Sir,—The captains and part of the crews of the China ships “Eclipse” and “Racehorse” have just landed at Hollyhead, and report the total loss of their respective ships, which were attacked and stranded, robbed and burnt by the famous Skeleton Crew off the Land’s End a week since. Nothing could withstand Death-wing and his band. The crew had scarcely time to get to the boats ere the ships struck the rocks, and were instantly smashed into pieces.
Yours truly,
Captain Brown,
King’s cruiser “Seagull.”
If a twenty pound keg of gunpowder had exploded beneath Sir Andrew’s easy chair he could not have risen from his seat more suddenly than he did when he read that letter.
He seemed to have jumped into the middle of the floor.
And there he stood gazing at the round table, as if he saw thereon a nest of vipers.
“Gone!” said he, with an affrighted look, pulling his hair about, with eyes distended and open mouth.
“Gone! lost! Both of ’em? Captured by those sea-fiends! It can’t be!”
He read the fatal letter again, word by word, and then sank into his seat with a spasmodic groan.
“Ruined!” he muttered mournfully, and groaned again.