The Boy Captain of the Black Swallow — page 18: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

16 and finding the door of the parlour, tapped lightly with his finger-nails. Iwas determined t would see who the new-comer was, and remained in the recess under the stairs, aware that when the door should be opened, I should be enabled to distinguish him by means of the light shining upon him from the room. “fT heavd asudden movement of the chairs -within. The whispered conversation ceased, and I heard my father's voice, in an under- tone: “Who is there ?” “*'Thurrel,’ was the reply, in the same key.” “'Thurrel!” exelaimed Arthur. “Yes, Talbert Thurrel. Why do you start with such amazement ?” “YT left him not more than a quarter of an hour ago.” “Tt is half an hour since he left here. why do you look so excited, Arthur ?” ‘itis nothing. I do not like the mar much. Go on, Letty. Did he go into the room ?” “Yes. My father opened the door and let him in, immediately closing and locking it after him,” “This is all very strange.” ‘** You will think so, Arthur, when you learn the whole, I was now resolved that I would try to hear all that passed. There is a trap- slide between the kitchen-pantry and the parlour, set in the wall, on the left of the mantel-piece. Jt is used to pass dishes into the latter from the former, without the trouble of carrying them round by the door, I re- eollected this, and hastened to the pantry, shutting myself in, so that it should be per- fectly dark. I then softly opened the slide about an inch, and looked in upon them. By turning my head a little I could see every person present. They were all seated about the table, on which were seattered several written papers. Other papers were in the hands of Mr. Sapping and the squire. Thurrel was seated next to the judge, with whom he was in whispered conversation, apart from the rest. What he said I could not hear, but it did not last more than a minute or so. Upon the table burned two candles, which shone clearly upon all their faces. My father sat exactly facing me. His countenancé wore an anxious, dark look. All of them seemed to be constrained in their actions and looks, like so many conspirators closeted. **'The schooner, you say, will be ready by the day after to-morrow night, Captain Thurrel?’ said the squire, addressing this person, and interrupting his by-conversation with the judge.” “Captain 'Thurrel, did he call him ?” “ Yes; and Thurrel wore an officer’s coat at the time,” answered Letty. “ 'Thurrel replied in a confident tone: “*T shall be ready, if Mr. Sapping does his part.’ “Rest assured I shall do mine,’ said Sap- ping, standing. ‘The potatoes have all been purchased, and are now on their way. The other vegetables will be down at the wharf to- But THE BOY CAPTAIN OF THE “BLACK SWALLOW.” morrow night. The beef and sheep and other provisions of the meat kind, I have at'the slaughter-house ready. To-night I shall have down at your vessel, Thurrel, eighteen dozen turkeys, one hundred geese, and twice as many chickens. The apples which I was com- missioned to buy, as part of the squire’s adventure, are already at the schooner to-nighi.’ «Yes, they are on board and stowed,’ answered 'Thurrel. ‘My men are still at work receiving and hoisting in. To-night I am told to expect four waggons by the Brunswick Road, and two by the up-river road.’ ‘«* Yes,’ said the judge. ‘The four waggons come from my farm, and are as valuable az any part of your cargo, Mr. Thurrel,’ “* Captain Thurrel, if you please, judge,’ said Thurrel, with a haughty air, touching his uniform. ‘The judge smiled, and made no reply. Sap- ping then, taking up a paper on which he had been making figures with a pencil, said : ‘““ Now, gentlemen, as everything seems to have been purchased for the expedition, and all that remains is to have them hauled in and shipped, suppose we compare estimates of out- lay, and take duplicates of each item of ex- pense. As we are all four equally concerned in the expenditures, so must we be in the immense profits which we expect to realise from the operation.’ “*TLet us hear. Read over the items and costs,’ said my father. ! “Flere Mr. Sapping, in his long, drawling tone, proceeded to read an account of hundreds of bushels of potatoes, of apples, of cran- berries, of beets, carrots, turnips, of quarters and shoulders of lamb and veal by fifties, of quarters of beef, of dozens and scores of fowls of all kinds, of barrels of cider, and scveral other things that I can’t recollect. I re- member that the whole cost, summed ‘up, was eight thousand dollars, divided equally among the four, each adventuring two thousand dollars ?” “Was not Thurrel interested in _ this mysterious, and to me unaccountable, trans- action ?” asked Arthur. ‘*.No, not as a party in the profits. But you shall hear, and will be amazed to learn what it all means,” , “Tam amazed now. I think I know some- thing of the matter already, though all is dark to me yet. J have seen things to-night which I doubt not have connection with this affair these persons are planning.” “After the items and the sum total had been read over, Mr. Sapping laid duplicates, previously prepared, of some writing, upon the table before them, which were signed by each and interchanged. Thurrel remained by, a quiet looker-on at these proceedings. ““* Now, gentlemen,’ said Sapping, ‘ we_have | everything arranged. Nothing now remains but to get the cargo on board and the schooner oif,’ “* You must try to hurry hey all you can, captain,’ said the squire, ; oO GOMmIGDoo S (S©) 5}