Santa Fe daily New Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1885-1897, 1894-09-24
ives We could then make for the near

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name Of the leader"
For An hour or more we continued to
,lan. but without being able to decide on
ANYTHING definite. At last it was agreed
that I should go OH deck and see what
could be learned there. In half an hour
returned with anything but favorable
news The men were talking guardedly
in groups, and when I passed near them
they quickly dispersed. The big Dane was
leaning over the rail near the log, sllent
and apparently watching with absorbed
attention the receding foam capped waves
in the ships wake.
Before shutdown all our weapons had
been oiled, examined and loaded, the cap
tain and myself seoreting the revolvers
about our persons and leaving the rifle for
the Dane.
The sky had clouded over late in the aft
ernoon and night, gloomy and forebod'
ing, settled down on the schooner.
1.-THE very elements seem to be In sym
pathy with this cursed business, said the
captain when it began to grow SO dark in
the cabin that we could hardly make out
each others faces, land felt as If the jig
was about up with me-" !
AS soon as the last streak of day had
disappeared the captain, revolver in hand,
mounted the companion ladder and stole
softly on deck. followed him part way,
but stopped, according to his directions,
and stood with my head and shoulders
above the companionway, ready in case OF
an emergency to lend any assistance that
might lie in my power.
never looked into blacker night. The
air was soft and warm, and fitful gusts OF
wind dashed few cooling raindrops
against my face as I held on to my revolv-
er and tried to keep the receding form OF
the captain in view. But he disappeared
almost instantly, and owing to the whistle
of the wind in the rigging, the groaning
Of the masts and the creaking OF the yard
arms 1 could not hear his footsteps after
he had gone half dozen PAGES.
He carried no lantern, but several lights
glimmered fore and aft, dancing and shift
ing unsteadily about like veritable will
o'-the-wisps. None, however, was near
the main hatchway, the place of meeting
Anxiously I waited 5, 10, IL minutes, as
nearly as could reckon time, but neither
sight nor sound brought intelligence OF
the captain. At last could bear the sus-
pense no longer, and I began to walk
slowly toward the bow. When l thought
had reached the location of the hatch
way and was on the point of coming to
halt, I struck my foot against something
and fell, the planks of the deck seeming
to open and engulf me.
While still descending through space
realized what had happened-the hatch
way had been opened, and had fallen in
to the hold. A second later found my
self lying between two bags of wheat more
frightened than hurt, and with the fumes
of chloroform almost suffocating me. Be-
fore trying to rise discovered that was
not in total darkness, and that dim light
came from somewhere, but not from
above, was sure. Presently a muff1ed
groan reached me from the direction Of
the STERN and ON looking over my Shout
der saw the STOPPING form of man out
lined by tho rays Of a lantern in front OF
him, about 20 feet away.
I gained my feet with some difficulty
and was about to step forward when tho
ship gave lurch, and was thrown
lengthwise against the hull. Before l
could stand up again the bent form as
sumed an upright posture, and recognized
tho big Dane. Muttering incoherently, he
picked up the lantern and started toward
| the place where had first fallen, off to
my left.
Whether it was fear, the shock cause by
striking the hull or the effects Of the
chloroform that kept me from trying to
get up am not prepared to say, but did
not attempt to move hand or foot.
AS the light drew near discovered a
rope dangling from the deck. When the
Dane drew near this rope, he deposited his
lantern beside him, rubbed his big hare
hands together with loud, rasping moist
and laughed low, fendish sort Of chuckle
which fairly chilled my blood A moment
later his merriment subsidized, and taking
hold of the rope with one hand he pickct
up the lantern with the other. expected
to see him run his arm through tho han
die of the lantern and go, hand over hand
through the hatchway, but he was in NJ
hurry and began to talk in a harsh under
tonc
$50 far, so good, King Qvistgard, " hi
said. "a million pounds of diamonds
sewed up in silk sacks all my own. Oh
what royal present for my ebony prin
cess! Fifteen days more and I shall reigl
supreme. The two mates and the captain
are now my lo--el subjects, and tomorrow
night the pass gerwill join them. Ther
como me hoartics, Hutton and the littl
Welshman, and so on down the list. Fla
ha, ha, ha!'
Never until that awful moment had
heard tho bloodcurdling laugh of ma
MAC, but recognized it as quickly as i
had passed my days inside the walls of
madhouse. Before l knew it my strength
or courage, or both, suddenly returned
and arose cautiously to my feet discov
ering at the same time the revolver whicl
had fallen from my hand when l stumbled
on tho deck. 1t was lying almost at tn
feet of tho Dane. Advancing slowly,
stopped and was about to pick up tn
weapon, but before could get hold Of l
the ship lurched again, collided with TIL
mailman, and we went down together.
The revolver escaped me- the light il
tho lantern was extinguished, and ther
was scream, piercing cry of fright an
anguish, such as only terror stricken
mailman can utter. And then, with tina
awful shrek ringing in my cars and tn
strong fingers of the dementcd Dan
clutching my throat, became insensible
When consciousness returned, was ly
ing in my BERTH 1t was daylight, an
Hutton was standing beside me. AS 500
as I was able to talk he told me that jus
after dark ON the previous evening hol
rible cry was heard coming from the diret
ton Of the main hatchway, and that whc
the little Welshman -and several othe
; sailors rushed to the spot the raving Dan
was seen to climb up rope from tho hole
As soon as he gained the deck he IA
screaming to the rail and threw himsel
into the sea. was found, more dead tina
alive, and taken to my cabin. Soon ATTIC
0 the captain and the two mates were dis
covered, gagged and bound, near the spo
. where had first seen the Dane The car
0 tain recovered from the effects of tn
Q chloroform which had been administers