The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1894-09-12
SELECTED STORY,
Norman's Woe.

On6 Wlnuy dlJeruOOn III August,
Ewo years ago, an observant passen-
ger ON the steamer from Boston to
Gloucester, who was scanning Briar
island with a fieldglass, became in
terested i'll two young men ashore.
One carried the other on his back.
No other figures could be seen on
Brian island A small tent was pitched
ON the Islands summit.
The head of the carried youth
hung on his own right shoulder
From his legs limpness he seemed
dead or paralyzed. His arms were
grasped in front of the burden bear
er's chest. The backs of both were
toward the steamer.
That the carried youth had fallen
from some pinnacle of the little is
lands rough eastern shore was the
first surmlse of my informant, the
observant passenger. He did not
readily suspect that the conqueror in
fight was carrying his victims
body up hill in the broad lightof day.
Clearly the burden bearer was
strong, for he assembled the declivity
with steady strides, bore his load
into the tent and was lost to sight
It then struck my informant as
strange that the young man did not
hasten out to signal the steamer for
aid.
My informant is a typical Boston
man, deliberate, reticent, averse to
committing himself, dishking fuss,
unwilling to appear conspicuous.
He thought of asking the captain to
send a boat ashore, but he seldom
speaks to any one without an intro
duction. Yet he began to fear that
he might become excited enough to
do so when he saw the strong youth
come out of the tent, gaze straight
at the steamer and still wave no
handkerchief nor make any such ap-
peal
My friend was sure he would, in
such a case, commit himself SO far as
to hail the nearest craft But what
If that craft were mile distant and
rapidly moving away4
My informant began to wonder if
q crime had been committed on that
rock, and the more he watched it
fade away the more he feared this
was the one reasonable explanation.
The youth, momentarily growing
DINNER to my friends view, went
back to the tent, peered in, stood
half minute, as if held by what he
saw, turned, Strengthened up and
looked round over Massachusetts bay.
White caps lifted in all directions
except under the islands lee. The
wind was rising. The steamer rolled
considerably running across seas.
Nearly all small sail in sight were
making for the nearest ports. Large
craft stood far out, with little can
vas Some dories of fisherman were
tossing wildly at anchor, but more
were seeking shelter.
The observant passenger saw the
youth stoop suddenly, pick some
thing up and run, apparently with
an oar in hand, down the steep of
the islands lee. There he disap-
peared.
Two minutes later some tiny vel
low craft shot forth from that lee
shore toward the open bay. The lit
tie vessel was scarcely visible from
the receding steamer. 1t pointed al
most straight against the wind. My
informant recognized it as a canoe,
for he could see the CLEAN of the
double paddle. Who, except one
afraid of his fellow men ashore,
would, thought my informant, face
such weather in a canoe, as if to get
out to sea beyond Cape Ann, where
he might chance to be picked up by
some outgoing vessel, beyond reach
by telegram or detectives2
The Boston passenger then con
hded his suspicious to the Boston
captain, who looked impressive and
said nothing Feeling that he had
stopped Over' in vain, the Boston
passenger went below to a secluded
nook, avoiding the eye of man. But
when he reached Gloucester he re-
ported all, conscientiously, to the
Shief of police, who said "he guessed
he'd see bout it if it WASH all right
The wind rose to a gale that after
noon. Next morning, when my in
eormant returned by the same steam
BIZ, the sea was like a mill pond, eX-
rept for the porpoises trying to stand
on their heads On Brlar island the
lent still stood, My informant was
convinced that murdered body lay
within it and now disclosed himself
to the captain as a stakeholder in the
line. So a boat was sent ashore with
the captain and his passenger.
In the tent they found some cook
ing utensils, gun case lettered &c
B." a jointed fishing rod, some tao
kle, an air mattress and two blan
kets soaked with blood.
My informant was beginning t.
take full notes when the captain in
sisted on hurrying away. 1t WA,
9 L, 1.