The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1897-01-08
GHOST OF THE PENGUIN"
BY WILL LISENBEE.

For more than a week the Penguin
had laid at anchor in the little harbov
at Rastia. She was small schooner, 4
weather-beaten, lubberly craft, with
her yards splintered and one of her
maStS broken, yet she looked strongly
picturesque, standing with bare poles
against the flaming .uEset sky, as
allowed my little boat to drift before
the gentle breeze.
Aboard the craft there were no signs
of life visible, and | knew that Mug
gins must he ashore, filling himself
with rum. as was his custom when
Capt. Darke was absent.
My old friend, the captain. had been
beating about the Mediterranean with
his lubberly schooner for half a score
of years, and so he might still have been
engaged, but for the arrival of 4 letter
at Bastia telling him of newly-in-
herited fortune left him by an uncle
who had been living in Florence.
But upon receipt of the goods new he
was off at once, leaving his disabled
schooner in charge of Muggins, an old
sailor who was more honest than sober
As nv boat drifted alongside the
Penguin [ perceived a rope trailing
over the port side, and. making my lit
tie craft fast, I drew myself upon deck.
| looked about me, but no one was
visible. II was evident that | was the
only soul aboard the Penguin.
| threw myself on a camp-stool in the
shadow of the sail and fell to regard
ing the range of dark hills that rose
hack of the romantic little city. Pres
emily | was interrupted by the sound of
oars. and Il few moments later Mug
gins tawny head appeared over the rail.
He started when he saw me, and was
about To beat hasty retreat when my
voice stopped him.
Bless me. / thought you We're 4
ghost. l did, by the powersl" he said,
seeming well pleased that his fears had
not been realized.
We'll. now. what the deuce is there
about me. Muggins. to make you think
me Il ghost?' | asked.
"Oh. it isn't that you look like a
ghost, Mr.. Raymond" he returned,
arologetically. But, you see, when Il
cove is looking to see Il ghost. he's pret-
~ certain to take the first live thing his
eyes fall on for what he's looking for
Then you were expecting TO see
something of the supernatural kind?"
That's fact, Mr.. Raymond, though
'tain't often cove is believed when he
tells such a story. There's a ghost on
this old hulk. or else I'm losing my eye
sight"
And you really believe in such non
scnse?''
Il believe what l sees, that's ALL
What did you see?"
We'll, since you ask, | don't mind
telling YOU. You see, since Capt.
Darke went away and the crew was dis
charged, the Penguin has been under
my care. and | have been sleeping
aboard the vessel and SPEEDING most
Of my time here. Last night about two
o'clock | woke, thinking | heard some
thing moving near me. | was sleeping
in my cot on the deck, and as | looks
about me l sees a woman, all in white,
moving like a specter right by the
natchwaS. While | was watching. it
seemed TO sink into the deck and disaP-
pear I'm not the man tn run from a
single night-prowlCr, but | f>lt qucCi-
like at this. and can't see how omaI.
could he on the Penguin. Thinking she
might have descended the companion
ladder. | goes down with lantern. but
fiT,lsenothing. Then | looks all over
the ship with the same result | slept
no more that night, and though look
after the ship during the day. shan
sleep here again if know myself, call
it gacst or what you will"
With this he picked up a lantern and
descended to his boat that lay along
side.
Then l shall spend the night here
and lay your ghost for you,'I said
You'll greatly obIigc me if you WILL. -
he returned, though I'll he blowcd if
| think YOU succeed. Good evening
Mr Raymond. I'll drop alongside early
in the morning and sec how you have
Jared. There's the key to my cabin,
he added. tossing the key upon the
deck You'll find pipes and plenty OF
tobacco, and a sip of rum in Il decanter.
| if you look close. Now again good
night to you"
His oars dipped into the water, and
! he was gone.
Dusk was already settling over the
| water. | took a seat Oh the deck and lrt
! "a cigar. and began running over in my
| mind some of the events that had be-
fallen me since my arrival in Corsica
| For more than three months L had
| been staying in the romantic little
| island. finding n restful charm in its
| s;uiet seciusion that was pleasing con
trast to the life | had been spending
| for the past two years IN the gay capital
of the restless and pleacure-loving
| French.
One is not likely to expect to meet
with adventures of the thrilling kind
in the peaceful precincts of Bastia, yet
something bordering upon this had
come to my lot less than a month be
| fore.
For the amateur artist the quaint lit
tie city will furnish many subjects foI
the pencil and brush. and had made
good my opportunities since my ar
rival.
The most priced among my collec
ton was the portrait of Neda, the litt,
! Corsican fruit-seller. There was some
thing fascinating in her very pose, ano
the dark beauty of her face had draw
me to her as if by some subtle witchery
One evening, as ] was strollins
| through the streets. | heard cry o
mortal terror come from the court of ;
ruined building where several poo
families had taken their abode, and en-
tering hastily | perceived an age
woman withered bag. with uplifte'
knife in the act of striking a girl Nh'
was crouched in the corner of the wall
struck the knife aside, and tn
would-be murIlerNsS fled. leaving m
face TO face Win VEGA, the ihtehue'
| victim