The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1892-08-05

! searching the decks, forecastle ana ror-
ward house, / concluded that whoever
had seen must have slipped overheard
and escaped, or my imagination had
played me trick. finally brought to
again In the chair and began to read
! once more, but had somehow lost in
terest and felt nervous. Every little
| while | got up and made the tour of the
deck.
/ had hardly settled myself after one
of these tours when was startled by a
/ suppressed groan from the captains
room, followed by gasps, as if for
breath. These were succeeded by a
strange gurgling sound. My blood ran
cold, and for minute was paralyzed
Then understood it all. Instead of the
coolie going overheard he had descended
into the after cabin. While gathering
| together plumber he had awakened the
| captain. Then to save himself he had
cut the captains throat, which account
| ed for the noise.
! To preserve myself it became neces-
| sary for me to either secure this coolie
| or to XIII him, and as it would doubtless
cure him, sneaked out of the wheel
| house to take look around. I carefully
studied the ground, in order to decide
upon the best place for me to take up
my station. I finally fixed on the COM
panionway. Noiselessly crawled on
| top of the house and knelt on the COM
panionway slide. With my knife raised
ready for striking, awaited the COM
ing up of the coolie and murderer.
had decided that it would be best to
stick the knife into his brain or along
side one of the big arteries in his neck.
anxiously waited, with every nerve
strained, to detect his first approach,
every muscle tense and ready for a
quick and strong attack. Cramps in my
legs seized me, but / did not dare to
move, afraid each moment that he
would appear.
While in this position, and while
every sense. was on the alert, was
startled by a. movement and grean be-
hind me. l turned with an involuntary
cry, not knowing what would confront
me-but saw nothing.
By this time was SO scared was un-
able to think for a moment or two.
After collecting my senses / knew that,
although the sound seemed to have been
right back Of me, it must have come
from the mates room in the forward
part of the house. AS there were two
ways of getting down into the after
house, was puzzled as to which one to
guard. 1 finally decided to close the
after companionway and take my sta
ton at the watchhouse, which was the
only other way by which the coolie
could get out. If he came up the COM
panionway / should hear him, and be
able to reach him before he slipped
overheard.
Sneaking along the alleyway took up
my position alongside the watchhouse
door, and my senses being strained to
the utmost by this time could family
hear some one moving about down be-
low. | was worked. up to an awful
pitch of excitement, in fact my muscles
had been strained so long that trem-
bled as with ague My nerves were at
the breaking point.
How long stood there do not know.
| finally got so worked up that I could
hardly stand. came to the conclusion
that If the coolie should come up was
then too weak to offer any resistance,
and that if something didn't happen
soon should lose my mind. / concluded
that l could stand the strain no longer.
Carefully making my way to the rail
broke down. l became afraid-afraid
even to go on the main deck and into
the deep shadows.
was afraid to stand still; l kept look
ing over my shoulder and turning
around, not knowing where should be |
or from what point. My mind
was getting unbalanced under the awful |
pressure. To save myself walked the |
topgallant rail to the forecastle. From
there went to the flying jib boom pole |
facing inboard. My mind was made ND |
to jump overheard if anybody tried to |
come out after me. / sat there the rest |
OF that night, knowing should be ac-
cused OF numbering these men, but / |
came to the conclusion that it was bet |
ter to stand a trial for double murder |
than to become maniac by watching |
at that watchhouse door.
w LAC aWesAe1ltS O6y11 III COulQ see
myself accused of murder and every-
body laughing at my defense. I could
see myself hung in foreign country.
After long time gathered what lit
tie courage / had left and came back to
the poop and carefully searched all
hooks and corners, but / did not dare to
go down below until the moon had set,
Then l noiselessly sneaked below. To
my surprise found the mate peaceful
y snoring in his bunk. This added con-
'iderably to my courage. Then list
ened at the door of the captains room.
distinctly heard him breathe. This
vas an immense relief. 1 tried to think
t over. The only way in which could
work it out was this-either my mind
lad played me trick or I had really
een coolies shadow, and, alarmed by
ny movements, he had slipped over
board before securing his booty. Ger
ainly we never missed anything, and the
'aptain and the mate had only mumbled
II groaned in their sleep.-Lieutenan
J. ii. Scott, U. S. r. NJ, in Romance.
The number of emigrants from the
United Kingdom to America during
light months of last year was 109, 051,
n increase of 5000 over the same period
T 1890. Of these Al SIS were from Ire
and, an increase of 1,437.
DR.. John Piente. the amateur. +a1..oo,,>