The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
CHAPTER I.-MR. LANFRANC. ALIAS
NORMAN


,s his confidence at the start of the voy-
sre hut he was one of those men who
nour out all their supposed business to
eyerv stranger they meet, without wait
ms, for the least encouragement.
was travelling steerage from Melbourne
f., southampton, having been unlucky in
nv Colonial speculatiOns, and had gone
early to the steamship to secure, if posi-
be. a comfortable berth. The steward
showed me one midway, and gave me my
choice of hunks; therefore, having fixed
that important point to my satisfaction, 1
piled in my luggage, and then prepared to
yet on deck and watch the farewells.
At this moment a couple of men came
10 the berth and decided on two of the
three spare hunks, and seeing that they
we're to be my companions 1 began to
stu dy them.
rhey appeared TO be friends, for they
we're chatting together. One was a big
TeDow of about thirty-five with the COM
pexion of a man who had spent a con-
siderable portion of his life in the land of
the cobra, cheetah, and prawn-curries.
The other was a rather peculiar-looking,
understood man of about forty, with griz-
lied beard, slate-tinted and shifty eyes.
He was dressed in a light and cheap check
suit, such as are sold in the ready-made
clothing stores of Sydney His boots, also
we're the Misunderstanding articles which
Sydney larrikins delight in and there was
that about his build and general appear
ance that made me conclude he was a
city-bred colonial. He was very chatty
and confidential in his manner, yet de-
cidedly in a nervous state of mind.
The big fellow brought with him several
travelling bags of strong leather, all new,
which he laid for the present in his bunk,
as I had done mine. The little man car
ried a few Colonial newspapers which he
likewise laid in his bunk, to signify that
4 it was occupied, and as he did this he i'm
parted his secret to me.
u have taken my ticket under the name
OF William Norman, but the TACT is, as
have already told our friend here, my
name is Lafranc; you have heard it doubt
less in connection with the wreck of the
Medusa."
YES" 1 replied, that was the name of
the first officer, who refused to give his
evidence"
Exactly; 1 am the same man. and that
Is the sole reason l am here, without a
scrap OF luggage, or even bit of tobacco
had to make a bolt for iC-of course you
Will Keep quiet about this till we get out OF
a australia tran. as l shouldn't care to be drag
of course we viii not mention it," we
made answer. Yet, DO you think 1t wise
10 20 away before your, examination is
over You were the sole survivor, you
see and as you told the board you had
been on deck at the time the vessel struck
, lhe reef, why should you not stop and
give the paruculars?'
Alr. Lafranc, or Norman, shook his head
/ vigorously, ana replied With noble air.
NO! l could not tell all l knew. for the
sake of my poor captain, who went down
WIN MS SllD 1t OhaSflV DoiSfa
OF ms all along, but he would not listen to
reason. | saw we were steering straight
LOT the reef, and warned him in time, but
ne was obstinate and would keep on. /
could not tell lie when the question was
put to me point blank, so what was left
me puI TO refuse to answer, and clear Off "
this?'' Jun 'iii0''e Aoi
1T is more than likely, yet I'm too much
VI salIor TO round on a ship-mate."
4. IL was very QuiXotic and foolish. I
thought coming away on a long Vovaee in
tniS nasty manner, without even an extra
snlrt; l had read the account of the
' "4Cch ana preliminary examination of the
V4LICeI' ana thought at the same time that
the witness had done considerably more
odlnaee TO the character of his drowned
GaPtain by his affectatiOn of mystery and
tV4usdi 20 dlVulge his knowledge, than if
ne had spoken out Somehow | was NOT
tdheh with hissvirtuous air of self-sacri-
NE ana devotion; neither did l think
tHdJ ne looked like a man who Would ruin
ms own future prospects for a sentinoent
IL ms sort, but it was too early yet 10
|JudSe him.
ssb dhat IN must have been dangerous swim
DSaI NSLe win all those sharks about?'
1Ou are right. This is exactly how IL |
,ra tPSHtq men l left the deck after my |
Iw65tCL' the captain took my place. l saw |
NJ nGIe we We're, and told the boss that it |
mds about time to alter his course, men |
uouiIS me reef on which she soon after
|eo CaufA lie said he knew all about the |
But the papers had 1t that YOU were on
MY at me time of the accident" | SAID, |
NJ " lltie surprise. Mr.. Norman gave
En- re5 ST5t , glance from his shifty eyes
,s me iee papers We're wrong then, for I had |
In ~, - tne deck and got into my bunk |
kyrecEsods h and pants. l have been |
bo eOheu DeIore and never go to sleep near
le coast without being partly dressed |
Fdtner nervous" ~
Yes, / see that"
rdo, am an uniucky beggar for getting
A o r,o as you will own, when you hear
NJ 81 my adventures. Well to go on
4Iben 't rs lasI escape, had just turned in
saln. needed no telling what had han
3Dde a. with bound | was up on deck.
49, O ~ d second too soon, for already the
/ "SIit,- was on my feet"
nat kind of night was it?" asked the
f.s1r"h-curry passenger.
eoEteiy moonlight, so that 1 could see
taptain a3 as clear as day, almost-the
II
SIid n ana the crew and passengers in a
Al blrd lily, Inc steamer went down like |
H. o ,n1t mas been shot while flying Be
~ (Uuld reach the side, the deck drop
favftt G2ln me- and L was laying on the
laying what?"
az sen, of course"
Al tto,,,, then struck out, without giving
X1 ibn1 10 the sharks. They were busy
NJ flg Nhnamen that we carried. l ex-
mn pt0t tney are fond of Chinese. and
Mau Az them quicker than for a white
Mnd I'm a' Ihe same, 1 got to the main
WHaI pretty exhausted condition"
nom on many women with your"
W 40 ,NeI me big fellow gently
NJ oHN nad no females on that pas
ii er t6e,,,e, wise ia have stopped 10 look
III C1ir,N. No, we had no women: most
n BE- ma1riirltsn and Malays," replied this he
4 nt to passenger appeared at this mo-
n me possession Of the only bunk
IN lshnsC ndt berth "a solomn-visaged
"A 8poi9oi,W WIN his luggage in his hands.
~ ma -'1eu Tor intruding. after the DO
Norr,.. 81 MS country, and to him
iIe via began 90 confide his secret
W rage ~ we big fellow | went up the
LII Wh8t 4Uder to the upper deck
<t rtb ~ you think of that party-the
as lcd b,.' ny think he should be cailed?7
Ky berth mate.
aat do exactly know" 1 replied.
WIZ YOU think?r
vi ich ia ae made two plain statements