Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1891-09-30
dismay and disgust at the dead man,
and stOnped to take breath.

dismsy and disgust at tie dead man,
and stopped to take breath.
al could follow him." continued
Gordon, 'sby the white of his shirt a.
fitting about the deck, and after bit
he walks to the wheel where Charles
was, and spoke to him. There was
some muttering; then L heard him
pointing with his finger at the body
without looking at it-''talking shrill
as fish-wife, while the half-blood an
swered sulkily, as a man struggling
with his temper; and this went on till,
of a sudden, Mr.. Boutwell, made the
cry We must have heard, and before 1
could run aft he had slipped to the
companion, where lost sight of him.
l found the wheel deserted. The half
blood had gone forward in the murky
blackness along the line of the lar
board bulwarks, and though l no.
ticed the slapping of shoes, yet, not
seeing him, l supposed he was still at
the helm. l holloaed for some one TO
lay aft and take the wheel. The mo-
ment he came, l says, Where's
Charles" In the fo'k'sle,' he an
swers. What's he done?' says |, for
couldn't guess at the truth of the mat
ter from the noise of Mr.. BothwelPs S
yell. Hes knitted the mate says he.
How do you know that?' says /.
why he says, 'afore dropping down
the scuttle he sings out, "Nat-Dan-
Terence-is there e'er a one of you on
deck?" Il am says l. ''By God!"
saws he, f'the mate'l trouble US no
more; my knife has found his heart
out? It'll be the shippers turn
next pr"
"When 1 heard this" continued
Gordon, throwing look up the COM
panion-ladder as if he suspected listen
ers there, 81 went forra'ds, put my
head into the scuttle, and called to
Charles. He answered without show
ing himself. l says, 'In Gods name,
what have you gone and doneP Ive
sent VILLAIN to hellp he answers, 'let
him come back if he cam Some of
the chaps laughed at this. They had
trimmed the fo'k'sle lamps afresh, and
all hands seemed wide awake, as no
doubt they would be after the row of
the pig aid the danger we scraped
clear of; but l tell ye, Captain Broad
water" he continued, with another
look up to the ladder, "that there was
sound in them mems laughter which
gave me TO know that cask of gun
powder, with the head knocked of
living clear for the first spark, wouldn't
be a bigger danger in the hold of this
vessel than's her fo'k'sle TO her as il
now stands, sir"
He paused, dried his face on q
great blue handkerchief, and then went
on speaking, hurridly. 81 says,
Charles, you must come out of that !
No use skulking below. There's no
stabbing men in this here craft and
lying snug after it. Up with We now!
don't give me the trouble to fetch
ye.' He bawled out curse, keeping
hidden all the time. I put my leg
over, but ere / could lift the other,
four or five men sprang under the
hatch, and one of them said: See here,
Mr.. Gordon. We don't owe you no
grudge. These are your quarters as
they are ourn; but the mans not to be
touched. Understand that! BY the
aternall If so be a fingers laid upon
him the capt'n III answer for it with
his life so oft with ye, sir, and give
him this piece of news from the
fO'k'sle.' l got out of the hatch, and
came away to tell ye what's hap
pened."
L had made up my mind to offer no
suggestions, and so contented myself
with watching Broadwater, wondering
what measures such a head as his
would be able to devise for the, rene
i ing of the horrible mess into which
he and his mate had plunged us. lie
seemed TO wake up when the boatswsjn
ceased, and fell to pacing the cabin il
silence, measuring twenty or thirty
strides before he spoke. He then said:
"Better return on deck, Mr.. Gordon,
and look after the brig, sir. send
Billy here" Broadwatcr resumed his
walk.
One wants apaint brush instead of
A quill for such picture as this. The
dead body of the mate; Miss Grant
mOtionless and composed; the short,
square, muscular figure of Broadwater
pacing the length of the cabin, staring
ahead of him with the blind, wooden
look of a figure-head; the play of
shadows set dancing ~ the lamp; the
midnight silence on deck; the soft,
washing sound of water running in
some sobbing black fold along the
bends; the creak and jar of the fabric
as she rolled on the light swell, with
many a mufflec note like the short
laughs or sullen grumblings of a COM
pany of giants below, stealing to our
ear from the freighted hold say
there is nothing in ink to give you the
color, the horror, the strangeness of
this picture.