The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-01-15
COPYRIGHT. 1890. ey me Aurnos.


The moon was dark that night. but
the sea line ran firm and black against
a sort of faintness like the lunar dawn
itself in the clear-obscure low down.
and the stars were many, and some OF
them splendid The wind poured in
steady hum out of the cloudless dusk
sparkling to windward, and the mate,
when they hove the log little before
eight bells, made the speed S1 knots.
Mr.. Poole relieved Mr.. Matthews at
midnight and walked the deck of the
darkened ship watching her as she rush
ed onward, bulky, leaning phantom,
from truck to main tack as pale as foam
in moonshine. Just when he had walk
ed out his first hour the man at the
wheel called to him and said that he
felt unwell and asked TO be relieved.
ship that is shredding the dark waters
of the night at little less than nine
knots under the heavy impulse of cam
vas to the royal yards needs surer grip
than a sick hand can hold her with.
Many league can be wasted on such a
night as this by bad steering, The de-
grees of the disorder that governed the
helm would be indicated by the curves
of the wake, and now that the Queen
had "a fair wind and "a good wind 1T was
to be "A bee line with her keel or it
wouldn't be Mr.. Poole's fault.
Thus thinking, he advanced to the
rail at the break of the poop and hailed
the forecaste A man came aft and
took the wheel from Bill. Bill COM
planned of spasms, and before he let go
of the wheel he had writhed at the
spokes in many attitudes of pain.
go forward and turn in, )" said the
good natured second mate. "Ill send
you drop of brandy along out of the
cuddy by the first chance l get "
The man bent nearly double, walked
slowly toward the lee poop ladder, down
which he disappeared, but he had not
been ont of sight minute when Poole,
who remained aft coming the fresh
helm, saw head and shoulders at the
brink of the lee deck, and Bill, still
bowed, returned in as great hurry as
his posture of anguish would admit OF,
while he dumbly waved his hand as
though in torture. The second mate ran
to meet him.
"What you Think" gasped the sea-
man in a voice hoarse and horrible
with suffering and surprise. 1.-The cud-
dy's full of men!'
"Eh?" said the second mate, sending
a swift glance at the skylight without
moving.
"Theres some Of 'em on the quarter
deck. Mind your eye, sir. They're arm
ed. I"
Mr.. Poole rushed to the ladder and
! looked over. He saw six men grouped
close and seemingly waiting. They
were Just under the cuddy front. There
was no light to know their faces by,
but he recognized some of them by their
shapes and stature, and at once called
out, 81 say, Mr.. Davenire, what are all
you people doing down there at this
time of night;'
When he had said this, voice in the
group growled, "There's your chance, "
and in an instant the great figure OF
Davenire sprang up the ladder.
A chill. sick thrill of horror ran
through the young officer when he saw
revolver in the grasp OF the man,
revolver Of the old pattern, but much
in use at that age, easily visible to the
second mate by reason of its bulk OF SIX
barrels as it swung at the dreadful fist
of Mr. Davenire.
"Be quiet and I'll not hurt you" ex
claimed the huge fellow, graspine
Poole.
''Help! Murderl They're Selling the
shipp' shrieked the second mate The
voice went to pieces in echoes aloft i
rang forward like boatswain's pipe.
Jump and secure them in th'
fox 'sle, I" Numbered Davepire, and swift
as the shadows of birds flying dowl
the wind the five on the quarter decl
sped, three to port and two to starboart
into the forward darkness all about thu
windlass and the galley and the fore
mast.
"Help They're seizing the ship!'
shrieked the second mate afresh, ant
the young heart of oak fell a-wrestlinI
like q demon with his giant opponent
For some moments his strength Of fea
| dIlu sbaSSCltu i"NShhNt N'N w,
tered to the very edge of his fall.
you'll yell, you screech owl, viii
your" he said. He shifted his arm an
raised his heavy weapon as if he woul
brain the man. No, the intention wa
changed in the instant Of its conception
and in another heart beat he had griI
ped him, choking, by the throat and wa
hauling him helpless as a child to tn
companion hatch.
, The seaman had gone right aft, an
now stood doubled up by cramp alone
side the helmsman.
"Hold this wheel, Bill, F" said the fe
low, letting go the spokes.
, Back If you move one little stel
, I'll put bullet through your head,
? cried Davenire, keeping his hold OF tt
{ second mate and pointing his reyoly'
, at the approaching seaman. sl