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Show wi If a ;x J r lA Y rSs J 1 in W-Li'.t vK J WTEfWATIONAL PRESS ASSOCIATION. ' BY PtHMIiSION OF HAND.MSNALLY & CO.. (CIIAPTKlt VI. Conti.nccd). At the Towetf wharf lie lnntloil, pnltl 51b pnHFnRe and somothlim over, ami ivnlkcil nwny fiom the ilvor, taklni; Jci!rnl tuniB without hesitation or Inquiry, In-quiry, nnil finally making due enst for some distance. Another turn to tlm rlfiht broueht lilm. ns he had cnlru-lated, cnlru-lated, BtralRht down upon the river again nt WapplnK. In the not very probable ease of any one having nt-tempted nt-tempted to follow him from the nelgh-boihood nelgh-boihood of his own house, Ills rapid voyage down the river and his devious, course through these thickly populated streets must have completely Imllled tho pursuit. He stepped down to the water-side nn.l looked nt the half-dozen boats lying there. In a moment he was surrounded by their owners, each vociferously claiming tho passenger for hts own craft, warranted to be at once the safest and speediest on the river. Ho smiled, and (Those the one who made the most noise. This was u bright, open-looking young fellow who gave every promise of being as communicative com-municative as could be wished. Heforo they had gone half a mile he had Justified Justi-fied the colonel's choice of him by replying re-plying at great length to four or live tentative remailts; but though.lils companion com-panion was keeping a sharp lookout, nothing seemed to give lilm the opportunity oppor-tunity or Information lie desired. As the corner at tho lower end of tho pool enmo In sight tho colonel made another attempt. "You must have some Interesting characters," he said, "down here among the shipping and the sudors." "You may t.ay thnt, sir," was the reply; re-ply; "there's all sorts In Llme'us, from a spanking lass like Susie Oaylord down to old Nan with her black teeth nnd her fathom o" foul tongue behind "em." The colonel smiled. This might bo amusing, but It was not business, and he put It by. , "Ah, women," he salfl; "no doubt Ihcy are always Interesting, but I wiw thinking pf men, and stories of ndven-ture ndven-ture at sea." "Ay, ay, Blr," said the young man, "there may be a tnle or two about, but there's not much In men, to my mind; they're every erne ns like tho sther os a row of' bottles; but the girls, now, young and old, glib and glum, itupld nnd smart uns why, they're all llfferent, nnd ye can't but like to hear ibout 'em nil." Tho colonel smiled again, but ho was .nwardly dissatisfied; he felt that ho was far from curing to hear about all he fair ones In Llmehouse. The boat, inder the combined force of two strong irm3 nnd ebbing tide, jvus swiftly Hearing Hear-ing Us destination, and Ills opportunity would soon have passed unused. It was clear that some meuns must be found of prolonging the conversation, conversa-tion, for It would be dllllcult to open another with so willing nnd so expansive expan-sive a talker. , "It's a sharp morning," he said, "and It seems n long tlme'slnce breilkfnst; Is there n house near where we could llnd anything lit for n thirsty man to orlnkV" The boatman laughed knowingly, nnd with nn air of pride In the locality. "There's the Outwnrd Hound," he Bald, "where ye'll get better rum than ever passed the customs up yonder;" and he drew the boat Into the landing Heps. "Thnt will do," said the colonel;"wc'll take a glass, then, for good luck, for I Son't mind telling you thnt I'm In that lino Just now myself." "Are ye, though?" asked his companion, com-panion, looking nt him with more sympathetic sym-pathetic Interest; "why, I took -ye for a Krenehy." The colonel swallowed his national pride nnd grinned Sweetly. "I nm n Frenchman," he snld, "but I'm running a free cargo for all that; I'm down here now to look for n smart man who knows the trade." They had left the boat nnd wero now walking In the Wlrectlon of n tavern facing the river. On the sign-board appeared ap-peared n ship with all sails set. and at tho mast-head a large triangular patch of brilliant ultromiiilne. Intended, no doubt, to represent the blue-peter, the signal of outward-bound vessels. Tho Interior of the house proved unsavory, un-savory, so the famous rum was ordered out of doors Into a rude vcrnndn, which they had entirely to themselves at this early hour of the morning. "Yes," bald the colonel, smacking his lips critically over the lliiuor. "I want a man to help mo with u heavy cargo, and I'm told that 1 shall find down In these parts n certain Herman Johnstone, John-stone, who'll do It ns well ns another." "Ulack Johnny, eh?" said his companion; com-panion; "woll, ye may find him and ye way not; but I'll tell ye this there's no man like him If ye do." "Why should I not find him? Is he In hldlng7" "The revenue coppers have had an eye on him since that Ksmeralda business, busi-ness, yo know, and they say tho Admiralty Ad-miralty beaks 'd like to ask him soma questions, too, about the Jnmalca trade. Mind ye, I say nothing beyond what I'm told myself, but I've heard that tho Jolly Iloger and lilm have been fairly well ncnunlnted time and again." "Ah," said the colonel, "that's an old tale; but what's this about the Esmeralda? Esmer-alda? I've not heard that," And ho called for a fresh supply of rum 'or his companion, who Indeed required no such persuasion to start him splnnlm? his yarn. "Well, sir," he began, "It was this yivt' The Esmeralda was eff the south .coast at a convenient plac none sc. far from Portsmouth, nnd thno she, was for a week dodging about, nnd couldn't run In, seeing that the levenue men had won! of her, anil were out nnd about every night. So this Johnstone W yours hits upon a plnn. and Just like himself It was too. He goes to the cimst-guaid and gives Information that the Esmeralda's Esmer-alda's to be run on such a night, nnd volunteers to take the ofllcers to th" place himself. Sq they go, nenr a dozen of them, nnd watch round it corner till nil tho cargo's ashore, and then they Jump out of n sudden nnd collar the men, they not being more than six or seven, nnd tnken by surprise ns they seenied. So the coppers made them fast nnd begnn tn lond up the enrgo on n couple o" carts. Only, while they wore full-handed, down rami' linlf n score more on the other side, nnd the prisoners prison-ers they got loose somehow wonderful quick, nnd theie wns a bit of a fight, but no firing, yo see, the olllcers not expecting anything, nn more than the others had mnde believe to; nnd the long nnd short of It wns thnt the enrgo went iii the north road post-hnste, ns they say, and the coast-guard with It In their own carts, to keep 'em quiet for a bit." "Ilravo!" said the colonel; "that's tho mnn for me! And nil I've got to do now li to find him; do you know where lie lives?" The .young man hesltnted. ' "No," he snld; "leastways, not exactly; exact-ly; but Mrs. Ilrlggs within thete'll tell ye." This, however, Sirs. Hrlggs In lier turn was equally unwilling to do," though the colonel stated frankly tho nature of his assumed errand. She offered, however, to send for Johnstone IT the gentleman would be good enough to wait nnd see him at the Outward Hound. To tlili the colonel ngreed, nnd Mrs. Hrlggs disappeared In search of a trusty messenger. Tho wntermnn, wlio had by this time finished his second glass and had been liberally paid both In coin nnd thnnks, showed no disposition to hurry his departure; de-parture; ho wus evidently hanging about In hope of being a party to the Interview In-terview between two siiph Interesting personages. Tho colonel saw this, and recognized that the open vernndn'ln which they hnd bec.i sitting was too publlo n place for a discussion of tho kind he anticipated; antici-pated; for even If he could succeed In dismissing his present companion It wns free to nny passer-by to step In, or Indeed to overhear a conversation from the street. "So he rose nnd looked Idly nbout lilm for n few moments, nnd ended by drifting drift-ing rqund Into the bar. Mrs. Brlggs was there, and understood what he wnnted before he spoke. "You'll like to be alone, sir," she said; "there's nn empty room upstairs, two pair back; I'll send him up to you qb soon ns he comes; 'twon't be long nqw." The colonel stumbled up a narrow, rickety staircase, niled with dusty twilight twi-light and the smell of stale tobacco-smoke. tobacco-smoke. At the top he found the room. a low-roofed den, evidently used by the more Intimate customers of the house for secret potations after lawful hours. A heavy step outside, nnd turning lound he saw n man In sudor's dress enter the room. There was not n moment's doubt as to his Identity. There he stood, stout, swarthy, fierce, and resolute, as Est-court Est-court had dcscilbed him. Ills face wns In all probnblllty-moro wenther-bcaten nnd furrowed with deeper lines thnn when Dick snw him twenty years ago nt Copenhngen, but the force and choleric expression was there, and his hair was Jet-black still, "You've sent" for me," he said. "What Is It? Let's be short." Ills Jicrculcnn strength, the vlol'enoo of his speech and manner, the strange nnd disreputable ntmosphere of the place, nnd the Impossibility of escape from It, might well have Manned even a bravo man"; but the eolonel seemed to be serenely unaware of being In any way at a disadvantage, and took his own time and method of answering. "My name," he snld, In slow, precise tones, "Is Vllleroy, iind I -live for the present nt No. 12 Canterbury Square, Southwark. I am from time to time cngnged In Importing goods without tho nsslstance of the custom-house officials. I huvo Just now nn unusually dllHcult venture on hand, and I have come to London to engage n llrst-rate skipper." Johnstone's 'face relaxed n little. Ho was pleased with the compliment Implied, Im-plied, to say nothing of the prospect of active employment of the kind he loved. "Where you do want her landed?" ho asked, "Tho landing," replied the colonel, "Is not thq chief difficulty: It Is In taking the cargo on board that the dangei lies." "And where would that he done?" asked the other. "That," said tho eolonel, "I shall not tell you yet; but It's a good long voyago fiom here, and I shnll want to engage you for three months, certain." Johnstone reflected a moment, going over In his mind tho various ports from which smugglers cnnie to Europe. "Well," he said at last, "never mind. What's tho work?" "It Is work of an unusual kind," replied re-plied his companion, "needing skill, strength, and courage; but I'm told you don't shirk danger when It comes In the way of business." "Danger!" said the other, with rude contempt. "Oo on!" Tho colonel continued, In tho same measured voice. "The coaBt," ho said, "Is so wall kept by guard-boats that It will bo necessary neces-sary for i)3 lu loading the ship to make uso of a bout of entirely new design, propelled under wnter, and rising and sinking at the will of the occupant that Is to say, of yourself." Johnstone looked Inciedulous. "You Bhall see the plnns and Judge for yourself," said the colonel; "It Is In reality simple enough." "If It can be worked," said the other, wlt.i nn oath, "then I'll do It. Hut whul n cueer start of the coast-guard to Itcep th wo'i and not patrol the shore nt nil." 'Oli. ns to thnt, they do: but. the watch on shore enn be squnrcd," Johnstone nodded, "Whut's yout cargo?" he nsked, abruptly. The colonel smiled, and took a gold napoleon from his pocket. "It's got that head upon It," he snld, holding up the coin between his flu get nnd thumb. "Something stionglsh, eh?" said his companion. "Very strong," said the colonel, with dry humor. "And plenty of It?" asked the other. "Enough," replied the colonel, "to liven up every rilend I've got for soma time to come." Johnstone brought his fist down on the fable. "I'm your man," he said, "It you're my money!" "I nm prepared to give ou 10,000 francs, thnt Is to say, 100, for tho three months." "Double It!" "Certainly not," snld the colonel, With quiet decision. "My Ood! you shnll though," growled the other, with n hurdly suppresscJ threat In his gesture. 'Tour hundred Is my offer," said the colonel. Indifferently. "You may take It or leave It, as you please." "Nol" roared Johnstone; "I've got you! I know your name, nnd where yon live, nnd what you're up to, and you'll give mo n thousand, or I'll blow the game for you!" The colonel put his hands In his pockets and leaned his head bacV against the wall. "I gave you a false name and address," ad-dress," he snld, "nnd I did not tell you my rcnl business, I do not trust a man until I know lilm." "I don't care!" shouted the other; "I've got you for nil thnt. Here you nre and hero yoA stay until you sign for n thousnnd!" "Alas!" said tho colonel, shaking his hend, "the bold nro so apt to be shortsighted! short-sighted! Friend Johnstone," ho continued, con-tinued, "I enmo here by way of the custom house; I left a letter there, to be opened If I did not return for it In two hours. The time Is nearly up now. Wljnt do "you suppose they will find when they open It?" Tho mnn looked dnggers nt lilm, but shifted uneasily nnd said nothing. "They will find," said the colonel, "your nddiess nnd thnt of this house, with a request to look for us nt onco In both those pl'ices." "Well," growled Johnstone, "what then?" "Xpu nro In icquest Just now," continued con-tinued the colonel, politely. "First, I wnnt you; secondly, the revenue officers offi-cers wish to hear more of thnt little Joke nbout tho Esmeralda; and thirdly, the Admlrnlty desire your opinion on tho dangers of tho West Indian trade routes." The mnn looked thunderstruck. "Naturally," the colonel went on. "1 wish to sccuro tho preference myself; and, Indeed, If you refuse my terms 1 don't suppose you will get such easy ones from either of tho other two pnrtlft." ' There wns n short pause. "I'll go," suld Johnstone, with a kind of sullen admiration in his look. "I'll go for four hundred," "It shnll be five," said the colonel. "And now unlock the door." They went downstairs and out of the house. At the rlvcr-slde the colonel made an appointment with his companion compan-ion to meet nt Southampton on a certain cer-tain day, und stepped into a boat. "Westminster steps," he said to the waterman ns they pushed oft. "You'll not forget to cnll at the custom cus-tom house, sir," Johnstone called anxiously after lilm. "Oh, there's no need for that," replied re-plied the eolonel. "I left nothing there." And the boat shot swiftly up-stream on the Incoming tide. (TO UK OONTINUEn.) |
