Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1893 — In Sheep's Clothing. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

In Sheep's Clothing.

By Capt. Ormond Steele

CHAPTER XXlV—Coiytlnued. The book was brought, and Ralph Denham, who knew the characteristics of every man on board, called out the fifty, or rather forty-nine names he wanted, end Valentine wrote ’ them down. "Now, have them assemble quietly in the ward room,” said the captain. Within ten minutes the sailors were gathered in the ward room, where lights were lit and the doors guarded. Captain Denham removed hie dis£tlse before meeting the men, but as they supposed he was in New York, their surprise and joy may be imagined at seeing him. As has been said, he knew every man present, and they had been boys together. He could trust them as implicitly as he could Mr. Hedges or Mr. Valentine. They were more than a lot of ordinary young sailors, they were seamen of rare intelligence, any one of Whom could manage the Sea Hawk if occasion required. They were volunteers, fighting for the honor and safety of the province in which they were born. Subterfuge was out of place with suoh men, so Ralph wisely concluded to tell them the whole truth, which he did, after first cautioning them to silence and secrecy. He told of his own adventures, who Fox was, and the plan he, Captain Denham, had decided on to capture the pirate and bring him to justice. While Ralph was speaking, the comments of the men, and the many shakes of the head, told that they were not taken by surprise so very much. “I have chosen you, my shipmates,” said Ralph, in conclusion, “not because you are braver and more reliable than the rest of the crew, but I wanted, or rather Fox wants, only fifty men, so as we have all been friends since boyhood, you will understand me when the time for action comes as others might not. ” The men would have broken into a cheer had not Ralph checked them in time.

Believing that Fox would not permit the sailors from the Sea Hawk to use arms, or that he might try to lock them up when the fight came, he made each man conceal two pistols and a long dirk on his person. A rallying cry was agreed on in the event of a fight at night, and the conduct that should govern each man; also the name Captain Denham was to go by, and the fact that they were to take no more notice of him than of their other companions till the time came, The arrangements were not perfected when day broke. Soon after Mr. Frenauld came- on board with a letter from Captain Fox to Lieutenant Hedges, asking if the men required would be sent on board. “Our men are volunteers," said Mr. Hedges, “and I have not the power to send them to another ship without their Dwn consent But last night I explained to them|that there was a chance, if they went with the Wanderer for a week, to have a brush with that traitor and dog, Kidd; so fifty of the lads are ready. ” “Ah,, that is good news. If we don’t show them Kidd,” laughed Frenauld, “then that fellow will behaider to catch than the 'Flying Dutchman. We have fifty or sixty men on the sick list whom we shall leave with you for a few days. They are not much under the weather, but I fear they have been indulging too much on shore. I suppose you are all anxious to have Captain Denham back.” Honest George Hedges could not reply to this with a straight face, so Valentine answered: “Oh, yes. But we can get along without him for a while. ” Within two hours the boats of both ships made their transfers, and Ralph Denham and his gallant boys were on the Wanderer. The sixty bearded ruffians who came on board the Sea Hawk did not look like men that ever had been sick, but they had a part to play, and it can be said, whether to their credit or not, that they played it exactly as Capt. Fox wished. CHAPTER XXV. THE WANDERER AGAIN WEIGITS ANCHOR. Captain Fox believed that he had Colonel Graham wholly in his power, and he bled him accordingly. In addition to the large sums the Colonel had already paid to his tool, he now gave him more, not so muoh, Fox thought, for giatitude as to insure his silenca about the crimes on Long Island, Bermuda, and Long Island, New York. Fox would not have been quite so comfortable with his aristocratic guest could he have known the truth. Before leaving New York, Graham had arranged with one of his tools to notify the governor at a certain dale that Captain Kidd would be about that time off the eastern end of Long Island; and this tool did his work well. The governor’s object in sending for Captain Denham was to put him on Fox’s track; but as there were no other ships in the harbor suited to this work, and Ralph Denham neither reported in person nor by letter, the authorities were perplexed, and the young captain was in disgrace. After Graham felt assured that Ralph Denham was out of the way, he would have given hundreds could he have communicated to Mr. Hedges, without danger to himself, that the Wanderer was commanded by Captain Kidd. Graham loathed and dreaded the man whom he had used so many years to further his own designs; and now as Fox told of his plans for the future, the Colonel was amazed at the man’s audacity and ingenuity. It was arranged that by daybreak of the morning that Ralph Denham and his men went on board the Wanderer, that Colonel Graham and his servant should go ashore to the 'inn, and make Immediate prepatations for returning to New York.

Othello, or some other servant squally skillful, was as essential to Graham’s ■comfort as his clothing and his meals. But when daylight came, and Othello did not report at his master’s door, as was his habit, that ■ choleric gentleman was highly indignant. In obedience to the Colonel’s request, a search of the ship was made for Othello, but he failed to reveal himself. One of the most active of the searchers, and the only one who could have thrown any light on the matter, was the shrewd Scotch boy, Don; and he did not think it to his interest to tell that he had seen Othello vanishing through an open port the night before, and swimming in the direction of the Sea Hawk. “Depend upon it, that old hag, Dinah, has sednced the boy off," said Fox. ‘And my advice to you is to go ashore fnd invoke the assistance of Uncas.

The old woman has been adopted by his people, and the boy is with her. Strange that the woman should live so long and never seem to grow older." Graham said he thought she was a devil, if ever one appeared in human form. “Yet,” he added, “it is strange, knowing us as she does, that she did not tell the people. Supposing she were to say that your name was not Fox, but William Kidd.” “Why,” laughed Fox, “the people Would say she was insane. But if she had told them before Ralph Denham’s death the story of his father’s murder and the fact that he was Lord Paliton by right of birth, why, then the people would begin to investigate, and, egad, they might find it to be true; eh, Colonel?”

Col. Graham made no response, but the glitter of his cold gray eyes told how Fox’s words maddened him. To get out of this man’s hated company, as well as to institute a search for his runaway servant, Graham went ashore before breakfast, immediately after the men arrived from the Sea Hawk. He would not have descended to the boat so steadily had he known that one of the men on whose shoulder he laid his hand to steady himself was Ralph Denham, whom he believed to be dead. As soon as Graham left, Captain Fox and Guy Frenauld went down to the cabin, where they found Don in attendance, looking as docile and innocent as if never a thought of revolt had entered his mind. “Go out, Don, and see about breakfast, Mr. Frenauld and I wish to be alone,” said Fox, and the lad bowed low and retired. “Egad, Frenauld,” said Fox, striking the table, “we are in luck. If the powers in New York don’t visit me inside of twenty-four hours with a strong fleet—and I know they haven’t gQt one—l’ll sail within the week with my two ships right into the harbor, and unfurl my flag before their eyes, to show I set them at defiance. ” “But will that pay?” asked Frenauld, alarmed at the Captain’s proposal. “Pay! Confound it, man, the true sailor doesn’t think all the time of prize money; he must give some thought to glory. ” “Then you feel that we are sure of the Sea Hawk.” “As sure, Frenauld, as that you are ■ sitting there. Why, sir, the ship ia at this moment virtually in our possession. Our fellows will do their work when they see my signal. Hedges cannot have more than eighty men left on the Sea Hawk, and suspecting nothing, they will be wholly unprepared for our onset." “It is certainly a splendid scheme, and I cannot see why success shout! not crown it,” said Frenauld. “Success will crown it, sir. Never feel half-hearted or in doubt about a matter in which you are interested. Your own confidence inspires success, and men who enter battle determined to win always succeed if they are well led."

“You are quite right there, Captain. And now as to the plans?” “It will hardly do, Frenauld, for us to put the Sea Hawk’s men we have on board between the decks till we get out of sight of the town. When tho fellows see that their choice lies between walking a plank and taking service with me, they will swear allegiance to the black flag; but for that I care nothing one way or the other. “These fellows are brave, but they are Puritans, and so will not make contented freebooters. Gad, Hedges! he is a gallant sailor, but it is inevitable. Well, as to our movements —we get under way when the tide is on the turn, and go down with the ebb.” “That will be at half past 5.” “About that.” “And as to this reception?" “It comes off, Frenauld. Don’t you understand it?" “I must confess I cannot see what you are to do with the people that come on board, unless you land them here,” said the lieutenant.

“Toland part and hold the rest would be to alarm thiß and all the adjoining settlements, with their swarms of canoes and boats, and also to place in doubl our success with the Sea Hawk. We must take Ail hands and land the party, except Miss Hedges and Miss Condit, at the eastern end of Gardner’s Island. A bold scheme, but you do as you are told, and leave the rest to me.” Captain Fox rang a bell, and Don came in at once with the breakfast. This over, the officers went on deck, and the arrivals from the Sea Hawk were set to work preparing the Wanderer for the cruise she was to begin that day. It was still early in the morning when Captain I'ox went ashore. Nearly the first man he met was Dr. Hedges, who told him that the people were very much divided as to the propriety of arresting the post-rider the night before, and that he, Dr. Hedges, thought it would be wise to let the man (to. “I did not arrest him without orders, and I cannot release him without breaking them. The man is well cared for, but he is a criminal, and he will hang as soon as I get him to New York,” said Fox. “Es c 1 at man don't die till den, ee’ll lib forever," croaked a voice directly behind Fox, that made him jump and turn as if he had been pricked by a sword. “Ha, you hag!” he said, recognizing Dinah. “Where is your grandson that you caused to run away from Colonel Graham?” “Ye’d bettah go ax Cap’n Kidd dat question. Ha, ha, ha!” and Dinah laughed and shook herself, and with her head to one side peered up in Fox’s red face. “Old Dinah is crazy, Captain Eox; you must not heed her," said Doctor Hedges, leading his friend away. “I am sorry,” said Captain Fox* “that the people of Sag harbor, to whom I am indebted for so many courtesies, should think I would do anything unbecom'ng an officer in her majesty’s service.” He was feeling in hie pocket as he spoke, and now, to the doctor’s surprise, he pulled out a large silken purse, filled with gold, and continued: “I have been anxious before s'arting on this cruise, from which, as there is chance of a heavy fight, I may never return, to do something for the poor and dependent of your beautiful town. Take this purse, my dear doctor, I know not how much it contains, and give it to those who may need it. ” The Doctor, who was an exceedingly kind-hearted man, took the purse—its weightsurprised him—and as he hid it away, he said: “We all hope that you will return, and, though some may be angered by what they do not understand, I am sure you will not leave a foe behind you. ” “I know I shall leave one true, earnest friend,” said Fox, seizing the Doctor’s hand and shaking it effusively. “Now, my dear Doctor, as I have business with her Majesty’s messenger, Colonel Graham, I must leave you, and shall expect to great you and your estimable family on board the Wanderer this afternoon. " The Doctor said he would surely be there, and then he hurried home to give Lea and her mother another evidenoe i- - . n ,

of Captain Pox’s princely generosity and Christian ihoughtfulness. He found Ell an Condit at his house, and told her that he would go up soon to see her father, whose extraordinary conduct of late puzzled him pot a little, and made him extremely anxious for his old friend’s health. “I think, ” said Ellen, “that father is feeling very well; but if you go up to the place thi- morning you will not find him."’ “Whereis he?” “On board the Sea Hawk.” “Why, he spends half his time there." “to mother and I tell him, Doctor, and we should not be at all surprised to see him return, at any time, dressed as a sailor and walking with a rolling gait, while he shouts to us that he has enlisted." said Ellen, smiling. “Oh, Heaven forbid. But, of course, Ellen, you will attend the reception on board the Wanderer this afternoon’” said Dr. Hedges. “Yes: Lea and I were talking about that We think so.ne of the officers and men on that ship are the *iost delightful—’’ “Ah, Ellen, Ellen,” laughed the gratified doctor “I’ll not tell Valentine; but don’t say that again. And so you really think rhat some of the officers and men on the Wauderer are very nice, eh?“ “I do, indeed,” replied Ellen. Mrs. Hedges, up to this time, had never kept a secret from her husband. She would not have kept this one were it not that she feared he might crive it publicity and so defeat the plans of those who were working to beat Captain Fox at his own,game. |TO IE CONTINUED.!