The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1879-10-08
wiIh 4 gailty laugh. ). Took mel col ! ghost


aback, sir'
Naturally. You need not be surprised at
seeing me in any part of the vessel. Pm
studying its construction--as scientific man.
Captain Payson has been good enough to give
me admittahce to all parts of the vessel. You
needn't shout in that disagreeable way again.
1t startles nervous man 7" and with
vague smile he blew out the candle and went
up on deck, leaving Dan staring after him.
/" It's not all right, or why should he, bein'
such gentleman, make such long winded
explanation to me, bein' the cabin-boy p"
Dan said at last shaking bis head.
That night, Captain Payson was alone on
the quarterback, when Dan presented him.
self before him and salutad His yoice shook
little, for he was terribly scared. "Old
job " was bigger man in his eyes than any
king or potentate. I3 1T
" Well! What's the matter with you sn
growled the captain.
!" The--the passenger SIR"
"What have you to do with the passen-
ger q''
beg your pardon, sir-but are you sure
he isn't thief, or--or worse ?" gasped Dan,
forgetting, in his terror the respectful speech
he had planned, in which he simply meant to
state the fact of Dr. Farnalrs visit below
deck
The captain seized a rope's-end. !" Take
that for your impudence ! +" he shouted aim.
ing blow at Dam who lodged it, and then
blurted out the whole story.
!" Searching among the hunks ? Doctor
Farnall muttered the captain in astonish.
ment, dropping his weapon and then he
walked thoughtfuly up and down. Sudden
ly he stopped before Dan.
+" 1t is well that you came to me and no.
body else with the story he SAID. It is of
no account. Dr. Farnall is an eccentric man.
If he wishes to examine the ship in any part,
he is not to be watched and spied upon. SO
keep your eyes to yourself and your tongue,
too. If you go blabbing this story about. IN
fog YOU"
Dan crept off to his work, feeling as il he
had bad sound drubbing. Tears of rage
and modification stood in his eyes.
" Mothers rules do very well on land, but
they don't wear on shipboard,' he muttered.
" But there's something that needs watching
in that man, and I'll watch him."
Nothing of moment happened however, for
a week. Then Dan observed that the pass
enger's days of fasting and depression grew
more frequent. There were whole nights
when he paced the deck until morning.
The crew joked together about him. One
declared that he was murderer another
that he had escaped from a lunatic asylum !;
but the common opinion was that he had run
away from termagant wife.
Dye mind" said Irish Jem, " how he
eyes every ship we hail, as though she might
be aboard ?"
Dan, alone never joined in the gossip be-
low decks about the mystery.
One day, little Incident occurred which
suddenly strengthened his suspicious.
Just before nightfall, when passing the az
ter latchway, in the covering of which was
slide that couldn't be opened and closed at
will, Dan met Dr.. Farnall coming up, cover
ed with dirt and dust. There was an unsteady
glare in his eyes. He seized Dan by the
shoulders.
" Do you know where have been 20 he
said, hoarsely.
In the lower hold, sir; among the boxes. y
What dye think is down there, boy-for
you and all of us ! Death Death But tell
nobody-nobody -. He dropped his hold
and staggered on.
3 =
But half an hour later, DIR. Farnall was
seated at the supper-table, gay, self-possess-
ed, keeping the captain in a roar with his
good stories.
About the middle of the second watch that
night, Dan turned out of his bunk. The boy
was really too anxious to sleep.
/" Death III the hold, oh? Death in the
hold - he repeated to himself
He did not dare to 90 to the captain or
crew with his story. Yet he was sure that
some peril was at hand. He sat shivering
for awhile, then pulled on his clothes.
''If Deaths in the hold, I'll find him." he
said.
He CROPPED his way to the afar batch~ay
unquestioned ; for the mate, who had charge
of the deck, was reclining listlessly against
the rail farther aft, where the hatchway was
hid from view by the cabin.
The slide was open His heart beat quick
with excitement, bat noiselessly as a cat, Oar
crept down to the lower deck, and then group
ed for the hatchway that opened into the
lower hold.
f1e was so certain that danger was afoo
that he was not startled when he saw fam
reddish light, and found the lower hatchwa,
open.
The hold was not so closely slowed Blu
what one could move about in It quite freely
and lowering himself carefully, Dan saw tina
the light came from lantern, and chat It cas-
glare directly on the face Of the passenger
who was kneelfng and working at something
on the floor.
So that's the way Death looks, hey
thought Dan. " He couldn't well lool
worse - and he eyed the baggard, ghast
face I" What grating noise is that ?" b
asked himself and in the same instant b
snrano forvvard with a cry of horror