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281 leg as if to run down a group of landward isles, slatted up in irons again, came about on the opposite tack, made nothing but leeway, and at last,—when the company of numb watchers, beating arms and stamping, had turned away in disgust from her drunken repetition,—she suddenly went off, caught the wind abaft her beam, and stood out to sea.

All morning speculation ran riot at Laurel's; and when, that afternoon, the brigantine reappeared, to knock about as before, they could have pitched their excitement no higher for Captain Kidd and his Jolly Roger.

"If she wants to stave a hole in her bottom"—began Captain Christy; he stopped short, and spoke no more that afternoon, but with shining eyes paced back and forth, fidgeted, chuckled strangely. His conduct, amazing his friends, added to the day's mysteries.

While the sun was still two hours aloft, a boat put off from the brigantine, pulled shoreward, and landed a solitary passenger,—a mean-faced little man in pea-jacket and hip-boots. He scornfully asked for the telegraph