Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-31

from smoking when tie ladies had gone
to bed?
The shadowy figure of Captain Troll
iope came and went Oh the quarter deck
within sight Of tie mate, who watched
him as if lie feared he was going to
blow up the vessel. Not till eight bells
did that tail shape disappear. Mr.. Mat
thews, with some relief CT mind, then
saw it stalk into the eddy ard close its
own cabin door upon itself. johnson
and HaaLcy had by this time smoked
their pipes out and vanished. The CIR!
had not shown herself. One OK another
had found an excuse to listen tiptoo
fashion at her door. Once Hankey did
so; Shannon, too, and Caldwell, ell
uEdcr the pretense of drawing water
from :. filter abreast of Miss Mansei g
berth. but 10 sound had been heard, and
1t was Then felt ard EnGe-S.O cod by tie
coaspirators who we-o sober that the
girl, fer coed reasons SIZE wOa!d doubt
less he able 10 explain. hat. resolved 10,
to communicate what she had overheard
till the morning.
L was ilc" Dir. Pooie's turn to take
charge Of the skip. He arrived rrorIn. :
ly, ard when Tie mate was gene sent {;
lazy ElGGcc 1T tic sea, and tt thorough
awaken himself fcr the four Eoars' dat
fell 10 pacing the deck There had bee:
scro LEs:le forward ct eight bells yrhci
sUCh q the watch below az were il t.if
foiecGss,c turned Out, but all was Guici
again.
Scarcely was it o'clock i'll the morn
ing when a most dismal, r,eianchoIy
wa:i.ng was heard proceeding frcm the
sea, apparently right ahead. II was
something Ike the cry of the iacaal as
1t sEeaks TO the rivers edge for Il mea!
of black meat. bit startling and an,az-
Ing because so sudden, SO uncommon, SC
unexpected and wild and beastlike.
whats that?" said Mr.. Poole aloud
10 himself, and when that strange CRY
was repeated minute after, clearly pro.
ceeding as before from the sea RICH.
ahead. he yelled out again, whats
that?" loud and shrill.
The lookout man leaped to his feet
and sprang into the head to look over
the bows. The watch tumbled Oh to
their legs and ran confusedly to the
forecastle. Again sounded the meIan-
choly. long drawn, heart subduing,
wailing noise. and Mr.. Poole, wild with
lmpatlence and excitement, unable to
OBTAIN reply from the men, jumped on
the quarter deck and rushed forward
Thus were the principal decks for a
space rendered vacant The helmsman
was far aft. Nothing happening on the
quarter deck would &c visible to him.
What is it," cried the second mutc,
thrusting III among the men and look
ing over the bows.
II don't see nothing" said n sruT
voice. what the blazes is it or WAS
it?'
"Ain't that like raft ont thcre:"
exclaimed another.
Raft in your eye" grumbled Tom.
There's another man gene mad ard
another soul gone lest
Again it sounded. always ahead. vet
faint and seemingly il the air What is
one to compare that melancholy, az
frishting note to? Probably the Af.i-
can explorer may hear something ike it
when the cathedral gloom of tie mighty
forest has blackcned into midnight.
Seems to be draw ing ahead Of Us,
SAID man IN hoarse whisper Of fear
and awe.
Where's the gale bowed Us to:''
said another. "SCit, my eyes if the
Red sea- amt aboard
Hold yorr Jaw" cries the second
mate, "and Use your eyes. What q you
see:''
Damned if Gca't think it comes
froin aicft'' said "a sailor And turn ing
his back Oh the rail he lifted his chin
and stared straight up 1T the fore royal.
Hello! hello! Why. what tine bloom
, ing h,aZes is that: roals Tc1r, writing
, and staggering and pointing.
They locked. The figure of a man
was ROW to be seer--but as g, anoari
tica CT Notwithstanding The fiyi,c
jill boom end. a cold honor ran in tho
blood CT tie sup,rsii;ious saamen. \
dead silence fell upon them while thev
stared, aud not Tie least amazed and
terrified Of the eoScle.s was yc.ng Mr..
Poole. tho second mate.
FOX sic there csno z hail from
the lib boom ED, can any OF you tell
{. NE how tie cauce I'yc set out here?;'
Hang ,ce," mutterod the second
j niaic, "if J, isn't enc of the ten passeu.
gers Hello, you, SIR he shouted.
What are Yea doing cut there? LAWN.
Lay in! You'v alarmed the W hole ships
, company with this to,Yfoolery."
"Tonfcoiery." oriod back the gentle
mar, who continued 70 hestridc tie boom
f, end. Who's TIE iorfool that's nl.ved
this joke OF on me: Who's launched n.
ont on this dangerous place? II / let 60.
am killed mr1."
I rs lie ,ivunk??n said he second mate.
"Lunatic. So, fanatic. " gro~let Toc,.
4 I've must Lr;r2 Inn in said the
second Eate, ''Cr he'll be overheard
jump cat. soEio Of yea men, and help
him along"
But even rs be sroke these wo-t,s the
shallow at tie flying jib boom end had
cast its legs over and was sliding toward
the forecastle IL manner that instantly
satisfied tic experienced eyes Of the
lacks TINT l,ea