Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1894-11-21
1 Instantly ran att and repeateo tine

Aoo'AOu az ING So0eu4couIy Will ulS grave,
funeral black eyes and exclaimed in a
dull, slow way:
''Scuttle! Nonsense, sirl Who would
commit such crime aboard this ship!
Go below with the steward and report
what you hear and see. +"
was astonished by his cool reception
of piece Of news that, whether the
steward was mistaken or not, must be
charged with significance even i'll the
lightest, most careless whisper of it.
l straightvay descended the compan-
ion steps, and the steward followed me
by way of the cuddy front. We entered
the steerage, part of the hold under
the saloon OF cabin deck. Four cabins
were bulkheaded off on either hand.
They were now used mainly as store
rooms. In their day they had been stock
ed with passengers, for the Sultan was
an old ship, and Is years earlier than
the date of this story had not been with
out renown as a brisk, comfortable,
roomy elmer, with regular sailings
from Blackwell for Australian ports.
We entered the after cabin ON the
port side and stood listening. A small
heave of swell ran through the lightly.
wrinkled sea. Sounds Of the straining'
of cargo in the hold were audible, and
you heard now and again the sudden
shock and jar of the huge rudder turn
ing with the swell, then sharply arrest
ed by its gear. But there was no need
to hearken long.
In a minute or two distinctly heard
a fountainlike running of water. 1t was
nearly dark. I bade the steward jump
for light. He returned with a lantern,
and on throwing the light against that
part of the lining or inner wall whence
the trickling noise proceeded instant
ly discovered two anger holes neatly
plugged.
Good mercyl' shouted in a sud-
den fright. ''The ship has been holed
and will be sinking under our feet as
we stand here. -
I told the steward to remain in the
cabin with the lantern and rushed on
deck, shouting for the carpenter to lay
aft. While Shirley was coming I re-
ported what had seen to the captain,
who stiffened himself with dramatic
start of surprise.
Muttering in low, solemn, preach
ing voice: SIS it possible? Who has
done such thing?' he went below with
more alacrity than / had ever before
witnessed in him.
I hastily explained the stewards s dis
covery to the carpenter, who rushed
forward to his tool chest He came
along quickly with the boatswain, and
we three went below, where we found
the captain in a listening posture. view
ing the plugged holes by the light of
the lantern he held.
The carpenter quickly whipped the
plugs out, and sure enough in the outer
side or wall of the ship were two holes
through which the brine was gushing
with q dialnondlike flash in the lantern
light as the streams arched betwixt the
outer wall and the inner skin, slowly
filling the hold.
The holes were promptly plugged and
the we'll sounded. Two feet of water
was made. The pumps were manned
and presently sucked, proving all tight
and well with the auger holes
There was an ominous growl Of won
der and temper among the men as they
piled the brakes or stood near, waiting
to relieve the pumping gang. The cap
tain called mo and asked if had any
suspicion.
"None, sir" I answered. 81 can't
imagine any man aboard capable of SO
a crime -
He took several turns, lostin thought
I see him now, pacing abreast of me,
skewered up in sort of frock coat,
hands behind him, figure erect.
The dusk had gathered around The
sky was full of brilliant stars, hover
ing sheet of prisms and crystals, with
a scar of young moon in the west and
great play of lightning down upon our
port quarter. Presently the captain stop
ped and addressed me afresh, but our
talk led to no other conclusion than
tempted to scuttle the ship.
All hands passed very restless night
Captain Jortin was necessarily up and
about. During the middle watch, which
was mine, his shadowy figure was re-
peatedly shaping itself out of the COM
panion hatch and fitting in ghostly
fashion about the deck.
I had some earnest conversation with
the boatswain and carpenter, but none
of us could make head nor tail of this
piece of rascality nor in the dimmest
degree conjecture who was the villain
who had attempted the atrocious act.
went below at eight bells-that is,
at O'Clock in the morning-frst TAX
ing care to go the rounds of the after
part of the ship, very carefully looking
into each cabin and peering and listen
ing. Somehow had fancy that there
might be stowaway on board, intent
on criminal purpose, in league, for all
I knew, with some one interested in the
vessel to defraud the underwriters. See
ing and hearing nothing, I withdrew to
my berth and turned in.
slept soundly, and at s O'Clock turn
ed out and went on deck. The first per-
son met was the boatswain, Matthews.
He said to me, ''The captain seems to
have made up his mind, sir. - !
''On what?"
GAS to the man who's holed the ship"
"Have they discovered him?"
"Jackson's in irons. That's all I can
say, SIR" he answered, with singular
of incredulity and temper in
his face
Just then the captain came out of the
cuddy, and Matthews went forward.
Mr.. Fletcher said Captain Jortin,
beckoning me to him and speaking in a
low, level, preaching voice, 1--WE shall
be able to prove that Jackson's the man
who attempted to scuttle the ship.
"Indeed?' said I, vastly astonislled.
Jackson was an able seaman in my
watch. 1 had always found him a re-
spectacle, willing, alert sailor. "What
in that man has excited your suspicion,
sir?''
Il heard him muttering the other
day." said he, when he was at work on
a sail stretched along this poop Every
time I passed ne glanced askance at me
and muttered. don't like the mans
looks. He has q hanging face. Then
again yesterday afternoon he was OBJ
served to go forward as though he was
Just come out of the cuddy.''