Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1893 — In Sheep's Clothing. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In Sheep's Clothing.

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CHAPTER XXIV. RALPH DENHAM MAKES SOMS ARRANGEMENTS. Squire Condlt was a man of force. He could find no one to row him to the Sea Hawk, but he did find a canoe with a paddle in it; and in his younger days there was not an Indian on the bay who could excel him in the management of one of those unsteady conveyances. It is not necessary to recount the troubles he had in getting aboard the ship, where his coming caused no little consternation to the night watch. He found Lieutenant Hedges and Valentine Dayton very busy. He took them to one side, told them his astounding story, and brought Valentine back in his canoe. When the Squire found Ralph was in the house, and in his own room, he ran and caught the young Captain in his arms, and for some minutes he was so overcome by his emotions that he could not speak. Mrs. Condlt, good, prudent woman, closed all the shutters, drew close the blinds, locked the doors in the direction of the servants’ quarters, and enjoined on all present the necessity of speaking in low tones, she herself setting an excellent example for them to follow. Though Valentine was fully prepared by Squire Condit's stcry to see Captain Denham, the whole affair was so sudden and startling that he could hardly credit his eyes, even though he held his friend's hand and heard the familiar sound of his voice. It was Dinah who took it on herself to tell the danger they found Ralph in when they returned to the hut, and to give an account of the disposition they had made of Uncas. After the first inevitable excitement of the meeting was over, Ralph 4,00 k command. He felt as if he could talk as easy to Valentine as if they were alone, and he was anxious to learn of everything that had transpired on the Sea Hawk since he left, and particularly since the second coming of the W anderer. Valentine knew enough of the captain's story to be convinced of the unparalleled perfidy of Fox, but before learning of this, the suspicions of himself and Mr. Hedges had been aroused by incidents which he proceeded to narrate.

He said in substance: That neither he nor Mr. Hedges suspected for one moment that the Wanderer did not go New York and leave Captain Denham there. He brought from the ship the letter Thrasher had given to Mr. Hedges, which letter he claimed he had brought with post haste. “It is very clear to me,” said Ralph, “that this Thrasher is in Fox’s service, though the letter he first brought, ordering me to report to the governor, I am satisfied was genuine.’’ “The whole matter is still mysterious to me,” replied Valentine; "though now that I realize that we are In such close proximity to Captain Kidd, things before very dark are getting much clearer. But I was going to tell you what we have done. Fox ordered Lieutenant Hedges to send all the fixed ammunition on board the Bea Hawk to his ship * “He wanted to leave you powerless, * Interrupted Ralph; “but tell me that this thing has not been done.” “I will explain, and I think you will be satisfied. Fox told us that you were coming on with a supply ship, and that by the time the Sea Hawk was ready to sail under your command, we should have all the ammunition we wanted. "All this looked most reasonable, so this evening and all night, up to 10 o’clock, we were getting the ammunition out of the magazine, which Is full of cases, one-half of them, as you know, are full of copper ingots we captured from that plratd last April, off the Isle of Pines.”

“I remember,” replied Captain Denham. “It was Lieut. Hedges’ honest intention to send all our fixed ammunition on board, as the W anderer’s boats were to begin coming for it at eleven o’clock. But a half hour before that time—say two hours ago—a young black man suddenly appeared on the ship, and his dripping clothing told how he had come. * “Dat was Tello; I know dat was my gran’chile, Tello," chuckled Dinah. - “Yes, Dinah, he said his name was Tello, and I recognized in him the servant of Col. Graham, who is here on some mysterious mission. ” “But pardon me, Vai; what was this black boy’s object in coming here?’ “I will explain. Captain; there is so much to tempt one off the lin > of direct sailing that I lose sight of the point ahead. Well. Othello drew the lieutenant and myself to one side, where no one else could see or hear, and then he took from his big mouth a letter carefully wrapped up in oiled silk, and told us to read it.

“We took him to the cabin, gave him a glass of brandy and a change of clothes, and then read the letter, which was signed by Donald Cameron, the cabin boy of the Wanderer. I have the letter with me, but as it is a little long I will give you a synopsis. He says he is sixteen years of age, was born in Glasgow, and was cabin boy last on an Indiaman, which was captured and destroyed off the Island of Madagascar by Capt. Kidd. He was the only one saved, and since then he has been Capt. Fox’s cabin boy. “Kidd changet his name to Fox after he had captured and burned an English war sloop named the W’anderer, commanded by an officer of that name. The Wanderer was once the Adventure Galley, of New York. In conclusion, Don says, ‘Do not send any ammunition from your ship. Kidd’s object is to capture the Sea Hawk. Be prepared.’ And then Don gave a brief account of what had become of Captain Denham, and asked that his letter be destroyed. ” “Then the Lieutenant will not send anything to the Wanderer?” said Ralph. “Wo talked the whole matter over, Captain, and had just reached a < onclusion when the Squire cam? so unexpectedly on board,” said Valentine. “And that conclusion was that you would still go on as if you did not suspect this fellow, and, that, instead of sending this ammunition on board the Wanderer, you would send the cases filled with copper, which looked like ammunition and are of the same weight?” “That is exactly what we decided to do, and I now see that we acted wisely, for our conduct meets your approval. While I am telling you this, the Wanderer’s boats are carrying off the ‘ammunition’ and stowing it in their owp magazines.” 'Well done, Valentine. Ah, I knew the ship was in good hands. There is

not on the ocean a more competent, cool-headed man than that same Georae Hedges.” “I wish we could say the same of hia brother, the doctor,” growled the Squire. “Uncle Nehemiah is infatuated with Fox," said Valentine. “But if he suspected his real character, there is not a man in the country who would pursue him to justice more relentlessly. ” “That’s so,” said the squire, “but it does gall me to see an old friend make a plagued fool of himself.” "Apart from the ammunition, what other favor does Fox want?" asked Captain Denham. “This evening he called on Mr. Hedges, and said that the Wanderer was going to drop down with the tide to-morrow evening, and take a position off Montauk to watch for the pirate, Kidd. ” “The audacious villain!” exclaimed the Squire. “He said that fifty of his men were unfit for duty, and in the event of a fight would be in the way, so he suggested that he send his fifty men on board the Sea Hawk and take fifty of ours." “What reply did the Lieutenant make?” “He said he would let him know in the morning." “Valentine," said Captain Denham, rising to his feet. “The men must be sent from the Sea Hawk!” A murmur of surprise from all, which increased when Ralph added: “They must be picked men who understand in advance what is needed of them, and they must be commanded by an officer in whom they have every confidence.” “The Sea Hawk men have confidence in all their officers.” “True, Vai; but Ido not think they will hesitate an instant when they know I am going to lead them.” Another gasp from the people, and Valentine said hurriedly: “But Fox does not want an officer." “I see through his purpose, and I propose to meet fire with fire. The very measure by which he hopes to secure success must be made to result in ruin. I can disguise myself after I have met with the men. Fox supposes me dead, or as good as dead. The sick men he sends on board the Sea Hawk must be received. It will be found, if they get a chance, that they are strong enough to murder our people and seize the ship. Ha, we shall adopt his tactics. His men must be made sick enough. ” “Let me mix ’em a drink, en I’ll see ez dey are all sick ’nuff,” said Dinah. “It will be daylight in a few hours; I must go aboard and perfect all the arrangements at once,” said Ralph, rising. “Hear me before you leave,” said Untilla, who had remained an attentive listener, “I think I can help Captain Denham.”

“You have already saved my life, you and Dinah, my trusty friends," said Ralph, giving a hand to each. “When daylight comes, I will send Uncas back a prisoner to our head men, whom his conduct has sorely offended. Till he changes the Montauks will obey me." “Another noble Zenobla,” said the Squire. “They will obey me, and I can bring to-moriow two hundred warriors all well armed, and place them on board the Sea Hawk, if they can be of any use there. Many of them, as Ralph Denham knows, are good sailors, and all of them are as much at home on water as on land. If Ralph Denham takes fifty men to the Wanderer, and 1 like the plan, the force of George Hedges will be weakened so much. If you agree I will wear the plume and carry the spear of Wyandauch, the insignia of our chiefs, and the Montauks will then follow Untilla to the silent tents of death if need be." While Untilla spoke, her beautiful face became radiant, her lithe form was drawn up, and her eyes burned with a light like unto that which inspired the followers of Joan of Arc when on the eve of battle she flashed along their lines. “ Ha, the Montauks have at length a chief worthy of Wyandauch. I accept. I gladly accept, noble Untilla,” cried the Captain. “But what will Fox say?" asked Valentine. “He need not know It. To-morrow night they can board the Sea Hawk from their canoes. Hedges and you must see to that," replied the Oaptain. “Come, Dinah; you must help me. I will be here again to-morrow before the sun is in mid-heavens,” said Untilla, bowing in her graceful way and going out, followed by Dinah. .Ralph would have left a note for Lea, but he feared it might fall into other hands and defeat his scheme. Mrs. Condit promised to send for Lea in the morning, and that she and Ellen would then explain everything and enjoin her to silence, though v ith a girl of Lea’s good sense that precaution would be unnecessary. “I tell you, my boy,” said Squire Condit, as he stood with his hands on Ralph’s shoulders, and his eyes and voice telling of his anxiety, “that I don’t at all like your doing what you propose. Consider that you have escaped from the lion’s den and the fiery 1 urnace, and that it may be tempting destruction to place yourself again’ in the power of those sons of Belial." “Knowledge is power. There would be cause for alarfti if they knew what Iwe do. I and my men will go prepared ! for every emergency. The fight will take place near Montauk, and the I Wanderer is the more powerful vessel i of the two; she has fully seventy men I more than the Sea Hawk. Leave it to I me. father, and trust me.”

“I do trust you, my boy! I always have trusted you, and you have always shown yourself to be worthy. May God bless and prosper you in this contest for right.” Ralph kissed Mrs. Condit and Ellen, and \ alentlne, by virtue of his recent right, did the same, and both went down to the shore. They put off in the canoe which the squire had used, and they had to wait some time till the boats of the Wanderer, laden with their last cargo of “fixed ammunition,” had left the Sea Hawk, before they could get on board without attracting attention. Ralph Denham still retained his disguise, so that Lieutenant Hedges did not know him at first, and could not be convinced that it was he, till they had entered the cabin and turned up the lights. Othello had learned from Don, the cabin boy, that there was to be a reception on board the Wanderer the following afternoon at 2 o’clock, and that Doctor Hedges and his daughter were to be there. Othello was brought from his hidingplace, in the cabin, to confirm this, and, on seeing Captain Denham, who had laid away his disguise to satisfy Mr. Hedges, his eyes threatened to leap out of his head. Though Othello did not look to be very bright, he was by no means a fool; he had inherited much of the shrewdness and originality that made his grandmother so remarkable. He told a great deal that he had overheard, much of it of value. And he gave much

Information about his master, whose real name was I.ord Paliton, and he startled Ralph by saying: “My mas’r come from Englan’ all de way har, for to git dis man, ez call himself Fox, foh to kill you, sah.” “But why should Lord Paliton, of whom I know nothing, wish me dead?” “Dun’ know, sah; I’ve tot ’bout dat, en I couldn’t jes’ see why it was so, onJess he didn’t like you,” replied Othello, conscious that his reasoning was in some way defective. Othello was taken back to his hidingplace. and Captain Denham and his two lieutenants began their consultation. The Captain’s scheme, proposed at Squire Condit’s, was indorsed by Mr. Hedges, with the exception that he did not at all approve of the Captain’s going with the men who were to be sent to. the Wanderer. “I think, Captain,” said Mr. Hedges, in his deliberate way, “that the place for you is on the quarter-deck of your own ship, and let Mr. Dayton or myself go.” “Your argument would be right. Lieutenant, if this were an ordinary matter. But you must bear in mind that Fox and his men think me out of the way.” “lam aware of that.” “To find me in command of my own ship would force Fox to change his plans, and the chances are he would get away, for he dare not risk a fight, though he is the stronger. If he is crippled, he is gone as surely as if he were sunk. Our object is not to avoid this fellow, but to capture him. “That’s it, Captain,” said the officers. “Good. Now if I had fifty of my fine fellows on board, and he has four times that number of his, we are the stronger. For we can strike when we please, and we will only please to strike when the Sea Hawk is into the fight. You must command, Hedges. No man can do it better; and before the week is over, the Sea Hawk will have added another victory to her exploits. ” “Whatever you say, Captain. I was only thinking of the trials you have had.” “Ah, Fox invited me on board his ship last time, and played me a scurvy trick. I will go back to the same ship and show him how Ralph Denham and his gallant lads can play him a Roland for his Oliver. Bring the ship’s list, Mr. Dayton, and let me look over the names. ” [to be continued. J