Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1894-07-28
THE BIG DANE.

For two weeks the Plunging Petrol, a
big three masted schooner, had plowed It's
way through the placid waters Of the Pa
oino with a sameness thar was exasperat-
ing Since leaving port nothing-not even
. threatened storm or a lively galo-had
broken the mon notony.
The ship was bound for Rio, with a
cargo Of wheat. and was her only pas
senger seeking health In this manner ao
oording to my physicians urgent request.
She was commanded by a sturdy old navi
| gator, Captain Collins
Ono day about noon, at the beginning
| OF the third week, sailor named Bates
was placed In irons for striking u mess-
mate with marline spike and breaking his
arm. The punishment was undoubtedly
| deserved, but there were angry muttor-
ines and more than one sullen face among
the crew In consequence, for Bates, whose
only fault was an uncomfortable temper,
was a general iavorite. But when the
unfortunate man was found doad the next
morning things began TO look black for
the officers
There was no sign OF wound or struggle
upon tho body of the dead man, but the
atmosphere VI the forecastle where no had
been confined was odorous with the fumes
of chlorofom.
AZ eight bells the following night, whom
the first mate went ON deoli to relieve HE
fellow officer, the latter had disappeared
and could not De found. ! happened 20 be
leaning against the mizzenmast smoking
when tho alarm was given and could have
sworn that had been smelling uhloro-
form for half on hour, although I did not
coll the fact 10 mind until the dreadful
cry OF MAN ovorboardr' was sounded and
oil hands piped on deck.
4 boat containing the first mnte and
four men was lowered at once, the ship
was brought about, and two hours wore
spent In fruitless search. In the mean.
time every accessible nook In the ship,
which was lacking back and forth In the
locality, was inspected with like results.
AT last the searching party was taken on
board, and tho ship resumed its course.
The captain now took turns at the
watch with the mate, and everything ran
smoothly TIL the following night, or rstb.
| er the next morning-fOur bells of tho
first watch. Then when he turned out to
relieve tho mate that officer could not be
| find the missing man, and with the Same
result as on the previous night, and the
| captain was nearly frantic.
On the afternoon following the second
| disappearance the captain called mo into
his cabin, shut and locked the door and
beckonCd me TO chair ut a small table.
my two officers have been murdered,
| Mr.. Vincent" he fairly gasped
"MurdoredF' / exclaimed. Il have sus.
| pected foul play from the first. Have you
any evidenoer'
The best In the world. You have no.
ticed the big Dane, Qvistgardr
| THAT mild looking follow with the rod
beardi"
"Yes
why, certainly, but you don't suspect
him, hope"
"Of course not. On tho contrary, there
Is n mutiny on foot, and he-but hero Is a
note he slipped into my hand u moment
ago. Read IL for yourself Unless you
and and this faithful fellow can Outright
or Outwit 10 hellhounds, we arc doomed. :"
With face that must have been ns
white as the one before me, and hand
that was anything but steady, picked up
sheet of paper which the captain had
thrown on the table and read the follow.
Ing
| "CAPTATN--l have Just discovered hor.
riblo plot. All the crew, except myself,
have mutinicd. The mates were knocked
on the head and thrown overheard You
will share the same fate when you come
on deck 60 relieve tho watch tonight un.
less you heed this warning Meet me lC
minutes before the close Of the second dog
watch, just aft the main hatohway, and
will tell you everything. In the mean
time do not speak TO mo OF send for me
for we are closely watched. am suppose
70 side with the crew. The least mistak,
would be fatal Don't tell tho passenger
He may be all right, but doubt it. Fol
Gods sake, captain, don't go near The
rail"
"Don't tell the passenger" muttered
a. looked at the captain, not only horror
stricken at the contents Of the note, but
surprised and hurt at the uncomplimen
tary reference 20 myself. But tho captain
who must have OWNED my thoughts, re
lievcd my mind on this point by saying:
That's oil right my dear Vincent
The fellow Is only trifle ovcrcautious
Don't mind him. would trust you with
the ship, and my life, too, for that mat
ter. You SIC, have shown my oonhdenc,
by allowing you TO read the note. Now,
want your advice. Your assistance I shal
count on without the asking when tn,
time comes"
THANK you, captain" I answered
ITO start with. / should certainly not NJ
on deck till 10 Is time 20 meet the Dan,
\ II were you"
My companion had now regained hi
composuro to u certain extent and sat fol
moment drumming the table with hi,
fingers
who has the watch nowi" continued
presently.
Hutton, the tall seaman with the rec
scar on the back Of his hand" was th,
answer. "He u noting a. first mate Anl