On the first night after Sukey and Terrence joined Fernando, the three
sat about the bivouac fire, while all save the sentries slept, talking
over the past which, to Fernando, seemed like a troubled dream.
"Did either of you ever meet Captain Snipes?" asked Fernando.
"Bad luck to him, I did not," said Terrence. "It's bad it would have
fared with the spalpeen if I had."
At mention of Captain Snipes, there came an expression over Sukey's face
which is indescribable. His face grew pale, and his brow contracted, his
teeth set, and his eyes seemed to have the glitter of steel, while he
shrugged his shoulders, as if he again felt the cat-o'-nine-tails
about them.
"Did he never come aboard the _Macedonian_ again?" asked Fernando.
"No."
"Did you hear of him?"
"Yes."
"Where was he?"
"He was transferred to the _Xenophon_."
"The _Xenophon_? was not Lieutenant Matson in command of that vessel?"
"For awhile."
"Was he not promoted?"
"No; it seems his affair with you got to England."
"Just in time to spoil a nate little promotion, too," put in Terrence.
"I heard all about it from the captain of the merchantman I captured. He
told me when we were playing poker one night."
Fernando looked sadly into the smouldering bivouac and heaved a sigh.
Almost five years had elapsed since he had seen Morgianna, and he had
not heard a word from her since he left her in the great stone house on
the hill that night,--she laughing at his misery.
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