The Shipwreck | Page 4

it," sighed the
Brother. "I'll first speak to the Father Prefect in private; he must prepare
him somewhat for this sad news. Wait a moment. Father Somazzo will

be here immediately."
The Captain gave the gray-haired man a sinister look as he left the
room, then muttered to himself: "Prepared! As if such a piece of news
could have much effect on a healthy child. If it would only frighten him
to death.--Well, there'd be no great damage done. Then I'd have his
inheritance--which is really not a trifling sum--instead of being merely
the administrator, and my creditors would not be driving me almost out
of my senses. If his father had only given me a lump sum of at least ten
thousand pounds, as I begged him to do before he died!--Our ship will
be confiscated in Melbourne. The 'St. George' does not belong to me
but to my nephew, my ward.--Oh, if I only knew how to get myself out
of this predicament! One fortunate thing has happened since the death
of my brother. I have managed to get all the books and accounts out of
the way, and perhaps things will go better, if I once get the boy in my
power." These were the thoughts which occupied the mind of John
Brown, as, with downcast eyes and sullen mien, he paced up and down
the reception-room.
John Brown was the younger brother of George Brown, Willy's father.
Both men had received from their parents, in Dublin, a large amount of
money, but they had not managed it equally well. George, choosing to
go to sea had invested his in a merchantman, and in a short time
through prosperous voyages to the Indian and Chinese Seas doubled his
capital. In Hongkong he married a Catholic maiden, who unfortunately
died, leaving a child, Willy, now barely eight years old. In accordance
with her last wish this child was taken to the Missionary College of the
Holy Saviour to be educated. Here the father had frequent opportunities
of seeing him, as his trading expeditions often took him to Hongkong.
The reports of the child's progress and behavior were always good, and
he seemed so happy and contented that the father questioned the
advisability of taking him to a larger European institution, especially as
Willy begged to remain where he was. Oftentimes the Captain took his
little son with him on short trips to the neighboring ports of Canton and
Malacca; and for one of these Willy was now hoping, as his father was
just returning from a voyage to Ireland. But instead of the father, there
came the uncle, whom he had never seen, and of whose existence he

did not even know, bringing the sad news of the death of George
Brown.
John Brown was a man of an altogether different stamp, and had lived
an altogether different life. Possessed of a passion for drinking and
gambling he had indulged in riotous living until he made an end of his
patrimony, then appealed to his brother to pay his debts. In order to
save the family name from disgrace George furnished him money, but
the appeals for more were so constant that he was obliged to give no
heed to them or else ruin himself. On the occasion of his last visit to
Dublin he found his brother in trouble, and, to escape the charges
preferred against him in the criminal courts, took him with him on what
proved to be his last voyage. Captain Brown died a few days out from
Hongkong and was buried at sea.
John Brown was innocent of his brother's death, and so the officers and
crew of the "St. George" believed, yet the death came so suddenly and
opportunely that it gave grounds for suspicion. John was left
administrator of the estate of his nephew, and, directly on landing in
Hongkong, had himself, as next of kin, appointed Willy's guardian,
with the idea of taking him with him on board the "St. George." But
how to get him away from the school in the middle of the term was a
puzzling question.
Father Somazzo appeared in the doorway and greeted the stranger
politely, but with utmost reserve. "You are the brother of the esteemed
Captain Brown, the father of dear little Willy," began the priest, noting
as he spoke the dark features of the man and the striking resemblance
which he bore to his brother.
"I am the Captain's younger brother and the guardian of his son. George
died at sea last week, as the door-keeper undoubtedly told you," said
the man with a stiff bow. "How is my nephew? Is he doing well? Is he
advanced sufficiently so that he can take business training or have the
schooling of life at sea prove