St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1894-07-05

unless YOU hee0 this Warning. AC0l
me ten minutes before the close of the
second dog-watch, just aft the main
hatchwav, and 1 will tell you every
thing. In the mean time do not
speak TO me or send for me, for we
are closely watched. l am supposed
to side with the crew. The least
mistake would be fatal Don't tell
the passenger. He may be all right,
but | doubt it. For Gods sake,
captain, don go near the rail.
Dom tell the passenger" l NUT
tered ds l looked at the captain. not
only horrOr-stricken at the contents
of the note, but surprised and hurt
at the uncomplimentary reference to
myself But the captain, who must
have OWNED my thoughts, relieved
my mind on this point by saying:
That's all right, my dear Vincent.
The fellow is only trife over
cautious. Don't mind him. would
trust you with the ship, and my life
too, for th-t matter. You see l
have shown my confidence by allow
ing you to read the note. Now, L
want your advice. Your assistance
l shall'count on without the asking,
when the times comes.
THANK you, captain" l answer
ed. ITO start with, l should GER
tainly not 60 on deck till it is time
to meet the Dane, if were you"
My companion had now regained
his composure to a certain extent,
and sat for a moment drumming the
table with his fingers.
who has the watch now ?" [
continued presently.
Hutton, the tall seaman with the
scar on the back Of his hand" was
the answer. He is acting as first
mate, and l had decided to give
ZONES, the little Welshman, the posi-
ton of second tomorrow. Both are
fairly good navigators, and, by all
the gods, l cant understand it! l
could have sworn that these two
men were as true as the dead mates
even, until 1 got this warning from
Qvistgard. But he is right, my boy,
he is right. All this comes from
that unfortunate Bates affair. l
wonder who is the leader? If he
could be shot or placed in irons, it
might quell the others. Have you a
pistol ?"
"a small pocket affair."" an
swered.
Il have too large ones and repeat
ing rife in my chest" continued the
captain. How would it do to
batten down the hatchway of the
forecastle when part of the dogs are
below at supper and pump lead into
the rest of them? I don't believe
they are armed, unless they have a
few knives. We could then make for
the nearest port"
"Better wait till you see the
Dane" l replied. He may be able
to give YOU the name of the leader"
For an hour or more we continued
to plan, but without being able to
decide on anything definite. At last
it was agreed that l should go on
deck and see what could be learned
there In half an hour l returned
with anything but favorable news.
The men were talking guardedly IN
groops, and when l passed near
them they quickly dispersed. The
big Dane was leaning over the rail
near the log, silent, 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 load
ed, the captain and myself secret1ng
the revolvers about our persons, and
leaving the rife for the Dane.
The sky had clouded over late in
the afternoon, and night, gloomy
he
schooner.
"The very elements seem to be in
sympathy with this cursed bust
ness said the captain, when it
began to grow so dark in the cabin
that we could hardly make out each
others faces, land feel 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 COM
panion-ladder and stole softly on
deck. l followed him part way, but
stopped, according to his directions,
and stood with my head and
shoulders above the companion
way, ready, in case of an emergency,
to lend any assistance that might lie
in my power.
never looked into a blacker night.
The air was soft and warm, and fit
ful gusts of wind dashed few cool
| ing raindrOps against my face, as l
| held on TO my revolver 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 groan-
ing of the masts and the creaking OF
the vard-arms, 1 could not hear his
footsteps after he had gone half a
dozen PAGES. He carried no lantern,
but several lights glimmered fore
and aft, dancing and shifting un-
steadily about, like veritable will-o'-
the-wisps. None, however, were