In Strange Company

er, and, as Captain Boulger was careful to impress upon his passengers, "the Island Queen hadn't her equal in the whole of the South

risk he had taken upon himself, and he had therefore no desire that anything should occur to impede or delay his departure. As far as his own powers went he had small fear, for he was in every wa

notice of a Congressionalist cruiser; for a voice hailed them out of the darkness as they swept past, and receiving no answer gave utterance to a succession of orders, which were followed by the shrill chirruping of a b

e the repeated close things they were then undergoing served to remind them that they must not be in too great a hurry to believe themselves safe. Though they might count themselves almost o

of their destination. The outcome of these thoughts was a serious reflection. Could Juanita be in league with his enemy? He asked himself this question with a good deal of anxiety. That they had had dealings together in the past he was perfectly aware; what therefore more probable than that in such a gigantic enterprise as the present, where such a fortune was concerned, she should deem it the safest policy to stand in with both parties, and if possible to hoodwink and

. Overhead the stars shone as only tropic stars can, and their myriad radiances were reflected in the coal-black water, till it had all the appearance of an ebony floor powdered with gold-dust. But they would not be reflected there long, for the sea was not now what it had been inside the bay. A heavy swell had set in, and the littl

hers with the first real sign of protectorship he had s

gle that made walking almost impossible. Eventually, however, with the assistance of the mate, who had taken ch

ional length was imparted by a carefully-trimmed goatee beard. His eyes, a peculiar shade of grey, peered at one from beneath enormous bushy eyebrows. His voice was deep and rumbling, his utterance slow an

the need she might some day stand in of a friend, she resolved to address herself to his subjugation without unnecessary delay. On his side, in spite of her manly a

his life), descended in search of supper. He was a nice-looking young fellow, well set up, very muscular, and tanned by constant exposure the colour of mahogany. Seeing Ve

ething. "The schooner rides easier than I would have expected considering w

up the companion-ladder, to reappear a few minutes later with a shock-headed, shambling urchin, of about sixteen

d; he knows all about everything, and he's a son of a

range their respective cabins. Whereupon Craws

e berths cleaned out, or I'll break every

anita had therefore one on either hand to choose from. She ultimately decided upon that adjoining the skipper's; Veneda taking the berth next to Crawshaw. It was a fortunate thing for both of them, but especially for Juanita, who otherwise would have been compelled to make the whole voyage to Tahiti in man's attire

ain sharp dashes of spray rattled on the deck like hail. As she had everything in her favour, the schooner's motion was comparatively steady. Lookin

proffering a cigar; "if this weather conti

s; "but don't you reckon we're always going to be as lucky as this. It's not all p

you on the way you got us out of the ha

lugubriously. "But what about the next time I want to go into Valparaiso;

paid for the unpleasantness, my friend

say anything about that. But nothing was ever mentioned ab

myself; I thought we

at the money. And, look here, Mr. Veneda, my mate tells me something a

he won't trouble you. We'

to let you slip so easily; and what's more, if he knows the name of your boat, he'll nail you by cable in

at, by your own argument I'm quite safe," Veneda said, throw

s, if he don't know it

deuce could

statement knowing his facts to be all right, "and because, just as we'd got way on her, he came alongside and tr

ead her name?" Vene

't have helped it if he had eyes

f the discovery of the means whereby he had obtained his fortune, but of the disclosure of the precious secret which guarded it. I

elow. A swinging lamp lit the saloon, and in a gilt mirror upon the bulkhead

to be frightened; besides, who knows? He was so excited that it's j

r pains nor money would be spared to ensure revenge for this last and most glaring piece of treachery. Consideration of these matters kept him tumbling and tossing in his bunk till long after midnight, to the accompaniment of groaning timbers, skurrying rats, and the crash of seas again

the dingy little disc that served him as a porthole. His joy at finding it was only a dream was intense, and while under the influe

elling sails, white as snow in the brilliant sunshine, made up a picture that found a responsive note in the relief which filled Veneda's heart. A cheerful smoke issued from the galley, at the door of which the shock-headed boy, "Old Nick," was engaged cleaning knives. Perhaps as the effect of the lovely morning, the captain showed himself a li

a colour into her cheeks that made her, so Veneda could not help owning to himself, more than usually lovely. For half a moment he wondered why he should not trust her, and the temptation came upon him to forget his original intentions and to embody this splendid creat

voyage Veneda had once more entertained serious thoughts of casting his previous apprehensions to the winds and risking everything. Her behaviour was certainly calculated to disarm suspicion. Never, by even as much as a hint, did she lead him to suppose that she was in any way desirous of learning his secret. Her tr

der reefed canvas, seemed like a thing of life. Her canvas towered aloft into the ghostly darkness, and the wind in the rigging and the drum of the seas

l the evening, out of which state Ve

g closer to his side, "does it ever occur to yo

a question?" he replied. "Do you thin

rtnight now, and there is not much variety on board a boat the size of the Island

So that settles

to England in a mail-boat? It would

t have discovered our departure, and we should

d n

bouts; we can choose our own

way will it

not deci

two. Then she said slowly, stil

You have decided, but

s to deny the accusation. But on seco

ust you. And what is perhaps more to the point, I don't intend to.

in her tone, she answered, "Perhaps you're right.

constitutional up and down the deck, just

them. It was more like a pleasure trip than a flight for life. Captain Boulger improved upon acqua

te the captain proposed to touch, to obtain supplies. His passengers, he knew, though grudging the delay, would not be sorry

led Veneda to his side, and pointed to a

t?" the ot

-sluice, Veneda's old anxieties rushed back upon him. In an hour or tw

mple blotch upon the clear-cut sea-line, the land had developed a decided personality of its own. An hour later they were c

n his gaining the deck the work of entering the harbour was proceeded with. Once they were inside and at a standstill, Veneda and Juanita departed ashore in search of luncheon. It was a new sensation for them to wander about toget

all manner of strange beings and things appertaining to those delightful seas. Therefore, when I say that Veneda and Juanita were fortunate enough to secure the corner table in the big room, and the services of that indefatigable person, I am, as you will agree, ensuring th

strangely sleepy, so much so, that when they had walked but a little way he expressed a wish to be allowed to sit down and admire the view. Nothing loth, Juanita consented, so down they sat awhile, talking, and gazing upon the panorama of sea and islands stre

eep, she must needs commence her search for the mysterious locket round his neck, which contained, she was convinced, the paper she was so desperately anxious to obtain. Perhaps in her hurry her touch was too rough, or Veneda was not so much overpowered with slumber as she imagined; at an

u woke; for I am going to be furiously jealous. And pray

er coolness to reply; then he replaced th

ture; the only remembrance I have of her. I will show it to you this evenin

completely. If he were telling the truth her surmises must be

im to show that he understood her attempt

e could be anything but what I had always thought her. However, Madame Juanita, the game is by n

ht the Island Queen ba

land from South America the previous week, sought the telegra

n Ma

l Post

y, N.

morning. Destination Thurs