Part 4 (1/2)

It was cunning, but low cunning after all, and Brandon perceived that, for one who had some purpose to accomplish, with but a common soul to sustain him, this was theor of larger spirit would have pursued a different path He would have conversed freely and with apparent unreserve; he would have yielded to all friendly advances, and hest art by concealing art, in accordance with the hackneyed proverb, ”Ars est celare artem”

Brandon despised hiht it worth his while to take any particular notice of hiole, on the contrary, was very different His eyes, which neverhi in the cabin he usually had the air of aelse, but in reality watching Brandon's acts or listening to his words To any other ree irkso, since it confirmed his suspicions He saw this man, whose constant efforts were directed toward not co by his attitude, his gesture, and the furtive glance of his eye Brandon, too, had his part, but it was infinitely greater than that of Cigole, and the purpose that now aniible to this ole's whole soul was apparent to Brandon; and by his s, his sly observation, and many other peculiarities, he exhibited that which is seen in its perfection in the ordinary spy of despotic countries, such as used to abound ood old days

For the colish or American traveler; but the Frenchnizes him

So Brandon's superior penetration discovered the true character of Cigole

He believed that this ured in the affair of the _Vishnu_; that he had been sent out by Potts to do some injury to himself, and that he was capable of any cri He certainly could not incite the simple-reat a coward to attempt any violence So Brandon concluded that he had simply come to watch him so as to learn his character, and carry back to Potts all the knowledge that he ain

This was his conclusion after a close association of one ht of this ent in villainy, and therefore unworthy of vengeance; yet he eance He therefore wished to have a clehich he ht afterward find him

”You and I,” said he one day, in conversation, ”are both in the saland I may wish soole looked in twenty different directions, and hesitated for some time

”Well,” said he at last, ”I do not think that you ish to see me--”

and he hesitated; ”but,” he resumed, with an evil smile, ”if you should by any possibility wish to do so, you can find out where I a of Giovanni Cavallo, 16 Red Lion Street, London”

”Perhaps I may not wish to,” said Brandon, coolly, ”and perhaps I may

At any rate, if I do, I will remember to inquire of Giovanni Cavallo, 16 Red Lion Street, London”

He spoke with deep eh he had at last made the mistake which he dreaded, and had committed himself

So the time passed

After the first few days the weather had beco head-winds, accompanied often by very heavy rains, had to be encountered In spite of this the shi+p had a very good passage northward, and met with no particular obstacle until her course was turned toward the Indian Ocean Then all the winds were dead against her, and for weeks a succession of long tacks far to the north and to the south brought her but a short distance onward Every day made the wind more violent and the stor, when the e, and all the winds that sweep over these seas alter their courses For weeks before and after this season the winds are all unsettled, and it seems as if the elements were let loose From the first week in Septeht them face to face with sterner difficulties Twice before the captain had been to Australia; and for years he had been in the China trade; so that he knew these seas well; but he said that he had never known the equinoctial store with such violence

Opposed by such difficulties as these the shi+p e--the best routes had not yet been discovered--and it was the middle of September before they entered the Indian Ocean The weather then beca beyond the latitude of the western extremity of Java, about a hundred an to encounter the China fleet which steers through this strait, for every day one or more sails were visible

Here they were borne on helplessly by the ocean currents, which at this place are nuh the reater southern streaation, and often baffling even the most experienced seaman Yet it was not all left to the currents, for frequently and suddenly the storeful, kept the sailors constantly on the alert

Yet between the stor continued, though of such a sort as required watchfulness For out of the ht, and all the care which experience could suggest was not always able to avert disaster

”I don't like this weather, Mr Brandon It's the worst that we could have, especially just here”

”Why just here?”

”Why, we're opposite the Straits of Sunda, the worst place about these parts”

”What for?”

”Pirates The Malays, you know We're not over well prepared to ht the for us, because the Malay proas can get along in the lightest wind, or with oars, e can't move at all”

”Are the Malays any worse than usual now?” asked Brandon

”Well, no worse than they've been for the last ten years Zangorri is the worst of theorri! I've heard of him”