CHAPTER XVIII.

Thames Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 8609, 13 March 1897, Page 1

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE DOOMED SHIP.

It was a glorious summer sunset—sunset on the sea ; not a breath of air was stirring; the sails flapped lazily against the mast, while the pirate vessel lay atill and motionless on the glassy sea. The day had been, sod still watt, intensely warm; the hot rays of the tropical sun, strenming on-the deck, bad rendered it almost insupportable. An awning had been constructed whioterhad rendered tha burning heaVMtfMftifc more endurable; and »Uting^-WtgSjtk.it t gazingon the gorgeous scflU«^o]Hufier, was Kate Sidney. ',V:^'%'-:^ ■ Not a cloud moved over Ihe deep aaure firmament, save a few white, fleecy specs, looking, to Kate's eyos^fk* stray glimpses of ange's wings. Far down in the horizon the red sun was ■inking, tinting the sky with a brilliant purple, crimson, and told. The wavelesa oe*aa reflected the gorgeous dyea of the firmament on Us polished surface, making the still scene beautiful beyond description. The silence that reigned rendered it atill more impressive ; for the Bailors, overcome by the he \t, lay indolently lounging about the deck, or leaning over the aide of the vessel, to catch, if possible, a breath

of air. * ' : Everything on board the Water Witch was in the moat perfect order, the deck scoured to a moat shioinß whiteness.every rope hauled taut, everything in its plaoe —tor Captain Raymond maintained perfect order and discipline among hiserew. Kate sat'taking in the icene with. th« eye of an artist. Now her eye would wonder oter the gorgeous bat desolate scene a ound her, on which no li?ing thing was to be seen save themselves; then it would wander over the trim deck, resting fora moment on the swarthy, savagelooking crew—each one with along glitter* ingknifo stuck in his belt—their fierce 1 faces and evil eyes making her involumtatily shudder, as she thought of the many deeds of blood committed by them; again it would wander to the opposite end of the vessel, where leaning agaiast the bulwarks, itocdSyrs. (To be Continued.)