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 XXV—Continued. Mrs. Hedges is a great admirer of Ralph Denham, and if she was the only one to consult, no obstacle would have j been thrown in the way of his union with her dau hter. It may surprise the reader to know that, in view of the incontrovertible knowledge these young ladies had of Captain Fox, that they should ever think of going on board his ship. But they had a double object; at least : they reasoned themselves into the belief that they had; and then they could not even imagine the act of perfidy contemplated by the pirate. They knew that the entertainment was a part of Fox’s scheme to keep the people of Sag Harbor blind to the actual purpose, the capture of the Sea ' Hawk. Again, Lea He iges and Ellen Condit were devoured by an intense curiosity —a curiosity which is said to be peculiar to the sex—to see Ralph Denham In his disguise, or rather to try and discover him in the disgu so. Certainly the latter was not a good 1 motive for going on board the Wanderer; but the world might not be so pleasant a place to live in if sound reasons could be given for everything that Is done. Promptly at two o’clock the young ladies,,after hearing many sage injunctions from their mothers, and dutifullypromising to obey them, went down to the bea h, where a long boat from the Wanderer was waiting to take the visitors on board. They met there • uite a number of young people, to whom an invitation was extended, and not a few of the older men, among them Doctor Hedges, who had been dazzled by Fox’s magnificence.

Although every man on the ship had been working with all their might beJare 2 o’clock, 1 hey now appeared in holiday attire, and the vessel was gay with treating. Awnings covered the quarter-deck, and the Wanderer’s musicians played a weloome as the boat came alongside. Captain Fox and Frenauld were there in all the glory of Iheir gorgeous uniforms, and they made no effort to hide their delight as they helped Lea and Ellen on board. But while careful not to attract attention by their wandering glances, nor to seem indifferent to the courtesies of their entertainers, their hearts were with the blue jaokets forward and amidships, and many a glance they cast In the hope of being able to distinguish Ralph Denham. A splendid collation was spread on the deck; and there were favors in the shape of gems and flowers for all the young ladies. , It was understood, of course, that there would be no dancing—there was ffio time for that; but there was much promenading, and, judging from the laughter that occasionally accompanied It, much delightful conversation. Every now and then Fox or Frenauld Would leave his guests, and go forward to issue a whispered order to a man in waiting, who would communicate it in the same way to the'sailors. The crew no longer stood in listless groups, but hurried back and forth, busying themselves with ropes and removing the bunting that was in their way.

About half-past four a shower —a most fortunate one for Captain Fox’s plans, came on, and he Invited all into ‘his luxurious cabin. As Lea was passing down from the quarter-deck, she laid her hand on a sailor’s shoulder, who was there for the purpose, and she heard Ralph Denham’s thrilling whisper: “My God! Why are you here?” To those coming behind it looked as if she had sipped; as it was she staggered into the cablln, white as a ghost. “Frenauld, I will go down and hold the attention of the people. Send a message to Hedges, tell him I have changed my mind, and he must follow me to Montauk in the morning. Do not waste a second in getting the ship under way. This is our chance.” “Aye, aye, sir,” replied Frenauld. Captain Fox spread betfore his visitors his wealth of pictures And rare curios. He showed them the erbam of the plunder of a score of gallant ships. <He dazzled them with strings of pearls. He flashed on them emeralds and diamonds till they forgot where they were. Meanwhile the anchors were being hoisted and the sails let down. Half-past five came, the turn of the •tide. The wind was in the west, and the 'Wanderer caught the breeze, and to the .horror of the crowd on shore, watching the preparations without seeing anything of their friends, the stately ship, like a great white bird, flew out of th«* 'harbor.

CHAPTER XXVL ■DOCTOR HEDGER HAS HIR EVES OPENED IK A VERT UNPLEASANT WAT. Doctor Hedges was the first one in the party to discover the ship was in anotion. He 'did not suppose that Capt. Fox knew it, ao:he shouted out: “Why, Captain, the ship is sailing away!” “I know it," said the Captain, with an easy manner and a smile, intended to calm the anxiety on- every face; “I wanted to close up the entertainment by giving you a little surprise. We shall take a sail of a few miles, wind and tide arc favorable, and before dark I will have you all safe at home. Don’t fear.* Fox, who was in the companion-way, waved his hand to his guests, and hastened on deck. “Bravo, Frenaul ” he said to his lieutenant. “Now get all the Sea Hawk men between decks, order them down for enrollment, and then see that they can’t come up again till we let them." “All right, sir,” replied Frenauld. The bunting, awning, tables, ans 1 ■»*- sicians had disappeared, and in evtAy way the pleasure ship at anchor was transformed into a war ship under sail. The guests, headed by Dr. Hedges, rushed anxiously on deck, and the former, with every sign of great nervousness, addressed Fox: “I and my friends, Capt. Fox, are certainly very much indebted to you for your kindness, but if it is all the same to you, we’d rather go back. It is near dark, the tide is setting out, and the wind is from the west.” “Confound it! I never thought of that. How foolish of Frenauld to get under way without letting me know this." Fox said this aloud, so that all could hear, and as he hurried forward to countermand the order to go back, as

they thought, not one of them, not even Lea, but believed it was as he said. Capt. Fox did not come back for twenty minutes or more. In the meantime, the sun had gone down blazing red, promising a fine day for the morrow. Dr. Hedges saw that the ship was brought about, but the wind and tide were aga nst hor, an t a continuation of the attempt to get back into the harbor must have resulted in sending the Wanderer ashore. “I fear," said Capt. Fox, coming back with an expression of sorrow on his face, “we are in for it; we can’t get back to-night. ” “But what are we to do?” asked Dr. Hedges, now thoroughly alarmed. . “1 shall anchor under the lee of Gardner's Island, and bright and early tomorrow morning I shall see that you a'l get home. I assure you, my friends, I deplore this very much, very much, indeed. But there is an abundance of cabin room for all; and we shall have supper, and then sleep till daylight. Now, go to the cabin, or, if you would prefer, remain here till we come to anchor." The people one and all preferred to stay on deck. There was not the shadow of suspicion against their gallant host; nevertheless there is a sense of personal ■gratification in seeing with one’s own eyes that a desired thing is properly done. Sail was shortened at once; this was a cheerful sign, and a man amidships shouted the soundings as he heaved tho lead.

It was not yet quite dark when the Wanderer brought up u::der the southeastern point ot Gardner’s Island. She came around with her head to the wind like a creature of reason, the anchors were let go ana the sailors clambered aloft to lurl sail. Ail this was very satisfactory, under very unsatisfactory circumstances, to Dr. Hedges. He was something of a philosopher, and he wished to be thought a decided one; to assuming a halt-rollicking manner he joked with his daughter and the other young people about their mishap, and tried to add to the humor of the situation by asking the young ladies how they would feel if Captain nddd was to come along in the night and capturb them all. Captain Fox, who overhead this remark, replied laughingly: “If Kidd succeeded, he would find a more prec ous cargo than ever fell to the lot of a pirate before. But if Miss Hedges and her companions fear that 1 and the whole crew of the Wanderer cannot protect them for one night, they should remember that we have on board fifty gallant men irom Ralph Denham’s ship, the Sea Haws, purely they will trust to them if it comes to a struggle." “We are not at all afraid, Captain,” said Doctor Hedges, who noticed the meaning glances which his daughter and Ellen Condit exchanged. Excepting Lea and Ellen, who alone knew the character of their host, and hence the great danger that menaced them, the visitors showed a laudable desire to make the best of a bad bargain, and Captain Fox successfully encouraged this spirit. A sumptuous supper was served, and after it was over musical instruments were brought out, with cards and all the games then in vogue. Between his efforts to entertain his guests, Fox would hurry on deck to con stilt With Frenauld.

“Well, Frenauld, how about the Sea Hawk’s men?" ' “Not the slightest trouble, Captain.” “‘Where are they?” “•On the lower deck. ” ■“Any giumbling?” “None, sir. I’ve sent them supper ■and their hammocks, telling them not to come on deck till morning, as no duty would be required of them.” “Did they say anything?” “Nothing. Oh, there will be no trouble with them! Outside of sailing matters, they are as innocent as children. ” “Of course thev are. Did you let them have lights?” “Yes; they wanted to play cards, and I could see no objection.” “Of course not. Poor devils, if they can find any pleasure in their situation let them do so. By the way, Frenauld. ” “Yes, Captain.” “We must land our guests bright and early; and, let me see —I will have use for the boats all night.” “Going ashore?” “Yes; we carry too much treasure, and we might as well guard against .contingencies by concealing some of it on this island. The men will be willing, and they must help. They will think lam interested in them, and it will •encourage them. You will see me again after my visitors are stowed away for the night. ” “Very well, sir.” Frenauld went about his business and ®ox went down to the cabin. Aided by Don, he -showed the people their staterooms, all little gems of plaees; and so well wsstthe Wanderer provided in this respect that he could have aeeammod.ated without crowding as many more. The most anxious man on board the Wanderer that night was Captain Ralph Denham. Ordinarily, his position •would net have been an enviable one; <the coming.of Lea and Ellen added an additional load to .the great responsibility he had assumed.

The men Jrom the Sea Hawk were in■stnucted to offer no objections to any (order that might be given, but to follow their Captain's example without attracting too much attention to him by their acts. When ordered to go to the lower deck, Captain Denham knew exactly what ft meant, though he did not expect that Fox would aim to render them powerless so soon, aod then the position prevented any observation of the pirate's action, which it was at this time necessary to know. The lower deck on which they foand themselves had kooks for hammocks, showing that it had been designed or used by sailors as a sleeping place. The place was limited, very close, and filled with that odor of bilge water which is intolerable to anyone but a sailor. Directly back of this place was the front partition separating it from the store room and the quarters of the subordinate officers. It was Captain Denham who asked for lights that the men might play cards till nine o'clock. The request was granted, and three or four parties, arranged by Captain Denham, sat down to play where they could be seen by any one ooming suddenly in. The better to carry out the impression of perfect contentment with their surroundings, as well as to obstruct the view, all the hammocks were strung. Captain Denham had been aboard the Adventure Galley after Colonel Livingston fitted her out In New York a few years before, and hence he was familiar with her construction, excepting that the cabin had been very much enlarged. Calling a few of the men about him, and Bitting in the middle of the floor, where no eavesdropper, if vhere were any, could overhear them, he said, in a whisper:

"My lads, It is Kidd’s Intention to keep ns down here. Tuo sailors nodded their heads vigorously to indicate that they understood this very well, as well as Captain Kidd, as they all now called Fox, d.d. “It won’t do to be caught napping. Two strong men can prevent our leaving here by the-way we came.” The sailors nodded w'uh equal vigor again, and kept longer at it “So we must make a way for ourselves that will lead to the deck, when by morning we hear the signal gun from tho Sea Ha.vk."

“I th.nk, Captain,” sail one of the men, “that we can cut through tho bulkhead witi our knives. One of the planks I tried a bit ago outs like old cheese, and I male a hole and saw some light through it." “Where.-" asked Captain Denham, rising suddenly. The sailor led him over to the bulkhead, drew out a wooden plug he had fitted to a hole, and told him to look in. The Captain did look In and the men were surprised that ho should look so long; but the Captain had good reasons for it. He saw inside a little cubbyhole of a room, with a candle burning, and a boy, whom he recognized as Don, the cabin boy, on his knees beside a little bunk. Waiting till tho boy rose, the Captain put his mouth to the aperture and whispered: “Don, don’t be frightened, we are the men from the Sea Hawk," An intelligent light Hashed over Don’s face and he looked to discover the exact place from which the sound came; but first he secure 1 his own door, to prevent ony one’s coming in on him unexpectedly. , Capt. Denham, seeing the boy’s objeot, drew his dirk, and pushed it into the hole, and the light flashing on the blade, Don approached the pluoe, and putting his lips to the opening he whispered: “I’ve just been praying for you and the mother at homo.” “Brave boy,” replied Capt. Denham: “you have proved yourself our friend." “Ana I am your friend,” raid the lad. “Can you help remove one of the planks between here and where you are? We are fastened in, but at the proper time wo want to be able to get on deck.” “I can and will help you. Go baok and wait,” replied Don. Capt. Denham and his men Went back, and soon after they heard a low gratin; sound, like that made byAhe gnawing of a rat. This was going on when a burly sailor, as warrant officer, to glvi tho man-of-war rank, one of the Wanderer’s crew, came into the place oocupied by Capt. Denham and his men, and in a hoarse voice called out: “Come, my lads, it is 9 o’clook; out lights, and turn in.” A cheery “Aye, aye” from the Bea Hawk men told that they hadheard the order, and the alacrity with which they swung into their hammocks, after putting out their lights, showed how willingly they obeyed It. Satisfied with this, the man, who carrioa a lantern, gave it a final flash over tho line of hammocks, and withdrew with a heavy step. [to BE CONTINUE'). ]