Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-09-07
CHAPTER XVI.
THE CABIN OF THE PHANTOM.

THE CABIN OF THE PHANTOM.
With my mind lost to all else save the
calculation of the speed and distance we
were making, and my body braced forward
awaiting the proper moment to swerve the
boats course, l was suddenly startled by a
quick exclamation from Ames, which was
at once followed by rasping bump and
the heeling of the scow until the water
poured in over the gunwae. At the same
moment the starboard oar received blow
that almost tore it from my hand, and what
seemed huge black object arose along.
side and quickly vanished in the mist and
darkness astern. The suddenness and
smartness of the shock were startling; but,
quick as were the appearance and disap-
pearance of the obstruction we had fouled,
l recognized it to be the spar bucy which
marked the outer edge of the reef extend
ing from the Hook into the river.
One might have cruised a week under the
conditions besetting us and failed to haze
picked it up. 1t was like cropping thro.rh
the proverbial haystack and finding the
proverbial needle without having Looked for
it, and, though its greeting had well-nigb
keen disastrous, it gave me the one point
wished with absolute accuracy. l nov
knew that we were nearly dead on tx
Phantom, and not two cable lengths away:
indeed, had we missed the rude warning 81
the spar, it was but fair to reckon we woulS
have fouled the schooner herself unless in
my miscalcuations had altered our coursa.
in which case we would have missed hec n.
together.
Quickly turning the boats head about,
let it drift stern first, and even before ct.
pected, heard the rush of the tide againEt
vessels stem, while almost instantly, mag
Eifed through the fog, doomed up like
blank wall the bow of the schooner.
So suddenly were we upon it thai the jib
boom was well over US before sighted the
black hull, and with all my might checked
the boats way, grasping the bobstay in
time to save the taut cable, and we tHme to
a rest. The suck of the rushing watera
against the broad, fiat end of the scou
made me fearful that the noise wou.t eau
the guards attention forward, and, wllis-
pering into the ear of Ames to hold all fast
until l returned, gently rid me Of my boots,
took my sword betwiXt my teeth, swarD,ed
up the stay to the bowsprit, and stood again
on the deck of my own schooner.
At last twas done. The exultation feA
would be but natural to any man who secs
the successful ending of a difficult under
taking. Fog and darkness were as nothing
tc me here; my way aft would have been
clear had | been blind, but hardly had I
gotten abreast the foremost when l heard
the burly tones of one man addressing an
other, and the noise of oars as they fell ints
rowlocks came plainly to my strained car.
Stepping softly over the bulwark, lowered
myself to the channel and listened.
'An' yet get astray in the fog an come not
back by dawn, III have We in the guard
house for bein' off post" said the voice from
the deck.
"Nay," came the answer from 4 boat;
Eye do me a good turn by giving me this
leave; fear me not. III ne'er betray you or
fail to be back in time for you to get ashore.
IT'S summers fog, an will melt by sun
rise! Tell him I will fetch the rum"
Fetch it, then, but not in yer skim" was
the return. IF they speak O me, say -
heard l was going on quest to Kingsbridge,
to be back on the morrow. Ye had better
Delay yer lip, for ye are off post, an hold
ye in my hand"
cay, ay! Never fear! Good night" was
the answer, and the boat moved off with
steady strokes of the car, while the first
speake: evidently entered the cabin, as
Then all was again silent.
Here was an unexpected situation made
more mysterious from the fact that there
was something familiar in the voice of the
man who had just gone below. l could not
place it, only noticing that both men spoke
with the SAVIOR of sea brine in their wordA
and though one was totally strange to me,
the voice of the other hung in my ear as .
misty dream hangs in the mind after WAY
ing, naught but its effect remaining.
Getting to the deck again, l moved slow.
Iy aft, stopping as / noticed a slight luminos.
ity at the side of the cabin, but on further
cautious approach found the cause. The
cabin was lighted. To prevent the light
from going beyond the vessel tarpaulin
had been stretched over the cabin house
from rail to rail, thus leaving an open space
he.wixt the rails and the headlights, where
by was served the double end of obtaining
air and guarding the outward show of light.
Here was deviltry for sure. Dropping On
to my stomach, snaked myself beneath the
tarpaulin, brought my eye to the swung
back port, and nearly betrayed myself BY
the start made.
ITO BE CONTINUED