The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-12-30
THE SULTAN rIYSTERY.
v. Clark Russell in Youths Companion.

tan. a vessel of go tons burden. from the
port Of Liverpool bound round the Horn
10 Valparaiso with a valuable general
cargo. The captain was a man named
Jonas Jortin- I. who went in her as chief
mate am named William Fletcher.
We carried no second officer. often it
happened in those days that even big
ships sailed with what is termed an only
mate" who was supposed to comprise in
himself all that was to be expected in the
shape of duty and knowledge from a first
and second officer.
As I, however, held no certificate as
"only mate" L signed as chief and the
boatswain. man named Benjamin Nat
thews, took the working part Of second
mate under me: that is. lie relieved me
when my watch was up, walked the decks
and trimmed sail at his discretion. But he
took no part in the navigation Of the ship;
indeed I doubt if he knew what a sextant
was. and I am not sure that he could read
or write
Capt Jortin was a tall. lean, long-faced
man, with so remarkable a fall Of chin that
his mouth seemed to be placed almost
exactly in the middle of his face His skin
was yellow; he had followed the sea for
many years. but the flesh of his cheeks
reflected nothing of the glow and bronze
Of sun and weather.
His eyes were of a dead black like an
East Indians, without animation in their
glance and slow in their motions
had been struck.by the figure he made
when | first boarded the ship in the docks
Nothing could less correspond with the
trad al ne a 4
purple nose and bowlegs, eyes sunk by
peering to windward and a stormy voice
broken by years of drink and bawling,
than this master of the ship Sultan, but
toned up as he was in coat OF a clerical
cut, his black hair smeared smooth as
though his head was painted, limp stick
up collar, and long, squaretoed Wellington
boots
All went well with us till we had gone
clear of the northwest trade wind and
struck the "humbugging" parallels. as
they are called, where you get sheet
Gains with wide ocean white as a level
ice field, then faint draughts crawling up
in the direct line of the ships course
painting the FURNISHED surface with dark
ling shadows like huge marine spiders
creeping down from the edge of the hori-
ION. I think our latitude was between S
and 10 degrees north when what l am go
ing to tell you happened.
1t was the second dog watch; the hour
was about $3.50; the ships yards were
braced well forward, and she was rippling
along to the pressure of three-knot
breathing of air, coming hot as steam
from out Of the glowing pavilions of the
west.
1t was sickenngfy close, with the men
ace Of an electric storm in a delicate wink
ing of violet dumb lightning away down
in the southeast where the shadow OF the
night was gathering, with large star al
ready trembling low down over the sea
right abeam.
fiddle was going upon the forecastle
head. \ sailor was chanting a ditty to
the tune. Most Of the ships company
were listening, lounging about the cat
head and against the rail, pipes in mouth.
Their open shirts disclosed their messy
breasts, their legs were bare to the knee
for the comfort Of the GOODNESS, and their
believed faces reflected the angry red in
the west as though every man had oiled
himself
The captain was walking aft, alone,
measuring a space of the deck from
abreast of the wheel and something for
y ward of the mizzen rigging. His gait was
that of a man in funeral procession
stif, solemn, self-consciOus.
He had not been on deck above half an
hour, and in that time had not once ad-
dressed me Not indeed, that there was
anything strange in this; mates and cap
tains seldom converse at sea.
The master lives life apart; and this
spirit of isolation possesses the mates,
lnsomuch that ! have met officers who
declared to me that throughout round
voyage running into a couple of years
they scarcely exchanged more than rou-
tlne sentences and messages Of duty with
the shipmates aft from the first hour of
their getting their anchor to the final
hour OF their letting it go.
But even had Capt. Jortin been soci-
ably disposed he was not the kind of man
ta1rr - -rs.N.
the weight of a grievous sin upon his
soul could be mora melancholy and aus
tere, more abrupt and reserved.
Matthews, the hoatswain, thought to
explain the man by telling me he had
heard before we sailed that he had lost
his wife and only daughter within
week after his return from his last voy-
aee, but the captain never mentioned the
subject nor could l satisfy myself that
there was any suggestion of mourning.
N that way, either in his clothes or in
bis behavior.
had charge of the ship this dog watch,
and was standing at the head of the star
board poop ladder, listening TO the music
forward. Suddenly the steward came out
of the cabin under the cuddy front and
looked for moment up eagerly at me
with white face
L called down. What is it?" interpret
Ing his expression Of fear into something
wrong. He came halfway up the ladder
and said:
Some ones been tfving TO scuttle the
ship, l think. I can hear water running
in twiXt the wall and the linin' in the
after cabin in the steerage.
'Scuttlei Nonsense, sir. Who would
commit such a crime aboard this ship?
SO below with the steward and report
what you hear and see"
was astonished by his cool reception
of piece of news that, whether the stew
ard was mistaken or not, must be charged
with significance, even in the lightest,
most careless whisper of it.
straightway descended the companion
steps and the steward followed me by
way of the cuddy front. We entered the
steerage a part Of the hold under the sa-
loon or cabin deck. Four cabins were
nulkheaded off on either hand. They
were now used mainly as storeroons; in
their day they had been stocked with pas
5engers, for the Sultan was an old ship,
and nfteen years earlier than the date
OF this story had not been without renown
as brisk, comfortable, roomy liner"