The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-07-02
CHAPTER. XLIV-CoNTINUED.


captains. was kept the briggs small
. stock of writing materials. Somehow
/ guessed what the mate wanted paper
and pen for; l whipped ON my dress
and opened the door. He took what he
needed. Just saving, 'sNodder's offered tc
confess :" and fastened away. My heart
at this news leapt up and half choked me
with sudden transport. 1t was, drawing
on to 4 0'eloek in the afternoon Tom was
in his cabin resting. / put on my hat and
went on to the deck and found Collins al
tie wheel. Will, who was in Toms watcf
=. according to the disposition of our little
company. was lying down. &
Collins exclaimed, IF you're seeking
Mr.. Bates, he's in the forecastle." paced
UP and down in what is called the gang
way, between the deckhouse front anu
cahoose. and still as l turned my back en-
. the forepart of the brig I'd forever ne
docking behind me toward the forehalch
through which Mr. Bates must emerge.
Saving that time that | waited for tile ue-
cfsion of the jury in the Old Bailey, l nag
never suffered SUCH an agony u
suspense. Was 6, Nodder debating TO
Mr.. Bates at this Instant Ii So, wIlat was
lie saying? Convictlng himself anu ftotch
of as shocking a perjury as any ~ We
criminal records or declaring that me
evidence he. and the other had
Given was true? Would. the sullen.
drunken DIVING animal dictate at all when
Bates sat beside him ready 10 write? Inese
were distracting thouGhts and L walked the
. deck like one fistrauGht, l aiu not Wans 70
see Mir. Bates too on; dreaded MS emer-
fence. for that would signify the villain.
lad fallen stubborn and mule, and yet my
.iuIatience was an anguish;' again ana
again I'd stop in the cabin doorway to-
look at the clock. Collins, who could see
the time through the window, excl aimed:
Its after ). VIII Mr.. Johnstone relieve
me ?''
: "Wait for Mr.. Bates" said l. and !
started off afresh on my gangway march:
Al last, on a sudden. saw Nj. Bates
face IN the hatch he .graveiy me-
TONED me TO approach: when l had
drawn near he said IT'S all right;
Il have it down. It's q complete. ae-
Guittal, but on, my God. what a piece OF
Butler to the wheel and. bring tombstone
aud Collins into the forecastle 10 hear
what's been written, TO witness y 0dder'S
signature, and to sign their own names"
/ sped TO the cabin and ran GREATNESS
into Toms BERTH | put my hand upon
lis shoulder and shook him Violently. lie
:opened his eyes and instantly started up,
collecting his wits with the ninlble dexter
-ity Of one used to instant and urgent calls.
g. NOuder has confessed, J. cried;
BATES has it down in writing; he wants
VIII and me and Collins in the f0recaStle
as Witnesses. JUMP up and take the
Wheel while call VIII.
!: Before the words we're fairly off my lips
>, he was out IF his bunk pulling on his coat.
: Tyis.sG9t to WHY'S cabin and dragged the
dear boy half out of bed ~ my eagerneSs
TO awaken and get him forward quickly.
His berth was next to Rotch's. The bulk
head between WAS stout. but voice eX-5
:erled strongly was easily TO be heard
through the petition. cried out in loud,
clear tones that Nodder had confessed
Toms innocence, that Mr.. Bates had taken
Ills statement down in writing and that he
WiW was instantly required IN the fore
castle. ,e-ae r.
Tom was at the wheel. lie had sent Col
Inns forward. VIII and | ran to the fore
: castle hatch and descended. L found my
self. in, a small, gloomy. wooden cave; a
damp burning with a large, dim. SMOKY
flame swayed at the end of a lanyard I'M
der grimy central beam. Some hunks
were built on either hand this forecastle.
= he place contained sea-chest or two
left by the sailors. some remains of bed
: ding, few odds and ends of wearing ap-
-paTei. MI. Bates sat upon chest under
the lamp; bunk board he had used as a
: wrlting-desk stood beside him. He held
sheet of f0olscap paper.
In bunk Immediately abreast
lay Nodder; | could not distinguish much
= otthe man; an old blanket partially COW
.eied MIN, MS arms clothed in heavy
waistc0at lay outside the blanket: his
color WAS sckly dingy, hideOus-his long
red 'halr like peelingS and slIcings of car
rots stood hard and stiff abont his brow
aud coiled wire-like upon the bolster: his
wall eye seemed 10 be fastened upon me !:
the other looked straight nm ColIins
stood near the mate, who on our descand-
u ing exclaimed:
'l'il read this confession aud that
=.Nodder may hear it's all right; hell then
sign. and we fOur'll witness"
- Here Noddel turned his head and said
"W no. thatfemae?"
"The:tady Captain Buffers to be mar
ried to-: answered Mr. Bates.
: Didn't know there was e'er a wom,,
ABOARD. said Nodder, speaking as though
his throat was raw with drink; nothing S.
harsh, -raSplng, saw-llke, did ever hear
GOT my disgust under and stepped close
..to-the villain. Il hope you don't suffe
.much?" Isaid, softly and kindly.
:: 81 d0thsn."' he answered when there!
: he'll in the belly and hell in the heart
there's bound to be suffering :Itwas al
along of that Rotch. Toon up. Mr.. Bates
and Lets getthe gallus job over"
.: l:dreW back the, having such face a.
his near me made me feel sick, then agar
the atmosphere of his bunk was charged
with. a,smell of spirits and reminded ne o
The fumes which. rose through the Child
Harold s:skylights that night we left her
Mr.. Bates, standing up, read aloud in
solemn and emphatic. manner as follows
September q. 1885, Samuel Rotch. mat,
OF. the bark Arab Chief, comes To me
benjamin NoddeI. carpenter OF the sail
ship. then sitting in my berth forwar,
> smoking pipe. and asked me if I'd Div,
that matter he'd talked To ma afors =,
another thought. saws yes, and in con
slderation of his promises l was apreesbi
to help him, but he must contrive the ini
SO artfully as to make sure Ishonldn't oe
into trouble. He answers that there conf,
be no risk at all; him and NE would b
witnesses and we'd take some of The sailor
into the 1azirette to hear the water run
ming IN, and then carry them to CAPTAIN
Buffers berth. where we'd find the tree
nail anger, the sailors looking on. Cap
tain Thomas Butler was master of the sait
bark Arab Chief. The understanding wa
this: Ii the plot ans wered and Rotch 90
command he was to use his interes
ana MAKE me mate under him. He wa
likewise 70 pay me ESQ on our return t,
England. Ihls moneys still a-owing: h,
was always putting. of the payment with
promises and swore when we started thai
ned tell down the money in Snanieh dol