Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-10-05
device in German on its flat black handle.
.sWe wait"
THE DEATH-TRAP.
BY AN GOLD SALT"

THE DEATH-TRAP.
BY AN GOLD SALT"
Mr.. Warren, the mate of whaleship |
Roberts, was loved and respected by ev-
cry man in the vessel, with the excep-
ton OF Harry Thompson tall, dark |
browed youth, of an evil, quarrelsome
Thompson had taken dis
like to the mate from the moment he dis
covered tina latter was man calculated
to win the esteem of his crew. He
(Thompson) had hoped to excite the men
to mutiny; but when he perceived how
kindly they were treated by tie first Off
Ger, he knew to accomplish his purpose
he must first remove Warren from his
path: Night and day, therefore, he
wa ched for an opportunity to take the
life of the mate-to strike the murder
Gus blow in such a way as to avoid de-
lection. 's'<@
Days, weeks and months glided on;
the ship rounded the stormy Cape Horn,
bowling along toward the sperm-whale
cruising ground off the Cali pages, and
still the dark-browed villain waited for
chance to accomplish his hcllish work
b., One evening, Just after shutdown, while
the hands were eating their supper, the
well-known cry OF ''There she blows!"
came down from the masthead, causing
every man to spring to his feet. Whales
were discovered about league off the
lee bow; and the captain, having ordered
the main-yard hauled back, darted aloft
with his glaas slung over his shoulder.
Soon after he was ordering his mates to
lower their boats. .
With glad shout the men sprung to
the davits, the ropes slid through the
tackle blocks, and the boats, dropping in
to the water, were soon manned.
"Give way, lads!' cried the mate; seiz-
ing his steering oar "Give way with a
| will" .:..
"Ay, ay,' responded the crew, and the
voice Of Thompson, who pulled the bow
oar, was the loudest.
A strange light shone in his evil eyes
his teeth were compressed, he seemed to
think the moment for which he had wait
SO long was at hand.
The four boats glided swiftly over the
|
cifc, the mate taking the lead. and in a
short time the spouting Of whale was
heard few fathoms ahead.
"Your paddles men-your paddlesp
gritted the first officer through his clench.
ed teeth. "Stand up, Hall"
Hal was the boatsteerer or harpooner
He sprang lightly to his feet, his iron
ready in his hand. But just as the mate
was on the point of giving the familiar
order, "Glve it to him !" the monster
of the deep turned fukes and disap-
peared.
"Warren fairly turned pale with disap-
! pointment.
"There, we've lost him!' he cried.
~ think you're mistaken sir" said the
harpooner. "Yonder," pointing to the
mast, "ls the top of the moons disc Just
rising above the sea. Well have light
enough, reckon, to see that humpbacked
chap when he comes up again"
"Ay, ay, you are right, Hail." answered
| the mate, rubbing his hands. 81 never
before whaled it by moonlight; but We'll
have chance to do so now, for I'll keep
on that fellows track until we get a
chance to plant an iron in his hump, if it
takes me all night. This is our first
lowering since we sailed, and blow me if
don't mean that it shall be lucky one.
Pull aheadr'
The crew obeyed, and n the course of
half an hour the spout of the whale was
seen rising like a jet Of liquid silver about
| quarter of a mile ahead of the BOAT.
The moon had by this time risen high
| above the horizon, sprinkllng water-stars
all over the surface of the sea.
"Pull ahead-stretch yourselves, nv
lads" cried the mate "We'll soon have
an iron in that chap ahead.'
The men pulled with will, and in a
short time the boat was within six faith
oms Of the monster.
"Stand up, Hal!'
And the boatsteerer sprang to his feet.
''Give it to him!''
The harpoon Glove the air with a rush
ing sound, and was buried to the socket
in the hump. Then came the order to
'stern;" and as the whale sounded, the
mate and boat steerer changed places.
The boat was now rushing through the
water with the speed sof Ii htning, the
spray foaming and boiling around her
bow, and her gunwales forward almost
on level with the water.
With a triumphant flash lighting his
snake-like eyes, Thompson stopped side
ways from his thwart to unlash one of
the lances secured to the side of the boat.
"Qulck! Quick, my man! Hurry up
with that lancer exclaimed the mate
stretching out his hand to receive the
weapon.
"Ay, ay, sir;;'' answered Thompson, in
a hoarse voice; and suddenly rising ilp,
with the deadl y steel in his hand, he con-
trlved to stumble in such a manner as
would, he hoped, cause the blade of his
weapon to pierce tie bosom of the mate.
The latter, however, avoided the stroke
by stepping nimbly to one side, when
with pretended anxiety, Thompson quick
ly rose, declaring that he never could
have forgiven his awkwardness if the
mate had suffered from it.
"Don't mention it," exclaimed Warren.
Accidents will happen sometimes. You
we're not to blame for stumbling,' and
he took the lance from the others hand.
Fooled in this attempt upon the life of
the man he hated, Thompson quickly re-
solved to make another. The slackenipg
of the line soon afforded him the oppor-
tunity he craved. While the men were
hauling upon the rope, he contrived,
unobserved, to twist into Sc 7eral kinks
the part which was nearest the mate.
just as the whale came looming up from
the ocean within darting distance of the
boat.
CHOW, then" Thompson mentally ex,
claimed, "the moment the whale sounds
one of the kinks have prepared will be-
come entangled about the mates legs, or
his neck, and drag him overheard. There