Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-01-20


waste oil time. Howsomever. sperrits
don't reckon for much, by what I've
seen. III chance it with the sperrits.
Jim. And now. you've spoke up free.
ana III take it kind if you'd step down
INTO that there cabin and get me "a
well, a-shiver my timbers! | can't hit
The name ont; well, you get me bottle
OF wine, Jim-this here brandy's too
strong for my head"
Now the cockswain's hesitation
seemed to be unnatural; and as for the
notion of his preferring wine to brandy.
! entirely disbelieved it. The whole
story was a pretext. He wanted me to
leave the deck-so much was plain; but
with what purpose l could in no way
imagine. His eyes never met mine;
they kept wandering to and fro. up and
down, now with a look TO the sky, now
with a fitting glance upon the dead
O'Brien. All the time he kept smiling.
and putting his tongue out in the most
guilty, embarrassed manner, so that a
child could have told that he was bent
on some deception. was prompt with
my answer, however, for l saw where
my advantage lay; and that with a fell
low so densely stupid | could easily
conceal my suspicious to the end.
Some wine?" / said. Ear better.
viii you have white or red?"
We'll, | reckon it's about the blessed
same to me, shipmate, he replied; so
it's strong. and plenty of il, what's the
odds?"
IAN right" l answered. TN bring
you port, Mr.. Hands. But I'll have to
dig for it,"
With that | scuttled down the com
panion with all the noise ! could.
slipped off my shoes, ran quietly along
the spared gallery. mounted the fore
castle ladder, and popped my head out
of the fore companion. knew he
would not expect 10 see me there; yet
took every precaution possible; and
certainly the worst Of my suspicious
proved too true.
He had risen fronshis position TO his
hands and knees; and, though his leg
obviously hurt him pretty sharply
when he moved-for ! could hear him
stifle a groan-yet it was at good, rat
Ting rate that he trailed himself across
the deck. In half a minute he had
reached the port scuppers, and picked
out of a coil of rope long knife, or
rather a short dirk. discolored to the
hilt with blood He looked upon it for
d moment, thrusting forth his under
jaw. tried the point upon his hand. and
then. hastily concealing it in the bosom
OF his Jacket, trundlcd back again into
his old place against the bulwark.
This was all that required 70 know
israel could move about; he was now
armed. and If be had been at so much
trouble 10 get rid Of me, il was plain
.hat was meant 10 be the victim.
II hat he would do Observation-Disclosures
ne would try TO crawl right across the
sland from North inlet to the camp
among The swamps, or whether he
would tire Long Tom. trusting that his
own comrades might come first TO help |
him. was. of course. more than could !
say.
Yet fell sure that coud trust him
10 one point since in that our interests
Jumped together. aud that was in the |
disposition OF the schooner. We both de
sired 10 have her stranded safe enough. |
IL a sheltered place, and so that, when |
he time came. She could be got off |
again with as little labor and danger as
night be; and until that was done J
considered that my life would certainly |
1e spared.
While was thus turning the business
,ver in my mind had not been idle
with my body had stolen back to the
,abin. slipped once more into my shoes
md laid my hand at random on bottle
# wine. and now. with this for an ex-
use, made my reappearance on the
ieck.
Hands lay as had left him. al fallen
opether in a huddle. and with his eye
ids lowered. as though he were TOO
weak TO bear the light. He looked up,
however, at my coming. Knocked the
leck off the bottle. like man who had
lone the same thing often, and took
rood swig. with his favorite toast of
here's luckl" Then he lay quiet for
title. and then. pulling out stick OF
obacco. begged me to cut him quid.
"Cut me a junk o that" says he, for
haven't no knife, and hardly strength
.nough. so be as had. All. Jim. 'Sm.
reckon I've missed stays! Cut me a
uid ASH likely be the last. lad; for I'm
or nv long home. and no mistake.
We'll" said |. IN cut you some to-
,acco; but if was you and thought
myself so badly. | would go TO my
,ravers, like a Christian man."
"Why?" said be. Now. you tell me
Why"
..Wkyg" cried You were asking
ne Just now about the dead. You've
,roken your trust; you've lived in sin
nd lies aud blood; there's a man you
He'd lying at your feet this moment;
nd YOU ask me why! For Gods mercy,
lr. Hands. that's why"