The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1880-03-31

tifc man. Captain Payson has been
good enough to give me admittance to
any part Of the vessel. You need not
shout in that rough way again; it star
ties nervous man" And with a vague
smile he blew out the candle and went
on deck, leaving Dan staring after him.
cts not all right, or why should he,
being gentleman, make such a long
| w1nded explanation to me, being the cab
in boy?" said Dan at last, shaking his
head.
That night, Captain Payson was alone
on quarterback, when Dan presented
| himself before him and saluted. His
voice shook little, tor he was terribly
scared. 49,
"Old Job" was bigger man in his
eyes than any king or potentate.
swell! What's the matter with you2"
growled the captain.
"The the passenger, sir.'
"What have you to do with the pass
engers'
II beg your pardon, sir, but are you
sure he isn't a theft or-or worse?" gasp
ed Dan, forgetting, in his terror, the re-
spectful speech he had planned, in which
he meant to state the fact of Doctor Far
nails visit below deck. "..
the captain slezed the ropes end.
"Take that for your impudence' he
shouted, aiming blow at Dan, who
lodged it, and then blurted out the
whole story.
"Searching among hunks? Doctor
Farnall! - muttered the captain IN aston
ishment, dropping his weapon; and then
he walked thoughtfully up and down.
Suddenly he stopped before Dan.
cit is we'll you came to me and no.
body else with the story" he said. cit
is Of no account. Doctor 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, I'll
fog you.'' -
Dan crept off to his work feeling as if
he had had a sound drubbing. Tears of
rage and modification stood in his eyes.
| "Mothers rules do very we'll on land
but they won't wear on shipboard,'' he
muttered. But there's something that
needs watching in that man, and I'll
watch him." r. .'r
Nothing of moment happened, howev-
er, for a week. Then Dan observed that
the passengers day of fast and depres-
sion 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; an
other, that he escaped from lunatic asy-
| lum; but the common opinion was that
he had runaway from termagent wife.
"D'ye mind" said Irish Jem, show he
eyes every ship we hail, as though she
might be aboard?'' a."
Dan alone, never Joined IN the
gossip below decks about the mystery.
One day little incident occurred
which suddenly strengthened his sus-
picion.
Just before nightfall, when passing the
after hatchway, in the covering of which
was a slide that could be opened and
closed at will, Dan met DR.. Farnall com
ing up, covered with dirt and dust.
There was an unsteady glare in his eyes.
He seized Dan by the shoulders.
"Do you know where,I have been2''
| he said hoarsely. ssa.
"IR the lower mold, sir, among the box
es." ..a.s a..t (.
"What dye think is down there, boy,
for you and all of us2 DEATH! Death
But don't tell nobody-nobody--'' He
dropped his hold and staggered on.
"Mad as a March hare!" muttered
Dan. ...
But halt an hour later, DR.. Farnall was
seated at the supper table, gay, self-pos-
sessed keeping the captain in roar
with his good stories.
| About the middle of the second watch
that night, Dan turned out of his bunk
The boy was really to anxious to sleep
"Death in the hold, eh2 Death in the
hold, ehs'' repeated to himself.
He did not dare go to the captain O,
crew with his story. Yet he was sure
that some peril was at hand. He sal
shlverlng tor awhile, then pulled on his
clothes.
eff Deaths in the hold I'll find him,
he said
He grouped his way to the after hatch
way unquestioned; for the mate, who had
charge Of the deck, was reclining list
lessly against the rail further aft, where
the hatchway was hid from view by the
cabin.
/ The slide was open.
i His heart beat quick with excitement
but noiselessly as cat, Dan crept dowr
to to the lower deck and CROPPED for the
hatchway that opened into the lower
hold.
He was so certain that danger was afoo
| that he was not startled when he saw
pale, faint, reddish light, and found thu
J lower hatchway open.
The hold was not so closely slowed
but what one could move about in i
) quite freely. And lowering himself care
! fully, Dan saw that the light came from
I a lantern, and that it cast glare direct
~ in the face of the passenger, who wa
: kneeling and working at something upo,
e the floor.
II $50 that's the way Death looks, eh9'
/ thought Dan. HE couldn't well loo]