The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1894-09-07

NhpAV W NbIS AluuG w hll Jub lulbbllB
man, and with the same result as on
the previous night, and the captain
was nearly frantic, He was not only
deeply grieved at the death of his two
officers, but greatly shocked and mys-
titled at the strange manner of their
disappearance. On both occasions the
water, aside from heavy swell, was
comparatively smooth, the wind only
brisk enough to fill the sails, and the
stars were shining. This, together
with the fact that both the mates were
known to be expert swimmers, SO that
they should, under ordinary circum-
stances, have been able to keep aAoat
for hours, deepened the mystery.
The captain would Dot admit that the
presence Of chloroform, if it existed
at all, had anything to do with the
mystery.
On the afternoon following the
second disappearance the captain
called me into his cabin, shut and
locked the door, and beckoned me to
chair at a small table. I saw nothing
remarkable about this. believing that
he only wished to talk over his
troubles; but when he took seat OPP
posite me, I noted that his face was
deadly pale and that his lips were
tightly compressed.
my two officers have been muir
dered, Mr.. Vincent, he fairly gasped.
"Murdered?" I exclaimed. 81 have
suspected foul play from the first
Have you any evidenced"
''The best in the world. You have
noticed the big Dane, Qvistgard?"
''That mild-looking fellow with the
red beard?"
"Yes."
"Why, certainly; but you don't
suspect him, hope"
"Of course not. On the contrary,
there Is a mutiny on foot, and he-but
here is note he slipped into my hand
a moment ago. Read it for yourself.
Unless you and I and this faithful fel.
low can Outright or outwit fifteen hell
hounds, we are doomed"
With a face that must have been a'
white as the one before me, and hanC
that was anything but steady, I pickei
up a sheet of paper which the captain
had thrown on the table and read tn,
following:
"Captain--T have Just discovered n horri
bic plot. All the crew, except myself, hav
mutinied. The mates were knocked on tn
head and thrown overheard. You will shar
the same fate when you come on deck to re
lieve the watch tonight, unless you hee
this warning. Meet me ten minutes befor
the close Of the second dog-watch, Just al
the main hatchway, and will fell you every
thing. In the mean time do not speak to m
or send for me, for we are closely watched
| am supposed to side with the crew. Til
least mistake would be fatal. Don't tell tn
passenger. He may be all right, but dout
it. For Gods sake, captain, don't &C nea
the rail-"
Don't tell the passenger" I nut
tered as I looked at the captain, no
only horror-stricken at the contents o
the note, butsurprised and hurt at tn
uncomplimentary reference to myself
But the captain, who must have d.
, vined my thoughts, relieved my min
on this point by saying:
"That's all right, my dear Vincent
The fellow is only a triAe over-cau
tious. Don't mind him. I woul
trust you with the ship, and my lif
too, for that matter. Yor see l hay
shown my confidence by allowing yor
to read the note. Now, I want you
advice. Your assistance I shall coun
: on without asking, when the tim
comes"
"Thank you, captain" answered
e "To start with, 1 should certainly no
/ go on deck till it is time to meet til
: Dane, if were you"
t Ny companion had now regaine
a his composure to a certain extent, an
: sat for moment drumming the tabl
e with his fingers.
k who has the watch now?" 1 COZ
tinued presently.
+ "Hutton, the tall seaman with til
/, red scar on the back of his hand" WI
e the answer. che is acting as fir
: mate, and had decided to give Jone
I the little Welshman, the position
J, second tomorrow. Both are fair
n good navigators, and, by all the god
n can't understand it / could ha,
IS sworn that these two men were as trr
1t as the dead mate, ever were, until
d got this warming from Qvistgard, b
D. he is right, my boy, he is right, A
in this comes from that unfortunat
h Bates affair. I wonder who is IL
leader? If he could be shot or place
t, in irons, it might quell the other
TX Have you pistol?"
r, ga small pocket affair."" Ianswere
ID 81 have two large ones and a repea
to ing rifle in my chest" continued Il
| l. 1 ! IL