. will promise." '.'Tonlovo me, Agatha — it is God'a will you should not. know it— and my ilove for you, my precious one, is as jyocr's is for me ; and this will be rewealed to you when it pleases our Jleavenly Father to illumine the darkjjess that has fallen upon you. It will come— it will come !— and as you are priceless to me, then, for my - sake, .though you know me now but as Mr Fortescue, you will always hereafter ie heedful, never Rclinp; so as to cause me fear— for Agatha, my Agalba ! if any harm should bofall you now that I lliave you after having believed you Jost to me for over, it would break ray heart —it would kill me I" She. listened .to him with an air of absorbed attention. When he ceased, powerless to go beyond his final..assurance, she smoothed his hand. "You stijl tremblo'and are cold. I did not know I should \ frighten yon.. Ii would not do so. Jf I had your permission I:wpritd climb up there." pointing to the masts, ■' for those saib would feel like wings to me. : J will never again sot so as to" frighten you. Indeed, indeed, I promise that, Mr Fortescuo." A troubled look (iamo over her beauty,•dimming.tho flush in her chetjka, as the movement of air dulls tho sunset glow apon the water. Sho sighed, and still «arossiDg his hand and speaking with fcer' eyes fixed on it, she exclaimed, "Did you not 'say I was to be jour wife!".. ' . „ " That you were to bo and will be. Sho was silent fora little, then slowly lifting her eyes to his ha", looked at him piercingly with a slow gathering of miserylin their depths : -- " Oh !" she exclaimed, in a voico that to one too far off to ealoh hor words

must have sounded like a cry of pain, "I cannot understand ! I cannot understand !" • -■ .. He stooped to her and answerod, "It will oome ! T My .Agatha, ,we must, both be patient. ' It will; come! Hush, my own P We will not speak of theso.thiDgs now. ' No more .dull pain must weigh upon my darling's forohoad. Put your bond in my arm— so." ... Sho rose "afnd they walked to the schooner's" quarter, where stood Hiram and' Stone watching. the vessel thatthe shift of the Golden Hope's helm and her course had brought dead on end astern. It was lamentablo to see how light was all impression upon her, how fugitive her emotion. She released Fortescue's arm. to put her hands. upon tho rail, and look over the side; sind by tho triumph and dance of light in her ojes, and hor smile, her lover saw that what Im'd just passed between them- was gone from her, and that it wab the sailing of the- liohooner,. the' foam that rolled iv dazzling masies from her bow, tho steady swing of th'o surge! and Iho liquid hoave of the hnll,. and tbe T shoUting- bGtw.een. the innato/ths girl's thoughts wore full.

of ' ■••■■*- i Plenty of notice would at'any other tima been have given to her by the crew, who reckoned he'rerazy and fearsome in other ways, for Joe Hall had carried forward all- the news about her sleep-walking, though the men had had no time to talk' tbe thing over ; but their attention was fixed on the steamer astern. \;Thoy stood all together near the weather fororigging, speculating upon tho vessel's nationality, and most of them "as alarmed as Hiram himself. : • • .—, . "I 'spose.the skipper understands what he's abouf," said the cook. " He's bin long enough at sea' to know what o'clock it is. You may reokon, lads, that something invisible to us has taken his heye or he'd never sweat th' old hooker in this fashion." " Well, it '11 be a pretty bloomin' look out for us if so be she tarns out an enemy," exclaimed Breeches. " He's j

bound to have us. His manoover's quito plain. He's stealing to loo'ard and means' to jam us with his bloomin' machinery. Well, if thero's war and she's a henemy, it's good night. I've heard what furrin' jails is liko and tbe black bread they feed ye on, an' aDy man who's got a wife had better make up his mind to start a new home when he comes out, for starvation '11 have given him another faco, I allow. His frionds won't know him, and any boots he may have left' ashore he'll find filled up with another man's feet. I'm awcer of what I'm tnlkin' about. There was Billy Smithors. He wor captured out of a Hindieman somewhero up hero. When ho was liberated ho fouud his wife had been twice married sinea him, and the ohap as was then cooitiu' her broke Billy's uea'.l as an impjstor," •'".He sent a gloomy look Qver the taftrail, and folded his arms with a stare at tho cook's pals face.' 'Johnny, the boy, began to blubber. ■ - - , ." For this here schooner to be taken and vi men uiado priaonars of 'II bo a pleasii)' • larminati'in *of the woyago, gac((tj({T," said Goldsmith,' in a growling ironical voice, and snvagely burring his hnriUs in his pockets. . "1' kno>v I wish I'd never shipped. Don't, b.-lisvo I ever sfioitld if it hadn't been 'for Duck pariuadiii 1 of Die. There's that about this hero woyago. that's kop 1 mo uncornfortlible' all I h'l'OUjjli." Why, dimme, I wouldn't half so much object .to tho parso.'i's vrision if it had.it turned. out true. It's its trueness as d'sagreea with me. If a mail points to a corner nnd says 'There's the Dcril," a :d there's liothen' there, I laugh at him : but if :ho piiilltS atld ,J lopk flp,4 ???? ,», Vgelc , man nilh h iajl 4wsst Jiis Jess, anti eyes as \>lg as riding -Jigllttl, wily tlian^ ya SG(I, I wants to retire. Tliero'd a sia)it ioo much of what airt'fc naiurji in this tyoyage. Don't want to say nothen ngainsfc t!to.l.ady ; but it Joa ain't telling lies when tio naya that she's more sensiblo whon she's asleep limn srheu sho's -nweiko— reversing nil the nnl'ral laws aa I'm. acquainted. with— then \\hnt I says i.o, I'm nut goin' to be surprised if tho schoouer'sluck's gone out of her and the worst ye can fear a followin' of ns in tfy aj> steamer." "I tell yer," said Joe Uall, " that the lady camo up asleep. .She stared at nothen past mo till I slipped t'other side the tiller in a aweut. Than she sensibly talks to the parson and Mr Stoiieat the lee-rail, points and chucks her arms about, asleep all the time, and goes bolow, missing nothing, steppiu' out true as a hair." "There's nothing wonderful in that," gaid Archer, who had been listening quietly, " Providence looks after sleepwalliere. l'vo heard of women getting on to tli3 tops ot roofs of houses and strolling about on hedges so tall and norrow that people watoking them havp turned sick" " Well, I only wish the lady wns more natural, more .'cording to regulations," said the cook, directing his pale faco, full of uneasy workings, towards tho steamer. " I never was shipmates with anyone aa walked in his sleep afore, and though Providonce, as Arehor says, may keep a heye ou the movements of a party given to insensibly haeting after tho manner of "hosts, my notion is that the spcrrit what works in a party and hendbles him or her to conwerae all Ihcfyay from tore with a man supposed to be in England, but 'longsido her all tho time, can't belong to tho part people looks up to when they prays !" " Why not?" demanded A roller. •''Why npt? 1 ' echoed ihn cook. "'Cause if it was the port o' being a man has no call to be alarmed at, it 'ud make #-party act artcr the manner Iho parly was intended to." "I agree with Micky," observed Goldsmith. "I recollect ot hearing a prse.oher chap at aß.thel say that when the nnoient Jews saw a man acting uunatural they calcu'ated tho devil had ~siowpd himself away inside of him. How they got ]iim out oor' r the man I forgets; l)Ut anyhow that notion of the ancient Jews — who weren't bloomin' fools, neither, upito p' Bill grinnin' it "I'm a grinnin'." exeinuned Broecuf'is, " because ye' re a makin' out that that notion you've spoken about belonged to the iTews. Why, man. -wbo-i I was a lad tho idea was common in the willago I was born in. Tare helped duck two old women myself 'cause the belief was they'd shoved evil spirits into folks, and prevented hens from laying eggs!" This observation led to n lively argument between tho coolc, Breeches, and froldstnith as to whether the belief that peoplp who acted erratically, like sleepwalkerS) or demonaically, like Breeches' two old wtfinen , were possessed by demons, originated with tho ancient Jews or with " Bill's " village contemporaries. But the slow, though unmisl ultable gaining of tho steamer upon the schooner, presently started the mpn upon subjects they were moro q uplifted to form opinions on than tho. powers of evil spirits, and they were soon engaged in alarming one another afresh with ideas hs to the -pursuer's nationality, and arguing upon what Eiram ought to do so as to keep thp race going till nightfall, if the wind held. ' Meanwhile Portescno Blood el. so to Agatha, anxiously listening to Weeks and Stone as ono or the olhor of thorn spoke about the pursuit, whilst the girl seemed to herd nothing but the rushing of tho schooner and (lie sight of the seas, which would come rolling at ono moment with their dazzling brows sun-touched by the flying morning splendor between tho speeding olouds, nt the n?xt pouring in delicate olivo-greon under the eclipsing shadow of tho passing bodjes of vapour. Sometimes in glancing nt her and marking her rapt c»joyment of the i

, windy streaming picture, the . curate • would fancy that thero must be something more than the mero relief the i . bouyant boundings of tho vessel save to the clouded mind and to that physical j oppression in tho head she spoke of: ; something more than this in her delight in the beautiful alternations of |glory and shade, of the sparkling blue kindled by the sunlight, or the. sombro tingo that gloomed in each swelling height with the varying of tho luminary's beams. What but the old instincts, the old admiration that at Wyloo often sweetened her pensivo gaze, whon from the sea shoro she watched with him some lovely, some tempestuous, some solemn evening summer mood of the deep, .stirred in fcer, now that she had before hor tho very |orfoction of nn ocean picture in the fliglit of the schooner through the liquid valleys and over tho foaming hills, with liberty like n goddess born of and dominating the. mighty weltering amphitheatre, informing every echo with a song of rare melody, till the minstrelsy in thn riggingand the thunderous cadence over tho brows, and tho sharp, metallic, boll-like ringing note? of the sweeping fonm combined their sounds into the music of an orchestra, to whose measures the schooner and -the surges and the clouds and the recurrent darlings of the high sun's beams kept time?

But the pursuit! What did th steamer there signify ! She was yet hnl down, but with all her canvas showing settling away on the leo quarter ; thougl now when Hiram brought his eye fr»n the glass he informed Stono that sh< was heading exactly their own courso. " There is no doubt she is after us ? ' said the curate " Not a shadder of doubt, Mr Fortesouo." " And she is overtaking us ?" "That's plain, too, sir," "Suppose she should prove an Englishman, captain ?" "I don't want to find out, Mr Fortescue. I don't went to hare nothon to say to her. As I have told ye, if she ain't a friend it'll be too late when the fact's discovered. Bill, shall we bring the schooner close ? We're boing picked up, mate !" "It won't do to jari.« her," auswored Stone; " but it might bo worth fiodin' out if th' Hope wont lie closer than t'other can, .Half a pomt — " " Then down wiih that stun'sail, Bill ! ' burst out Hiram ; and in a moment old Stone, was running forward and singing out. The men, rendered active as cats by anxiety, in a very few. minutes had hauled down the stim'sail, braced the yards up, and "sweated," as

they say at sea. every sheet to a pan-coke-flatness of canvas. The vessel was kept a rap-full, but the shift of helm bad brought the. soa well on the bow, and tho pressure aloft' was exceedingly heavy, for the Golden Hope, sweeping into the breeze, put a true atormy spite into its hard pouring, and she drove along like a locomotive, Iho spray breaking iiv snow storms over her head, her l-eiMil pretty. nearly flush with the smother there; her weather standing i'igQ;in<j iiico liara of steal for the wind i to split on Hivl ravo through, every fore- I round oi her canvas flashing, with a starry light and'nio!iin{ into pillid dimness with tlie iwl-and stavger of the spays (6 the sun, and /pis .duzssling leaping." from' oiio cloud- edge to another. Phew! 'twas noblo soiling, tho flight rather of some b'nutifiil creature of instinct middened by. a fay-off bellow ing in her wake than tho moehanic movements of a piece of man's handiwosk urged by thewiuds and guided by the helm. • ••■

TilC crew gathered aft fur tho shelter Bf Vb& i}TOWC? floct Worn vim tompoatu" <mjs *w>'if<i« $f gi'G.on water 'forward, and stood grouped hear ifj'e main rigßWg, &5i staring, as irith o?)e pair of eyes, at tlie s'/omner. Hiram, kneeling on those legs' of his, which in their trousers looked rj.ther less supple than a pair of eugarjbnus, inspootid Iho stranger through the. te!pspopc. lie watched her for a long minuie, theglasa rising and falling wiih liia iliead to the plunge, and dip of tho schooner. Thon rising and casting ,hi»: protruding eyes in the most dismal mannor'first tin ftli fturlescue, ihon on Stone, and finally on the men, lio said in a Iqiy but hollow voioe. " Lids, he's hauled hla wiiid ! " . "■•••. •'Heiidin'- up as we do?" shouted Breeches. " Ay;" answered Hiram, "as wo do.". '. V Then,", growled Goldsmith, with a loup of desperation in his deep soa bass, "i>.'a /<■,'((, double hell— hall ; u,p—hwp, hall hup, bullies, What's a goin' to withstand henginea iv a wesael as can sail us close as the chase r " Hiram look no notice of this. "But, men," cried out Mr Fofteseue, "after all, .our iileaa are puro imagination so far, How do wo know that sho is not aa Englishman ? Presuming hor to bi> a foreigner, what right have we as yet to suppose that the country oho belonga to is at war with us ?" " Ay, that's all very well, 6ir,'' bawled tho cook ! ".but what's Captain Weeks 'running away for, then f" " IBtfluse," roared Hiram, " it's one of them businesses which, to dialte euro of, allows 'on chiefly to mike sure of you. What's she a-chasing of us for ? D'yo think she'd shift hor course if she pply wanted to speak— if there was notheu particular? Sho's a man-'o-war, and what's her pui-paia in thejjo horo waters? Why, yes," he shouted scornfully, "she may bcac.)untrymitt,andohG may be ißistakon of our dodgin' her. But d'ye wish me to heave to to find out, when by goltin' away wo ahull be dropping all tho risks L'vo told yer about?" ; " B.ut we aren't go'm' to get away ! " cried breeches. " Why, shs's swelliu' up down thero littc a siilor'a weslkit in a pi;Uio house !" "Shu's got a color flying," s.ii'lQtono.whohnd been silently working rt«".iy with the glaas. "Ha ! " exclaimed Hiram, wheeling round. "At the fore royal mast head," continued the mate. He looked a litllo while longer. " I dnnno," he cried, '•'ray sight ain't what it was ; but— but if it ain't blue an' white and rod, you may bilo me," he roared out, "if it's ynllor or blank, or green p " Hiram looked on dully an In9tunt or two, s'aring at Stone. "By thunder ! " he muttered, then snatched at the glass and levelled it. " French ! " ho yelled. " Who's got eyes horcP " The men came in n rush all around j him. Hiram gave tho teleseopo to Archer, who, after n short inspection, said, " Yo>, uir, tho trioolor. A small J?ro>ich sen-w man-of-war." Others of tlie men looked : Breechos, Goldsmith, Duck ; they svero all agreed. The fUg in the glass blew out its lints brilliant to the sun, and tho vessel herself, hor hull now and again showing bntwixt a sen, black and gloasy as tho plumes of a crow, was heading up to. it like the sehdonor herself, nnd gaining steadily with every five miiiuUs that wont by. Hiram, folding his arms, took a long look af tho incu. He was lost io thought; then awoke to earnestly inspect his Ganvis and Judge his speed by watching tin passage of the white water. " Rill," ho said, addressing Stone in n voice to bo heard by all hando, " shn's catching us up, but. we'll keep on this mtch aud hold on all, for we're not to know sho wants us to stop, aud gomcthnig might happen to her fiengines, or sho might carry away p. mast — and anyways we'll ho'cl on all." Stono ndded. "But whether there's war or not," continued Hiram, making his eyes meet with a singular look in Mr Forlcscue's ' faco, " that's no call for us, whether

! we're overhnnled or .whether .. "we ! succeed in gcttin' ' away, to feel ,' ashamed of the colors wo sail under. I So, Bill, put with the hensign and rnn him up." ' ' This was done, and as old Stone hauled the glorious bit of bunting, streaming like a flame as it' soared rattling in'a graceful curve, to the' halliard, block at the poiik, one saw the English spirit, acting lileo the touch of nature fhat makes tho whole- world kin, in '.every man's face as .the whole mob of -them 1 followed with their gaze the' fight of tho meteor flag io its,, destination at the lofty gaff-end. ' - ■ Suddenly Agatha, who had 'been watching tho hoisting of the ensign with an interest that did not escape her lover, said to hiin'in a low voice, "May I speak to 'Archer, Mr For-' tescun?"

"I will call him, my darling." Tho man approanhud ' with a respectful salute.' Shfl merely wished to ask him him Jiov ho was — to tell him' the delight Urn swift. flailing of tho schooner tilled her with ;■ anil with a smile of moving pathos, in Fortescue's eight, to declare she was happier hero than on the island. "I do not miss it ; do you Archer ?" "No, Miss." • ."■.'; " Sometimes I have] wished the liltle house you, built ma washer©. • The trembling of tho leaves madd the ground cool and 'pretty. But I like my cabin downstairs— and my clothes," looking at herself with an added touch of coloar, and smiling as though she fiilt her simplicity and sought an, excuse for it, not knowing how to .'express her happiness save by indioatirg the things which gave' her pleastiro ; "and Mr Fortescue is so kind to me — as you were Archer; but— but-r- — " she struggled with a candour ono saw her instincts were for silencing, ' and abruptly pausing, she looked hal shyly, half anxiously at her lover.' " We're both in good hands,' Miss, and' 'tig glorious' to feel. we're going home," said Archer, «nd fagain knuckling his forehead he stepped over ro where the other men were grouped. "They've, hauled down the flag at tho masthead," shouted . Stone, with his eye at tho "lass. " flillo ? Oho - tew— three — four— five flags ; they'ro a signalising of us: and— hillo!" he bawled again, " they're firing 1" ' The small 'white' ball of smoke,' that as it leapt from somo bow gun or other of i the steamer was blown by the wind into a stretch of veil : like vapour shot with lustre, was insfcantlr seen, and all hands stared forthe missile. ■ " Woll, I'm doodle! !" bawled old Breeches. " That's . meant for our ensign, I s'spose, an' if. 'it' don't sinnify ■war, why, then, any man may chuck old Bill overboard as ho likes." "Anybody see whero ' the shot strunk P" - shouted Hiram, in a quite desperate state of excitement. There was no answer. " Anybody fyear the jxplqsion ? . ■'. "Oi dii," cried Johnny with his white face conspicuous aniongj the men. " fleg pardon, cap'n," said Archer, stepping forn-nrdi " but ii so be, »-■ Mr' Stono sivysi that steivmev's Bignftliping of us) it/s likely she (Irod .her jun lo call attention io her fUgs or as * request to us. to heave to." "There's no use in her bothe-in' Brit}) 'flag's," cried Hiram, whose agitation kept biin jumping and hoppiugabqnt hough as his n.er'voiis sy s.tpm been iU'ldenlj and violently smitten, " 'cause ye' ve got uo book on board and shan't bo iblo to onderstand nothenbut henligns. As to -ht>r ■ meaning by her gun ;o ask us to hoave to, why if I, could )elievo it wasn't and that ion Qttlj xaptod to apsakiia'TM^r-c" tnd liero ho 'stopped withbia eyes dd ?ortesciiß. .:... , "There oiin be no doubt,.! suppose," mid , the ■'clergy man, '."that she is French?',' ', ",..- ; ■":. ■ . ■" , j ) .' ..• - " : "I don't 'know, sir,"- .said 'Hiram;-. '-( 'She niay be a lioos'an., I, tell yer 'i loisting' colors in. war- time's mere 1 iheatin'." .' "'.V', 1 , ■■''■'■'!■ : ' :■':"'"■ 1 !' Anyway," pursued the clergyman, < ' she's gaining on iis?"- .-.■;. , '■'.■.' •< i " liiiud over 'fist,!', answered Stone. | 'Thorn there propellers,. l beer,' often i lo' best when tho wind' 3 heading, by 1 .ho crip thoj gel' of the water.". '.'■ •■ . \ •' She's oarlain •to overtake us, ( .hen P" . '-'.-," : '( S'one shruggod his shoulders, Hiram 1 ;urr.od to look at the. sleamer ; the ] nen glauced over, the sides or loked up < iloft. Tho silence was general and ; mightily expressive. ' . 1 " I thiiikjve ought to heave to,", said I Fortescue, mildly, v , ■ „ 1 " The. sohooner's t yours, ' sir ;' you're i ny master; .whatever orders", you 1 jivo'llbe obbved," exclaimed Hiram,' i :onuding rapidly on his long legs and ; speaking with nn eagerness, arid ( inxiety that made you.see he wanted to ] De'qiiit of. his responsibility. ' , I '.'■Wliap do you say, iritn I l ' exclaimed 1 ?orteßoue, addressing them. " You seo' 1 low tho case stands. Our fears may 1 irovo imaginary ; but iii any caso sho I 3 ceriain to o"'i'iin v? : and supposing I t conceivable she should be an enemy ; ; vo are not going to improvo our re- 1 jep'ion at ' her haud3 by a long and I rritatins; chase." ■ ( ' ; " That seems right enougli; sir/- said '1 Stone. 1 "If she's boiiml to qrerhaul »»," ; jrowled Breeches, " why then she 1 imtat." ■ '' Way yea, of course, if aha de s w, she lew," cried|Goldsmith ; " but somethiu' ; nay Imppon' an 1 I'm fur kee'pin' all on : is wo'fe ogoin'. Time enough to hefvvo :o, says I, when sho regular proper [iri-s at us.'-' .... " Tliero goes a socond gun, anyhow," observed Archer. . It would have mada a monkey: laugh io soo tho fellows it'iring up at the mils and at tho sea to observe' where }jj(l what the ball was going to .strike. "1 tell yer what it is, lads," said Jam'cs Kilt, throwing a savage; look iloari ilia schooner's unarmed deck. " for an Englishman to b» aimod at' by X Parley Voo without his having so innoh as to re.tarn the compliment with, is a depensntioji as don't suit my book for one. An' running away from that ihree colored rag's little to my tasto, too. If it was ms, I'd down helium and abance lh' odds', " Well, I'm agreeable," said Breoches. " Nothon she to be done, as I eau see," excUimod Sawyer. 11 All" right, dovvu lmlluin, then!" eriod Duck, " It'B your wish, sir 1 " said Hiram. "What choice have we?" answered tho clergyman, not without unxioty in his voice, as ho Wits nt tho steamer, "In tor'gnn'al !" bawlod Hirara. " Back the torps'l ! Down Btaysail and ' %i»K j' b • tTp miin tack ! Slie's been sweated enough." Tho men sprang about, those who would have remonstrated smothering up their objections, and presently the schooner was lying, without headway upon her, bowing to tho longstondy rolling sea with a regular rythmioal swing of etein and stern, everything , quiut nloft, and tho crow looking over the lee-rail at the steamer that, seeing tho notion of tho echooucr, had reducod canvas, down to bare poles and was heading for Ihe woitlier quarter of tbo Golden Hope', flinging t Up V.llows aft in sprny oyer her as her "scruw drovo her headlong through them, About a quarter of an hour after Iho acliooner had bsen hove to, the eudden dropping of the wind waß Hko tho ( woathor's confiiinntionof Iho wisdom of Hiram in bringing 1111 vessel to a stand. It wns ccrtuiu tiiat it rendered tho men moro sutisfied with what had been done, more particularly when they noticed as tho steamer grew upon the

sen, the superb statelinesa of her hull, hor dominant shearing of the lessening surge rising white to each oat head, the rake of spar whose suggestion of sp; ed was accentuated by ttje swift ponring of smoke to the leaning funnel, and the inimitable animation of tho naked fabric as expressed in thn pulsation r.f bluish light in her wet sides, her . shining leaps from brow to brow with I the tricolor streaming at tho gnff-oiul, I where it might now plainly be 'seen : and as old Stone oould mark ere long through tho glass, the glittering of uniforms on the bridge. The breeze had sottled south-east again, with aomutliing of a steadiness of tho trade wind in it," when tho Frenohnmn, as the steamer by all hands was agreed to bo, w«s about half a

mile distant. Her approach wna watclio'l with an tuisioly that beoaisio a kind of fever in tho more norvons ! Hiram stpod with ono hani gripping tho other; bloodless, Stono with folded arms, Breoches B'ntr, but with the English Bailor's doggerttipes in his face, Goldsmith with that anlicipative leer which as a prophetic expression , is good for whatever may happen; and so on. Mr Fortesoue, holding Agatha's hand, thought •to himself, " Suppose Hiram ia right—that there is war between EugUnd and' France and we are taken prisoners !" and you could have guessed what was passing in his mind by the faco he would turn from the steamer to hia love. On the other hand- the gill asked no questions. It seemed to him as if • her impel feet grasp of what was happening restrained her from interrogating him by the ' sensitiveness that springs from one's knowledge of ona's ignorance. He would see her straining her eyes at the coming vessel, then glancing from his. to' tho facos of: the men, .with a contraction as of earnest thought on her fair brow, followed by a side peep of wiotfulness at him, which whenever she ■ caught biro notice it she'd endeavour, in a manner most effecting to him, to charge with a meaning he knew it did not possess by uttering some commonplace as to the failure of the wind, tho deafness of the bine water brimming foamless past the bends of the stationary : schooner, and tho like. ■ '. ■•. ' The steamer ranacd alongside io win J ward to easy speaking distance. Her engines stopped, she came to a halt, and lay rolling upon llja sea, showing a broad white deekwith every leeward heave, a few carronadea, a long -gun in the bow?, and whole masBCS of seamen, whose- postures, motions, -figures, dress, would have bespoken her origin and character though- she had come along with the red cross at all three maatueads- and - the most familiar ship's name in the English tongue writ large on each bow. ■ - ; • ''• ■ " O, za scboouaire eh-hy ?"- shouted i ' man, twinkling in buttons, from tho bridge. . . . ,•> . ' " Hallo !" roared Hiram. " V«ro you bruin' ?" " Hingland !" shrieked Hiniiri. ■' " Ye vetl aeud a boat !" bawled the iUJe clsap. ■" WuaC for, air f" critd Hiram, "Vohuva a lesile itabiahiTe, aif'vo isk you to take heeni." Hiram looked at Mr Forlescne with ; i face from which all human expression ippHftwd to have vanished— .answering luroly to Jack's illustralnn, " j\-8 long is a wet Ewab-J )! " Well, I'm jiggered !'" ho ripped out, •ringing hia opon' hand smartly agninst lis legs: "to think we crow- of englishmen should ha'- been riwnirig ■ way all mornin' from — a little bdbj/ .'" . (To be continued.}) '. '