San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-10

mate 10 place the powder ana Dali III
my cabin"
They found the ammunition untouch-
ed. 1t had been slowed in the stewards
pantry, and they might have hunted
for it all night but for John, who, ON
the yester morning, having tumbled ON
his knees to explore a small cupboard
for al oil can, had handled the powder
and ball without knowing what they
were. They all knew that the ship car
ried no more ammunition than this.
Mr.. Matthews placed the stuff in the
captains cabin, as commanded, and re-
turned on deck to report. The old skip
per was astounded.
whats the good of muskets with
out powder and shot, sir?"
"Unless the people who've stolen the
things brought powder and shot with
them, " said the mate.
81 don't believe it" said Captain
Benson irritably. "D'you think it's a
piece of horseplay? Some trick to scare
the women? The work of one of the
gentry belowp' he added, turning a
thumb down.
Here the second mate came up from
to leeward.
"Well, sir?" exclaimed the captain.
"I'm quite sure" said the second
mate, "that the weapons were thrown
through my cabin window overheard. "
she left his window shut and found
it open when you relieved him, SIR"
said the captain to the mate. ellis bed
is awash."
Looks to me, then, like some dirty
practical joke" said Mr.. Matthews,
land of course it will be the work Of
one of the ten of 'em."
"rd like to think So" said the cap
tain, Though it'll be a scandalous out
rage at that with a rousing bill on top
for the joker to pay, but better that the
arms should be overheard than secreted
in the ship, for what motive, sir,
should a man have for breaking open
an arms chest and plundering such a
collection as we carried?'
"I'd drain my heart Of its blood to
find ont who did it, SIR" said the Sec
ond mate, speaking with emotion. sid
give all my wages for this voyage to be
able to point him out. Look at the posi-
tion it puts me in, sir. You discover
that / previously knew one of the pas
sengers, and you talk to me about them
in a that lets me see you've
got your suspicious, and the next thing
that happens the arms chest in my cab
ms broken OPEN" He added, with a
rising rage hat forced an oath from
him, "It's enough to ruin a better man
than me-"
81 have made no charge, sir" ex-
claimed the captain sternly, falling
back a step and riding ON either leg,
as though he was about to spring, his
custom when his anger struggled with
his dignity. 81 have no doubt that
things are with you precisely al they
seem. You will help us to discover the
people who have committed this rob-
berry. This ship shall be thoroughly
searched, Mr.. Matthews, but quietly,
tomorrow after the cabin breakfast is
over. Have you any private arms?"
"None, sir, l regret to say"
"And you, sir?' said the skipper to
Poole.
"None, sir"
cts not of the crews doing" mutt
tered the captain after a pause. There's
nothing more to be said about it till
daylight"
The old man went below, but merely
to look at the ammunition and stow it
away. He then returned on deck and
walked it during the rest Of the night.
The mate paced the windward planks,
often sending a look through the sky
light, often pausing to bend his ear at
the companion hatch, often standing at
the brass rail forward and plunging his
sight into the deep shadows betwixt the
bulwarks. The shape of the second mate
showed shadowy to leeward. This ship
wanted a third officer. She brought IN
out, but the man, who was % years old,
immensely broad and a daring devil
aloft, had run with the rest at Sydney,
and the captain was unable to replace
him. The sailor at the wheel easily
saw there was something amiss, and on
going forward when relieved at four
bells he told his mates of the watch that
the captain was walking the deck arm
ed to the teeth, that the two mates were
watching likewise, and that he saw a
naked revolver swinging at Mr.. Poole's
fist as he passed by.
The dawn broke in a dim slate at the
edge of the working sea, flinging that
tender light of pensiveness which, as
Wordsworth says, stops just short of
sadness. And melancholy was the ocean
till the sun flashed it up into the blue
hollows and bright foam. 1t shone up
ON three gray faces. Old Benson looked
as if he had not been to bed for a month
and the mates as though they were just
out of Jail. Poole went below to clean
himself and send his bed to the galley,
with the consent of the mate, whose
watch it was below, and, while the men
were washing down, the captain called
Nj. Matthews to him and spoke thus:
"The more 1 think Of last nights