The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1881-12-23

thought of it, the more convinced be-
came that there must be something of Q
serious and practical nature to have such
powerful effect on a man possessed OF
such healthy nervous organization.
I was not, however, so much alarmed
as curious. There arose In me a deter.
mination to solve the mystery-to dis.
cover If there was really anything wrong
in the ship, and what it was. Connect
ure ON conjecture fitted through my
puzzled brain, all equally wild and un.
reasonable. 1 had no clew to work on
but still I felt burning desire to find
out the meaning oft. So, briefly telling
Lieut.. Jones that the Captain had been
talking about the rounds, and that
thought Ihad better go over the vessel
again, started off on my voyage of dis
coyery, with corporal and two lanterns,
IN quest of knew not what.
I felt as If on the eve of some wonder
full discovery, as began to go along the
decks, peering with my lantern into the
dark shade between the guns, through
the mems messes, and into every dark
hole or corner large enough to conceal a
rat; but nothing rewarded my search. A
large cat jumped out from under the
muzzle of gun and startled me once !;
but that was all. Everything was quiet;
only the heavy breathing of the watch
below disturbed the stiffness of the night
between decks.
Down I went into the lower depths OF
the ship, thinking to myself that now I
should know what it was. Here or no.
where must be concealed what? /
didn't know, but thought that 1 must
find something but no, nothing reward
ed my toll. looked everywhere. I
turned over everything, peered into the
water tanks, tried the store-room doors,
crept into dusty recesses that, perhaps,
no one had ever thought of trying to get
into before since the ship was built; but
the only result was, as might have been
expected, to send score or two of rats
scampering in alarm over the deck, and
get myself covered all over with dust
and whitewash. So at last had to give
it up, hot and tired with my search, and
just as wise as when I started.
Lieut.. Jones was clearly in bad tenn
per when I returned on deck.
where have you been all this time ?"
he demanded.
Going the rounds, sir, I replied.
Mr.. Jones, however, would not be-
lieve I had taken 80 long to perform this
duty, and made some unpleasant re-
marks about "skulking."
The fact of the matter was, that dur
ing my absence it had suddenly struck
him that he was very thirsty, and that
he would be the better for q glass OF
grog. Now there was bottle of rum
in his cabin, also tumbler and water.
He was very fond Of rum and water
but duty forbade his going to get it.
He did not dare send one of the men
into his cabin and, as / was the only
other person he could send, it is scarce
y W - wondered at that he should
have become more and more incensed
with me as the time wore on and his
thirst increased. AS soon as I saw how
things were, came to the obvious con-
clusion that the best method Of appeas-
ing his wrath was to quench his thirst.
went down to his cabin as quickly as
could, and mixed him glass of extra
strength to compensate him for the de-
lay.
was hurrying up the deck with it.
when, just as I reached the top of the
hatchway, / saw what arrested my foot
steps, and rooted me to the spot in
amazement.
The Captain had come up the after
ladder, which was close to his cabin
door, and was advancing quickly for
ward-a bright streak of moonlight,
from which I was shaded by sails, throw
ing a light as strong almost as day over
and around him. His coat was open, as
if thrown hurriedly on, his feet were slip
pered, his cap pushed back on his head,
exposing to view face on which the
signs of horror were strongly marked,
eyes starting forward and bloodshot,
lips apart and qulvering and cheeks the
pallor of which appeared quite ghasEy
in the cold blue moonIigh,
He evidently did not observe me-
though 1 could see him sufficiently well
to note every detail of his appearance
but, with hurried footsteps, made
straight for the officer of the watch.
who was standing on the end of the
bridge, with his back turned to him,
trying to make out light that had been
reported on the weather bow.
AS soon as I had recovered from Tue
shock his wild and extraordinary an.
pearance had given me, I went back to
Mr.. Jones cabin and put down the glass
OF grog-for it was out of the question
that an officer of the watch should take
such thing when the Captain was on
deck-and came up again at once.
"Quick, the carpenter quick /" ]
heard the Captain shout as I came up the
ladder. and his voice was strangely agi.
tated
"What can be the matter? One
would think the ship was sinking. She
must have sprung a bad leak in his
cabin thought.
"Quick-the carpenter Send for
him !" he shouted again, catching sight
of me.
And I sent two men after the two on
three who had already gone in search of
that officer.
Presently the carpenter came up,
rather astonished, as may be supposed,
by such an unusual and hurried sum-
mons, and not little alarmed.
What is the matter. sir ? " he whlS-
pered as he passed me.
"Im sure I don't know" I replied;
"but make haste. The Captains in
dreadful way about something or other"
The bell struck four times, signifying
that it was o'clock. The Captain
started at the sound and again called
for the carpenter.
Coming, sir, replied Mr.. Jones, as
he sprang ON the bridge.
Bring that case on deck" said the
Captain.
"What case, sir ? = said Mr.. Jones.
In the foremost locker, the starboard
side of your store-room, is case,
marked 'Ward-room Officers Bring it
on deck, quick"
There was no disobeying this per-
emptory order-there was no question
ing it; but it was very odd one to
give. What could the Captain want
with case, the property of the ward
room officers, in the first place and, in
in the second, how came he to find out,
in the middle of the night, that it was
there, in place where it certainly had
no right to be ? and, then, why was it
there at ali, and not in the proper store
room? 1t was strange, too, most of all.