Willmar tribune., 1899-06-21

the cabin, where I made shift to stop the
flow of blood, bind it up and get it into a
sling. Owing to the twist of the knife twas
an ugly cash, though, fortunately, no artery
was severed, and in the end it served me a
good turn instead of being source of great
trouble
My next step was to get my papers into
proper shape by destroying The regular clear.
ance, and twas here discovered the cause
OF the tone of my mate, for, though there
had been taken nothing of value besides, the
locker showed itself to have been riaed of
the false documents. To be without credcn-
tials showing my business on the high seas
we're as damning as to openly sail under the
fiag of the colonies, and the discovery of the
theft left me for the moment high and dry.
bethinking me, then, of the bare possibility
of Lounsbury having carried the matter with
him, l jumped to the deck for the purpose
Of overhauling his body.
A glance seward showed the schooner
now about two miles away, but bearing
straight for me. I could easily imagine the
perplexity that possessed them at sight of
the actions of the Phantom, for, as the helm
was still free and all plain sail made on her,
she hove into the wind for space, and there
hung in irons with thunder of canvas over
head; then filling on the opposite tack she
staggered off, until, rounding up again, the
entire performance was repeated. For all
the world she was like man we'll slowed
with liquor, using the width OF the road in
his journeying.
That which lay before me to do must be
done quickly. Lounsbury sprawled on his
back, so that access to his pockets was an
easy matter. There was nothing in his pea.
jacket save the junk carried by seaman,
though l soon discovered that around his
body was a belt stuffed full of papers. But
the stolen ones were not among them, and
felt sense of hopelessness come over me
as the certainty of their loss was forced on
my mind.
But it was not for long A hasty glance
at the belts contents at once opened my
eyes to the character of the man before me-
and caused me to come to a sudden determi
nation regarding my future action. Twas
desperate resolve, but, saving some un
toward circumstance, it insured liberty, or
at least, immunity from present imprison
ment, although it would put my fortune il
jeopardy 1t was no time to look far beyonc
the present; freedom was worth more thar
fortune, and even that might not, in the end
be lost; so, throwing the belt overheard.
placed the papers carefully in my pocket ane
went forward.
The pistol dropped from aloft found OF
the deck, and with it in my hand slid bacl
the hatch cover of the forecastle and calico
to the black to come up. This he did, blink
ing nightly as he struck the strong light
when, clapping the weapon to his ear,
swore would blow his brains out, and, i
necessary, follow him to the ends Of tn
world to do it, if he breathed word Of m!
ever having been master of the Phantom.
The fellow was bound to be source o
anxiety to me as long as he had the powe
to speak, but could not we'll murder hin
outright. Fortunately, his patois was we'll
nigh unintelligible to ears unframed to tn
dialect Of the southern negro, and, if my pla,
worked, he would ere long meet his desert
in one of the British prison hulks, the hor
rible reputation of which was now wide
spread: I have small doubt that he though
he was coming to his death when / ordere'
him up, for, like the slave he had once been
lie cringed and writhed at my feet, beggin
for, his lifefin manner both disgusting ant
pitiful Yet, for all his gratitude at m,
promise to spare him on condition of his 81
lcnce, I felt that, were it in his power, h
would have knitted me as stood: had NJ
fear that he knew of my hidden gold, Louna