The Portland daily press., 1894-07-31
knives. We could then make for the near


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 I should go on 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 l passed near them
they quickly dispersed. The big Dane was
leaning over the rail near the log, silent
ana apparently watching with absorbed
attentipc the receding foam capped waves
in the shsp's wake.
Before shutdown all our weapons had
been oiled, examined and loaded, the cap
tain and myself secreting 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. I 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 a 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 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, TO- Is 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 began to walk
slowly toward the bow. When I thought
I had reached the location of the hatch
way and was on the point of coming to q
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 I 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 I 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 l saw the STOPPING form of man out
| lined by the rays of lantern in front of
him, about 20 feet away
| I gained my feet with some difficulty
and was about to step forward when the
ship gave lurch, and I was thrown
lengthwise against the hull. Before ]
| could stand up again the bent form as
sumed an upright posture, and recognized
the big Dane. Muttering incoherently, he
| picked up the lantern and started toward
the place where / had first fallen, off to
| my left.
4 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 I discovered a
| rope dangling from the deck. When the
| Dane drew near this rope, he deposited his
lantern beside him, rubbed his big hard
hands together with loud, rasping noise
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 picked
up the lantern with the other. expected
to see him run his arm through the han.
die of the lantern and go, hand over hand
through the hatchway, but he was in nc
hurry and began to talk in harsh under
tone.
$50 far, SO good, King Qvistgard, he
said. "A million pounds of diamonds
sewed up in silk sacks all my own. Oh
what royal present for my ebony prin
cessl Fifteen days more and shall reigr
supreme Tho two mates and the captain
are now my loyal subjects, and tomorrow
night the passenger will join them. Then
come me hearties, Hutton and the little
Welshman, and SO on down the list. Ha
ha, ha, ha!'
Never until that awful moment had
heard the bloodcurdling laugh of ma
MAC, but I recognized it as quickly as il
had passed my days inside the walls of {
madhouse. Before 1 knew it my strength
or courage, or both, suddenly returned
and arose cautiously to my feet, discov
ering at the same time the revolver which
had fallen from my hand when I stumbled
| on the deck 1t was living almost at thu