The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1894-08-17

hntonway had been opened and L had
fallen into the hold. A second later
found myself lying between two bags
of wheat, more frightened than hurt
and with the fumes Of chloroform al
most sufficsting me. Before trying to
rise Idiscovered- that ! was not in
total darkness, and that dim light
came from somewhere. but not from
above was sure Presently mnf-
fed groan reached mo from tho direc-
tion of the stern, and on looking over
my shoulder saw the STOPPING form
of NAH outlined by the rays of a
lantern in front of him, about twenty
feet away.
/ gained my feet With some difficult
ty and was about to step forward,
when the ship gave a lurch and was
thrown lengthwise against the hull.
Before L could stand up again, the
bent form assumed an upright posture
and I recognised the big Dane. Nut
tering incoherently. he picked up the
lantern and started toward the place
where had first fallen, of to my left,
Whether it was fear, the shock
caused by striking the hull, or the eff
fects of the chloroform that kept me
from trying to get up, 1 am not pre-
pared to say, but 1 did not attempt to
move hand or foot.
AS the light drew near, / discovered
rope dangling from the deck. When
tho Dane drew near this rope, he de-
posted his lantern beside him. rubbed
his big hard hands together with O
.oud, rasping noise, and laughed q
low, fiendish sort of chuckle, which
fairly chilled my blood. A moment
later his merriment subsidized, and TAX
ing holi of the rope with one hand,
he picked up the lantern with the
other. expected to sec him run his
arm through the handle of the Ian
tern and go, hand over hand, through
the hatchway, but he was in no hurry
and began to talk in harsh under
tone.
so far so good, King Qvistgnrd, I"
he said. "a million pounds of dia-
monds sewed up in sacks of silk, and
all my own. Oh, what royal pres
ent for my ebony princess. Fifteen
days more and I shall reign su-
preme. The two mates and
tho captain arc now my royal
subjects, and tomorrow night the
passenger will join them. Then comc=
ne hearties, Hutton and the little
Welshman, and so on down the list.
Ha, hn, ha, HI"
Never until that awful moment had
heard the blood-curdling laugh of n
maniac. but recognized it as quickly
rs if had passed all my days inside
tho walls of madhouse. Before
knew it, my strength, or courage, or
both, suddenly returned, and L arose
cautiously to my feet, discovering ut
tho same timo the revolver which had
fallen from my hand when l stumbled
on the deck. 1t was lying almost at
the feet of tho Dane. Advancing
slowly. l stopped and was about to
pick mp the weapon; but before l
could get hold OF it the ship lurched
again, / collided with the madman,
and we both went down together.
The revolver escaped me, the light
in the lantern was extinguished, aud
theIs was a scream, a piercing cry of
fright and anguish, such as only teri
ror-stricken mailman can utter. And
then, with that awful shrek ringing in
my cars and the strong fingers of tho
dcmented Dane clutching my throat, /
became insensible.
When consciousness returned / was
lying in my berth; il was daylight,
and Hutton was standing be-
sido me. AS soon as 1 was able
to talk, he told me that Just after
dark, on the previous evening, hor-
riblc cry was heard coming from tho
direction of the main hatchway, and
that when the little Welshman and
several other sailors rushed to the
spot, tho raving Dane was seen to
climb up q rope from the hold. AS
soon as ho gained the deck, no ran
screaming to tho rail and threw him
self into the sea. ! was found, moro
dead than alive, and taken to my
cabin. boon after the captain and the
two mates were discovered, gagged
and bound near the spot where had
first seen the Dane. The captain re-
covered from the effects Of the ohlor-
oform which had been administered
to him, and was removed with the
two officers, who were still alive, but
too weak and exhausted to stand on
their feet for many hours.
In two days all had recovered, and
the "Plunging Petrer' was manned
and officered as before, save for tho
absence of Bates and the big Dane.
All went well to the end of the voyage.
The mntiny was only myth in the
mind of the madman. Romance.