“CAPTAIN SHEEN, ADVENTURER.”

New Zealand Times, Volume LXXVI, Issue 5288, 28 May 1904, Page 2

“CAPTAIN SHEEN, ADVENTURER.”

AN HISTORICAL ROMANCE OF NEW ZEALAND. (BY CHARLES OWEN.) CHARTER 111. (Continued.) "Yes!” I said, dropping my voice and hesitating slightly. “Mere in the village?” “Yes!” “Then I’ve made the right port,” he exclaimed, with triumph. “Can yon give mo ius bearings ? Lead on, my laU and you shan’t lose by it.” “You’re in a mighty hurry to get vo the churchyard,” 1 twitted. It was like a slap in the face. He grow pale with rage, clenched his tooth anti his eyes hlazcd with anger. ‘•Holir’ ho roared, drawing himself together and glaring at me, his hands clenching ins knees, claw-like. “Don t you joko with mo. If old Ronald ALrrimy’s gone below, say so in plain terms, and it’ll be the better for you. Vi heu did ho go?” Ruffled by bis braggart tone and overbearing manner, I fell back a pace or two and eyed him defiantly. “Who are von that you should question me in this manner?” 1 demandoJ. “It you want to know anything, yon \e got to change your tune. Aou don t bully me.” He was silent for a moment, and, seeing I was not to bo bluffed, sank back into his list less attitude and began purring in bis contented, devll-me-can* manner. ■'Come, sonny 1” he said, in a wheedling tone, “don’t take offence at a quicktempered old fool, who's been so used to command all bis lile lliut he’s forgr t be don’t stand on bis own quarter deck. Ronald Jlin-iuiy was mate under mo, for years. You don’t know me? Aly name’s Sheen. Captain Daniel Sneen, be added, with a lordly air. ‘■And my name,” I answered, observing him keenly, “is Caspar—Mirrimy.'f Ho gazed at mo for some moments, in silence, conflicting emotions playing upon his features, "You! a Alirrimy? Tho Devil you are! Wind, dim’s son ?” he ejaculated

"The Kims!’’ T replied. "The man von arc seeking, my uncle, died fiv? months ago. I’ve keen looking for yon ever since.”

••Locking for me—Captain Sheen— Ho iha : Lor’ bless your young heart,! ’I brings; tears to my dry old eyes, 11 >r>< V, what it dees. Poor Bonny!” he

i.lnn.perod. "I little thought, o’ this. YV.-ll! tveir: He’s more suited to sing in the Heavenly choir than to preach to an ungrateful World. It's agony to ho misunderstood, and Ronald, and I have often suffered together. What did ho die of, sonny?” "Fright!” X said, looking directly at him.

No ehruige canio oyer liis face; lie returned wit h perfect inuoocnco

"Fright:?’’ lie echoed. ’.'No! Ronald Mb-rimy was as hrayo as a linn,” "Was ire?” I remarked. "May he--ones! But remorse has a keen tooth.” ■■Remorse?’’ ho snarled suspiciously. "Reniorss,” I- repented with emphasis.

"What for?” "Captain Sheen knows hast,” I said. "My undo was a broken man, who dreamed strange dreams and tvhmj awake was haunted by the past.” •■Always fond \o’ rum,” suggested Sheen; "ho must have been worse at the end.”

“No, it wasn’t rum,” I said quietl". He looked steadily at- mo and there was a strange power ixi his eyes that, made me wince. “Haunted by what past? Nonsense! Humbug!” ho growled. “Did Ronald Mimmy often speak of Daniel Sheen?” "No!” I replied quickly, lipping to allay his suspicious.' “Ungrateful ' Sonny,” ho muttered; “forgetful of old friendships. Why. wu wepo like brothers—twins—twins was what Nelson palled ns once, when we were middies together. -It's painful to think of Ronny. forgetting mo, so scon, but. it’s the way qf this wicked world. Didn't leave any message for me, J ’sppsq? I mean who spoke him last, before ho struck ?” “I did," I said, catching his meaning. “He left mo nothing, then ?” ho questioned, curiously. I shpqk my head. “fie had a small, black box,” he went on with well simulated indifference.

“Yes,” I consented, with apparent unconcern, being determined to betray no sign of anxiety.

“That’s mine!” We eyed each other narrowly. “Where might it be?’’ ho inquired, casually. “In my keeping,” I answered. He gave an audible sigh of relief. “It’s comforting to know it’s safe,’. lie said. “So you've been expecting me, ’ he wont on, with oily pleasantry, “in order to give up my property. When will yon-bring it aboard, matey ?” “When you’ve agreed to certain cpn.ditions,” 1 said, “that Ronald Mirrimy told mb to piakp with you. There’s a lot more gold connected with that property (ban iiiat box will hold. Half of th it belongs to me,”

“Indeed! Where’s your log?” “Had I’on aid Mirrimy any right to it?” He nodded an assent. “X am his nephew and his heir.” “A beautiful arrangement,” the Captain retaliated loftily. . “If it had been a ‘bird in the hand,’ I might have agreed. But it happens to bo something that’s got to ha earned, and will cost money and sweat in the earning. Yon don’t s’posc I’m going to freight myself with an ignorant whipper-snapper of a boy like you as parduer, do you?” Roaring to louse the devil, iu his blood, I hold my tongue. *T,ot s make lor home,” be proposed. “Tort your helm and bring us up alongside. You’ve got to hand over that box, you know, my hearty, so don’t go and ipakp a fuss.”

I stppd stilj!, determined not to bodge an inch.

“The conditions of a dead man have no weight with Daniel Sheen,” he said, with a callous sneer.

Before I was aware of his intention, and with an. agility of which,' I had hardly believed'him capable,'he sprang from his seat, caught me by the arm with a grip of .steel, and forced me down beside him. He pushed his great face

into mine, so that X felt his filthy breath, reeking of rum and tobacco. “Give up my property,” he threatened. “without conditions, or ” I never heard what ho would do to me. At that moment, the landlord appeared at tho door. The Captain relaxed his hold upon me aud 1 slipped away.

“That's a nice lad,” I heard him say to the innkeeper; “a nice, candid lad. Ho’s been tolling mo all about the village. I think I'll stay hero to-night.”

I left them in conversation . the lew words that readied me, the name of Alirriray was repeated move than once. Reflecting on what I had just heard, I realised two things. Firstly, that Captain Sheen was not going away without his box. Secondly, that lie meant to get every particle of information about Ronald Mirrimy, and possibly about the others who bore that uamc. It would be necessary to tread .warily. My undo Ronald had not exaggerated the Captain’s powers. JKveu in my short experience of him, his great personal force had had its effect on me. Ho filled my imagination. Ho dominated me, so that in .spite of the bold front I showed, my courage seemed to have oozed out at my boots. To give up the box, and to see bis huge bulk swaggering down the road towards the »>ea coast, would have been a groat relief. Rut there was a vein of obstinacy in mo that forbade sudi cowardice. Securely fastening my door, I kept guard over the disputed relics and went to bod with a loaded blunderbuss at my elbow. My mother slept on tho other side of the house. I was unable to get a wink of sleep, the events ol tho day recurring again and again, to my mind. A full moon peered into my room through the chinks of the blind, and out ol Iho shadows that it made my mind conjured strange shapes. About eleven I beard n step crunching'the gravel on tho path outside and looking out, discovered the Captain underneath my window. Silently oponjng the leaded lattice I got tho blunderbuss and covered him. In spite of nervousness, my unpractised hand could scarcely have missed so big a mark. Ho saw me in a moment, held up his hands by way of caution, breathed a stifled ‘Tin -ah,” but did not attempt to move. Hf you let. her off, sonny, : 55 lie whisperer], *youTl wake your mother and thnt’U break off negotiations. 5 '

"What aro you prowling round hero for ?” I demanded fiercely, in a low voice.

‘‘The box,” ho said. "You know the conditions,” I replied curtly. "I’ll put the law in force,” he threatened.

"Ho it,” I said, laughing. "But I fancy you like tho law us little as it likes you.” "The law’s too fond of me,” ho grinned; ■ "Muy-he,” I said. "Enough !” lie growled- "Stow ybur gab and dump tho cargo overboard.”

"JS'o 1” "Y'ou ignorant swab,” ho hissed, undor bis breath, "to try a fall with Han Sheen!” "I've had enough of you to-night,” I said. "Down tho path yoa go. If yon’ro not out of sight when I’ve counted fifty, I’ll mako' a. target of you. Quo 1 Two! Three!”

Ho began to move backwards. “Four! Fivp I Six! Seven I Eight! Xine 1” X continued. "Oive it up, Sonny 1" ‘■‘Tep I Eleven 1 'Twelve! Thirteen!” I wont on.

"Gopd-byo till tho morning,” ho said. "Fourteen ! Fifteen 1 Sixteen 1 Seven, teen 1 Eighteen I”

He Had turned ins back on mo. Ho walked straight down the patli without deigning to look hack or vouchsafing another Word, latched tlio gate and wont slowly up the village. displacing tlie blunderbuss, I crept buck to bed. At dawn I fell into a fitful sleep. Still dreams of Sheen haunted mo, and I woke with the sound of his voice in my oars, as lie talked witji my mother in the romp, below, speaking louder than usual on account of her deafness. Springing out of bed, I dressed as speedily as possible, and hurriedly reassuring myself that the precipijs box was safe behind the old qlothos-pross, that filled a good part of the room, X mad o haste downstairs, fupiqijs at being PWlgflt wnping. Fully persuaded (bat Sheen had not mentioned the object oi his visit to ray mother X was resolved to keep him at bay, at auyruto until ho had agreed to my terms;* thflf half the booty should be mine. CHAPTER IV. Sheen quite filled the armchair that stood by the hearth in the kitchen. It was sacred to my mother’s use, hut she was bustling round, getting the breakfast, and he-was improving the occasion like an o|d friend. I walked over and kissed my. mother, a salute she returned more coldly than:usual. “Why did you not toll me last night, Caspar,-that you had mot a friend of your uncle Ronald’s in the village?” she scolded I glanced at Sheen. A smile, half conceit, ha|f disdain, spread slowly over his mobile face. Jlo evidently reckoned he had ’scored. “Good morning, Captain Sheen,” I said, with difficulty forcing myself to bo civil, as I added sympathetically: “Npne the worse for-your lato hours, X hope?” . ■ _ , “Npt at all, my ' lad.” ho 'answered jauntily. “Yon haven't replied to my question,” said my mother. “Come, now, tell your mother why you did not say anything to her abo ft your uncle’s pld mo-to,” the Captain chimed in. It was a difficult game and he certainly held spine trumps. Half an hour's start was qne, and the fact that ho knew hpw to manage a woman, was another; hpw to pander to her vanity anti lo play upon her weaknesses iu a hundred ways. Besides, what story had he already told and how was I to lead? “I intended tplijng you this morning, mother,” X gaid, “bub Captain Sheen ha-; caught me napping.” “You should give some of the time you waste oyer your trashy books to the improvement pf your memory,” she replied with irritation. Having sa'd which she hastily left the'room, banging the door after her, and the Captain s eyes sought mine inquiringly. I “Well?" he suggested. i “Well?” I repeated, imitating - his tone. ‘‘A capital opportunity,” he urged, with a cock of'his eyes towards the room above. The stairs dopr was dust behind me I planted my back against it and dared him in sijencp, “Safely stowed aloft. I sea. Come, fetch |f down,” he commanded. “Look here!’’ I cried, nettled by his persistency. f‘l ! ya told you half-a-dozen times all-eady what I mean lo do. ' You know the terms.” Expecting an outburst by way of reply, I was somewhat surprised when ho only smiled placidly and'lifted bis big hand in slcju’ccaticm. ' i - ■ (To be Continued.}