The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-11-05

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tongue, too"
Dan crept off to his work feeling as if
he had had sound drubbing Tears OF
rage and modification stood in the lad
eyes.
Mothers rules do very well on land,
but they won't do on shipboard," he
muttered. ''But there's something that
needs watching in the man, and I'll watch
him.
Nothing of moment happened, how
ever, for week. Then Dan observed
that the passengers days of depression
and fasting grew more frequent. There
were whole nights when he paced the
deck until morning.
The crew joked together about him.
One declared he was murderer; an
other that he he had escaped from lu-
natlc asylum; but the common opinion
was that he had run away from termag-
nant wife.
''D'ye ye mind, said Irish Jem, how
he eyes every ship we hail as though she
might be aboard p
Dan never joined in the gossip below
decks about the mystery.
/ One day an incident occurred which
strengthened his suspicion.
just before nightfall, when passing the
after hatchway, in the covering of which
was slide that could be opened and
closed at will, Dan met DIR. Farnell 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 have been ?" he
said, hoarsely.
''In the lower hold, sir, among the
Boxes"
ssWhat dye think is down there, boy
for you and all of us? Death Death |!
but tell nobody-nobody-' Ee drop
| ped his hold and staggered on.
s'Mad as March hare! p muttered
| Dan.
(, But half an hour later Or. Farnell 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 too anxious to sleep.
'sDeath in the hold, eh !? Death in the
hold ?" he repeated to himself.
He did not dare go to the captain or
crew with his story. Yet he was sure
some peril was at hand. He sat shiver-
| ing for awhile, then pulled on his clothes.
IF Deaths in the hold, I'll find him"
| he said.
He CROPPED 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.
His heart beat quick with excitement,
but noiseless as cat. Dan crept down
to the lower deck and groped for the
hatchway that opened into the lower
hold.
He was so certain that danger was
afoot that he was not startled when he
saw faint, reddish light, and found the
lower hatchway open.
The hold was not SO closely slowed but
what one could move about it quite
freely, and on lowering himself care
fully, Dan saw the light come from a
lantern, and that it cast glare directly
upon the face of the passenger, who was
kneeling and working at something upon
the floor.
$50 that is the way Death looks, hey ?"
thought Dan. ''He couldn't well look
worse" and he eyed the haggard, ghastly
face.
ssWhat grating noise is that?' he asked
himself; and in the same instant he
sprang forward with cry of horror.
The passenger had an augur in his
hands, and saw lay beside him.
He had bored hold through the side
of the vessel, below the water line, and
the water was already coming through.
The boy clutched Farnell, and shook
him like a wild beast. "You are sink
ing" he said. ..sHelp help!'
The mailman turned upon him, and
nodded.
eyes, we'll all go down together. Don't
make that outcry. Nobody can hear
you."
He had caught the boys wrist, and
held him with the unnatural strength of
| the insane.
Nobody could hear him. Dan remem-
bered that, and became suddenly silent.
Horror and fear only made thought more
vivid.
Death was just at hand. There was mo-
body to drive it back but himself and he
was in this mad mans hold.
He stared into the fierce CLASSY eyes
with an agony of hesitation.
Farnell laughed back at him.
ST thought of burning. but this is the
quietest. I want to go calmly into the
great hereafter. We shall go together in
"a few minutes, !" glancing at the stream
of water gushing out of the opening;
"Oh, mother, mother!" cried the shiv-
ering boy.
.We'lf all go together. Kings among
the ancients went across the river Styx
attended by the slain on their burial,
will be followed by the Yankee Captain
and his crew."
A sudden flash lighted Dams eyes.
.'Not by the Captain, y he said.
His own voice startled him, it was so
calm, and in a tone so very different
from any in which he had ever spoken
before.
ssThe Captain and Mr.. Briggs will es-
caper' he cried.
ssWhy, what do you mean ?" cried
Farnell Escape How can they es-
cape?"
because they are not in the hold.
They will take to the boats. :"
81 never thought of the boats. :.
Dan felt chill run over him. He
tried hard to speak, but his voice failed
him. He had but one chance, and he
must try it. 5,
"I will go and bring the Captain and
Mr.. Briggs down, if you like. Then they
can't get away.
"Ha, ha! Pretty good joke: Well. go
bring them, and be quick r loosen1ng
his hold, and pushing DGn away.
~ - L. -, IoN1 law