Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-24

And the heart Of il, tco," says Mr.
Peter johnson. IF this water could be
kept smooth. you'd see the CLEANS of
tie wakes Of whalers crossing and re-
crossing one another. Nothing but
whalers here. How long has yonder
vessel been in that state? Probably not
three days. And here's a splendid little
ship already alongside Of her, willing.
/ presume, to do anything and every
thing i'll the name of humanity. What
the deuce. then! Where would the cru
city be? I'd board her and take nv
chance of rescue in "a hours for 100
sovereigns. Well, 10, not in "a hours"
says he. with o look up ut the lofty,
serene sky.
"whcre have they put Burn?' eaid
Masters.
"Alcng with Shannon" answered
Caldwell. "Devenire takes his berth
Shannon will have bucket Of cold wa.
ter at hand, and il is agreed that he
shall tilt drencher over the squealer
should ever he start on one Of his mid
night syeeteners again
Meanwhile, watched with deep inter-
est by all the passengers ON the poop.
the boat reached the side Of tine wreck,
where she was maneCyered so cs TO
board clear Of the trailing rattle. Mr..
Poole sprapg into the main chains and
was followed by a seaman. The others
showed of and hung within easy hail.
She had a small deck cabin aft, with
two windows and door locking for
ward. and forward, Just abaft the gal
ley. was house in which her seamen
had slung their hamnocks. Poole and
the sailor went first of all to icok ut the
galley fire. They stared about them as
they went. Her decks were COMPARE
lively clear, ard il was certain she had
been light ship. bound for a cargo.
What man on boarding derelicts Of
this sort can conjecture tho sight that
is to greet him? Death ut sea is hor-
ribly farciful artist. Poole remembered
once boarding vessel abandoned as this
was and being confronted on getting
over TIE side by frigh,ful mask Of
face that swayed and moved in the cage
of a heap of fallen shrouds. He was for
flying. The mask had firm squirt and
was n,us,ached. Its gestures conveyed
a ghnstly threat to Poole; but, rallying
his heart and looking close, the mate
beheld the figure Ct dead man so en-
tangled in the rigging, whose ends lay
| over the side, that at every lift Of swell
the head motioned living menace.
There was nothing of the kind, how
ever. to he seen here. Poole and the
man walked war;ly to the galley and
peered into tiny caboose with a filed
floor, sort of sentry box seized to the
deck. Strange il had not gone with the
masts. Some brown coal vapor, thin as
the smoke from a tobacco pipe, lazily
crawled into the chimney ont of the al
most extinct embers Of n FIRE. So, then,
she had not been abandoned.
They looked into the deckhouse and
found nothing bat few hammocks and
some odds and ends of clothes. Mr..
Poole hailed the Queen.
''Hello!' sang back old Captain Ben
son.
MAYBE. sir, if you were TO send a
hand alcft with the glass he'll make out
signs Of boat. for the galley fires not
yet out"
The white haired skipper raised his
hand, and Mr.. Poole, followed by the
sailor, went eft.
They had gained the gangway and
were within q dozen PAGES Of the door
Of the after deck house, when they came
to halt as though shot or paralyzed
Full in the doorway stood q figure. II