Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 May 1893 — In Sheep's Clothing. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In Sheep's Clothing.

BY Capl. Ormond Steele

CHARTER XVl—Continued. “So, I must return; it is better that we should talk Kfere; I wish to speak about Ralph." “XVhy, Ralph has gone to New York. lie sailed with Capt. Fox.” “So I heard, so I believed; but did Capt. Fox go to New York?" “Certainly, there cannot be any doubt ibout that, for a.letter came only a few hours ago from the Captain.” “That is strauge,” said L’ntilla, drawing her little red hand across her brew. “But why should you think it strange?" “I cannot explain, Lea, I do not quite understand the ground for- my dread, but I fear that some great harm has befallen, or is about to befall, Ralph Denham.” “But who could harm him. Your brother does not like him, I fear; but Unc is, chief of the Moutauks, is not a coward.” "I cannot answer for men wno do not reason, not even for linens when he bends ius head to catch the words of white tempters. This Capt. Fox did not sail for New York. His ship remained for nearly a day off Montauk, and then he sailed to the south, after leaving some of his j eople on shore." “how do you know this? Did you see it?” asked Lea, excitedly. “I did not see it, but those who told me would not lie." “May there not have been a good reason for this?” “Yes; but I can but think it means harm to Ralph.” “He can take care of himself.” “One man would be weak in tho presence of a ship lull. I know Ca.pt. Fox is the enemy of Ralph Denham, Has he not met my brother, and roused his anger until he has been a domoa ” ”i am amazed!” gasped Lei.’ “And then this Col. Granam. Do you know that he visited this place twentyone years ago?" “You and I were not here then, Unt.lla.” * ‘True, but those are living who can recall him, though he is muon changed. He is the man wno brought Ralph here. ” “Who told you that?" “Dinah: she knows this Graham. She know ” “Stop dat! Don’t say too.nau.-h4 honey! De time foh de breakin’ ob dem ar seals! ain’t come yet,” The two girls turned around to find old Dinah standing benind them, with both her hands resting.orr the top of her long staff, and her ohm- resting on her hands. Untilla sprangtolior feet.and through the dusk of her oval cheeks the deep carmine of surprise, and, it may be, shame burned. “I feel, Dinah, that she, that Lea, should know what I Know,” said I’ntilla at length, “for her liio runs nearer to his than mine.” “Hush dat. Wy have' de news go ’broad ez ’ll ruin all? Let de story git wind, en Sag Harbor ’ll never see ’im ag’in. Can’t ye leave dat to me, ez as give twenty year of my .old life to de wok, foh to finish? De ind is nigh, do ind of my life, en de ind of acts ez is blacker ’n dis old dried-up skin. Ize watched ’im, en I’ll keep a watehin’. De sea dat swallowed de fader won’t be cruel to do son. Ralph Den’m’s day of de second trial hez come, on if he gits tru’ safe, den de. worl’ ’ll see who he Is,, en dem ez hoz turned up dele noses,, coz he’s no on’s son, jil git down en wo’ship at de feet of one ez hez de blood of de noblest in his veins.” The old woman straightened up as she spoke, and the girls looked at her with awe and surprise. Then and there she pledged them to secrecy, und when Lea said: “I have nothing to koep secret.” Dinah responded: “Don’t say ez ’ow we ever talked ’bout, Ralph Dmi’ih’s name. Wait till de worl’s ready to talk ’bout it. ,

CHAPTER XVII. THE LANDING. It was a dark night, with a stiff, southweet wind dashing mighty waves against tho headland of where the Indiana, in accordance with a treaty 1 , now kept beacons burning at night, for the guidanco of shins making their way to the waters of the Sound. The Wanderer had been out of sight of land for four days, when the lookout, up near the masthead, shouted out: “A light on the starboard doa!” Through the rala and the spray blown from the caps of waves by the ilerce midsummer 6torm, Captain Fox made out the light. an& at once took his place beside the men at the wheel, for, though under nearly bare poles, the little canvas out being close-reefed, the Wanderer was loapijvg across the waves like a race horse under i,iie spurs of a desperate rider. High above the wind that whistled and shrieked through the rigging, louder than the groaning of the spars and the mad dash of the waves, rang out tbe trumpet-like voice of Captain Fox. In anticipation of danger every man was on deek, and as quick as the orders were given they were ehouted out by the officers along the deck, and the men repeated them as they sprang to obey. There was not a light visible on the Wanderer, and, save the flickering gleam, which the Atom threatened to extinguish, on the distant headland, the world was enveloped in a darkness that could be felt On dashed the cruiser, till the beacon was well down on the left, now larboard and lee. As she rounded the point a flash of lightning, that made Fox utter a horrible oath, lit up the bay to the westward, showing that the headland broke the force of the w.nd and left the water comparatively calm. Just as the beacon on Montauk Point, was fading from view, another -light flashed close down to the shore and.not more than a mile ahead. At the Captain’s order, every stitch of sail went down with a run, and bo- p fore the treacherous tide could seize the ship, the command to let go both anchors was given. Then followed a dash, and a roaring noise, and a spurt of flame where the flying cables ignited tbe woodwork, and the Wanderer swung round with her head to the wind. “ That was an easier job than I expected, sir, ” said a dripping officer, coming back to where the captain was standing. “Tut!” replied Fox, “the man that couldn’t do as I have, isn’t fit to command a Yarmouth bloater smack. See that everything is made snug, and the watch set, then come below. We have other work before us to-night.” “Aye, aye, sir,” replied the officer, turning away.

“Give me a little brandy, Don, for I' am wet to the bone,” said Fox, when he entered the cabin. The cabin boy, with that alacrity that distinguished every one subject 10 this man’s orders, was about to start off, when the last word was uttered, but he was halted by a gesture from his master. “See here. Don.” “;Yes, sir." “Has the storm disturbed him?" Fox jerked his thumb in the direction of the cabin, Whfere Ralph was sleeping. “Not much, sir,” replied Doir “Has it disturbed him at all?” “I can’t say, sir. I only know that he has muttered in his sleep.” “You couldn’t make out what he said?" “He said once, ”tis a long, long voyage,’ and then called 'Lea. 1 " “The longest voyage be ever started on—a voyage from which never a craft returned that ever set out. But away, and get me the brandy.” Don hurried off. and Fox. lighting a candle, went into the room where Captain Ralph Denham was lying, as he had been lying for five days, wholly oblivious to the world.

Fox bent over and pressed his ear to the broad, slow-heaving chest. “Btrong as a lion. Gad, it seems a bit of a pity that such a fine follow 1 an only Serve my purpose in this way. If he were in league with our ships and crews, we wouldjhe monarchs of every ocean on which the sun shines. Vie could own rich argosies, and make treaties with kings. But the Palitons were ever either angels or devils, and this man is hot a devil.” He came out as he said this and noiselessly closed the door behind him. In the meantime Don had come in w.th the brandy, and Fox took a giass as another man might take water. He was in the act of setting down the glass, wnen the officer, whom he addressed on deck, came down, with his hat in his hand. “Take some brandy, Folsom. Has the rain ceased?” “I think so, sir,” said l-'olsom, smacking his lips, in anticipation of the brundy, and p oceeding to help himself. “Is the light'still visible on shore?” “Yes, sir.” “Frenauld is there. Signal him that I will be ashore in a short time. Get the. boat ready, but do not lower It. I am going to land my sick friend, ” said the captain. “I understand, sir.” “Select good, cool men, and when all is ready let me know.” "Aye, aye, sir.” Folsom, a heavy, dark-faced man, had his foot on the first step of the compan-ion-way, about to ascend to tho deck, but 1- ox stopped him. “See the steward. Tell him that Mr. Frenauld and his three men will be hungry when they come on board to-night. Put an awning up aft; I want to keep the rain from the sick man.” “Aye, aye, sir.” Seeing that Captain Fox waved his hand by way of dismissal, F’olsom went on deck. The ship's lamps we:e now lit and the watch was set. The ship swinging at her anchors, presented a very different picture from the wild bark plunging over the mad waves and through the darkness straight as an arrow s flight to her goal. In the cabins and forecastle the officers and men not on duty were soon eating their first meal that day, and 1 ongratulating each other that they had found a snug port, instead of being, as they had expected, opposed to the fury of the storm that night. Captain Fox was the only man on board who did not carry himself w.th an air of weariness. He was the embodiment of force and vitality, and could not feel tired so long as lie could stand. *Now, Don,” he said, alter the latter had brought in some articles in a lea 1 her bag, which F”ox was to take with him. “make up your own kit.” “Are we going to remain ashore, sir?” asked the boy, in surprise. “Ask no questions,” replied Fox, sternly; “but do as you are told.” From im adjoining room the captain took out a great many small boxes, covered with oilcloth, and piled them on the table. They would make in all several hundred poiinds, and represented the gems plundered from Indiamen during his piratical depredations. These parcels were worth in value the rest of the ship and and were set aside in the division as tho property of himself and F renauld. There remained still kegs of milled dollars from the Spanish Main, and ingots by the hundreds from the galleons of Acapulco, and stamped gold bars that would have doubled in themselves the fortune of the richest prince in Christendom. In addition, there was a rich freight of plate and pictures' of costly silks and lac-es or fabulous prices, witn tropical spicos and vines of greater value than ever floated in one ship before. Suits of antique armor plundered by the Portuguese from Hindoo rajahs, and intended for the deooration of the palace of their king; articles of rare workmanship, secured for a song in the then unknown marts of China and Japan; idols from the South seas, and the plunder of Malay junks, all til ed the hold of the orui9er Wanderer, but were as nothing in value to the boxes of rare gems covered up by those oilcloths. One of these boxes, after some searching. Captain Fox placed in the bag containing the clothing he was going to take ashore. He strapped on a belt that mu3t have been very heavy, for it was literally filled with small pistols of exquisite workmanship, but heavy caliber. This done, he went on deck, gave additional orders to the men wno were going to row him ashore, then called six men by name, and led them into the cabin.

These six men entered the room where Ralph Denham was lying, their slee. es pul ed i.p as men lometimes think it necessary to have them when they are about to li.t a considerable load. “Pick up the frame, bed aid all, and see that you don’t drop it as you value your lives,” said the captain, sternly. The men looked at each other in surprise, and then at the sleep ng man on the bed, and began their task. For six ord.nary men, the-bad with its occupant would not have be-no burdens to tbe six giants who carried Captain Denham to the dock, the load did not seem so heavy as their own wet garments. They placed the bed in the stern •shee s, over whi< li an awning had teen spread. The officers, Don, and Ihe men who were to row, now took their places. "Lower away there!” shouted Fox. There was a whirr of ropes, a cracking of blocks, and the men on deck let the boat down from the davits. The hooks were slipped out, the six oars caught (he water as if they had all been driven by one hand. Capt. Fox had the tiller, and under guidance the boat shot over the black waters towards the light which mo nentarily flashed up or was extinguished as the gig rose and fell in the' trough of the sea. As they neared the shore, Capt. Fox roM in his place and called out:

"Beat on your oar a.* Like an automaton under the control of its operator, the blades stopped, while the boat under its own Impetus sped on. ' “Ahoy! ahoy; ashore there!” shouted Fox. “Ahoy!” came tack the reply. “Is that Frenauld?" “Aye, aye, sir.” “Where can we land?” “Keep straight for the light. The beach is good and the sea low,” replied Frenauld, who had been anxiously awaiting the arrival of his commander. Again the oars caught the water. There was a moment of Hying spray as the boat leaped through the surf, and the next instant the oarsmen were in the water, and, with a shoyt and a rush, they had the gig and its strange cargo high and dry on the beach. Leaving the sailors who had come in the boat, and the three who had remained with Frenauld to exchange congratulations, Fox drew the latter to one side, and said: “Denham is In the boat.” “And still alive? asked Frenauld. “Still alive; I have trained Don to administer the drug, and he does it welL The boy is here with me. But hoW about the Indian, Uncas:” “He is near by.” “And still of the same mind?” “More determined than before, if that be possible.” “And, Frenauld, has the chief made arrangements for Denham?” “Yes.” “Far from here?” “About half a mile. The place is a sort of vault in an Indian burying ground," said Frenauld. “And you have found a place where we can hide our own booty? It makes me nervous to keep those boxes longer on board, so I have brought them with me.” “I can show you just the place in the morning. ” “But, Frenauld, I want you to go. on board to-night and take command. You must take the vessel back at once to Sag Harbor.” “To Harbor!” repeated the surprised Frenauld. “Yes; I shall be there nearly as soon as you are. And If that fellow Thrasher has earned his money, you will be the commander of the Sea Hawk before the week is two days older. But tell me; have you not a paper, a map of the place that I can use in the morning?” “I have, though I intended it to be used when we came back and wanted to take the plunder out of hiding,” replied Frenauld, as he took a paper from his pocket and handed it to the Captain. “Anything else to report, Frenauld?” “Y'es, sir; Colonel Graham is still here ”

“What! didn’t he goto New York?” asked Fox, starting back as if his officer had struck him. “No; he got sick and for the benefit of his health came down here among the Montauk Indians,” said Frenauld, to whom this information had ceased to be exciting. Fox hissed out a string of savage oaths, and both his hands worked nervously among the pistols in his belt. “How fur is Graham from here?” he asked when he could control himself. “Oh, it is several miles —half-way to Sag Harbor, and he is a guest of the chief. You need not fear that he knows anytlrng about our presence or our plans," said Frenauld, with a view to allaying his commander’s excitement. |TO BE CONTINUED. |