CHAPTER XIX.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 13485, 27 July 1907, Page 6

CHAPTER XIX.

' THE QUEEN OF THE MIST.

The long journey was nearly over, and tho lights of the great port of Hull were beginning to twinkle in the haze as Renton shook himself together. Once arrived at their destination, they did not proceed to a local hotel, as Cathcart had anticipated. On the contrary they drove as far as the village of Ancote, where they found quarters in the cottage of a North Sea pilot. They were evidently expected, for « comfortable dinner awaited them, and a cheerful landlady seomed glad to sec Renton. "Well, Mrs. Brodie," he said. "Is .your husband back yet?" " He'll be in with the tide," tho com-fortable-looking woman ropliod. " And the ' Queen of the Mist . is all ready to sail at daybreak, sir." Cathcart pricked up his cars. After all he had gone through lately the idea of having salt water under his foot was pleasing. " It's a tug I have hired," Renton explained. "She is quite a stranger to these waters, which is all the better for our purpose. I said I was going to give you a surprise, and you will find me as good as my word. But wo shall have some rough work before we are through." " What is the plan fif campaign?" " In tho first place, we shall start with the early morning tide on' a voyage ot discovery, John Brodie, our landlord, is an old friend of mine, and one of the |best pilots in the North Sea. Tho ' Queen of tho Mist ' is anchored up in a little cove not far from here. As tho expedition is a secret one, I preferred this place to Hull. Did you notice anything strange in the address of tho letter that Mostyn gave to Powell to-day ?f " Only that I knew the street in Hull," said Cathcart. "Only that? Tax your memory." " I've got it," Cathcart cried after a short pause. "It was addressed to the same place to which Bath despatched that strange telegram." "Right! To Jordan, 11, Sackville Road, Hull. The same Jordan is, or rather was, a North Sea pilot. He is a fine sailor, and as a pilot bad few equals. But he got into bad company and took to drink, was mixed up in several shady practices, and finally the Board of Trade cancelled his certificates. If I wanted to run contraband in here or anything of that kind on a dark night, Jordan is the very man I should select for the job." Cathcart was beginning to understand a little. He had despatched his dinner, and was prepared for a quiet pipe after a long day, but Renton would not hear of it. "We are going into Hull on business," ho said ; ' ' and we are going to walk. With any luck we shall be back by midnight." " It was past ten when they reached the seaport town. Renton led the way with the air of a man who thoroughly knows his ground. They camo at length to tho meanest street in the neighbourhood of the locks. Renton pulled hh hac over his syos and pulled his collar up, and Cath?arb did tho same. For some time the former seemed to be deeply engrossed .n watching the coaling or a ship, whist lis companion waited patiently.

A thick-sot man, evidently the worto for drink,; came rolling along the quay. He was followed by a slight, agile-look-ing individual, who seemed to be soliciting something.

"The big man is Jordan." *{cr J ™ whispered, " and drunk as usual. But that will not prevent Him troin bti,M; fit for anything in the morning. That's Ben alongside."

"And who might Bon be?" Cathcart asked.

" Ben is one' of my men. He's found oiit that there is something in the wind with money attached to it, and he's pestering Jordan to take him along. But all that is in accordance with instructions. "We camo here toi see Ben."

Jordan pulled up with drunken gravity. "I'm a North Sea pilot," he said, with a sonse of importance; "a credit to Hull, and what you call an acquisition to my native land. My enemies are too many for me, and poor old Jordan has lost his certificate."

"It's a burning shame," said Ben, with sympathy.

"It's nothing of the kind," the other retorted. "It servos me right! But there are other ways of making a living besides grovelling at the feet of the Board ci Trade. Ever heard of the Lugger Bank, Bon, my boy?"

'• Take mo along with yon ?" Bon said poi btuisiv<>ly. " I'll do nothing oi the kind," Jordan

• •>.!<! lirmiv. " I'm a b.:d lm and v (irui.keu ii •-!. but I in vt r led a ho\ as-lrav .\ei wliui had a respif J . .ible w idow lor m'iihjilum-. I toll yon thai I've got business on tbe Lugger Bank, and there's an end to it."

" I couldn't come on Thursday," Ben said artfully. "Didn't bay- it was Thursday," Jordan snapped. . "1 said the first tide in the morning. Xo, I didn't. I didn't say anything. G!o home to bed." Jordan lurched along majestically, having shaken off his companion, who had learnt all he wanted to know. Ben came up to Ronton with a smiling salute.

" I suppose you heard it all, sir," he said. " I saw you standing there in the shadow. Whatever game is on, it's about the neighbourhood of the Lugger Bank, and Jordan's going to be there with tho top of the tide in tho morn-

ing." " You've done vt rv well indeed," Renton said approving! v. " Seen anyone else?" " Yes, sir; thoi*e's a stranger stopping at Jordan's. He don't look like a seafaring man, but he's pretty handy en board a boa I. He sailed Jordan's yesterday as well as 1 could. But I can't find anything out about him.'' Roiiton nodded. lie appeared to be quite satisfied. " You have quite satisfied me," he said. " You will join tho ' Queen of tlie ISiist ' at Aneote before Jh<> tide turns. (Jooil -night, Ken."

(To be continued.)