Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1899-08-30
CHAPTER XVI.
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, 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 gunwale. 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
snartness 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 buoy which
mari ed the outer edge of the reef extend
ing from the Hook into the river.
One might have cruised week under The
conditions besetting us and failed to hare
picked it up. 1t was like cropping through
the proverbial haystack and finding tbs
proverbial needle without having locked for
it, and, though its greeting had wellDieh
teen disastrous, it gave me the one point I
wished with absolute. accuracy. l non
knew that we were nearly dead on tn
Phantom, and not two cable lengths away;
indeed, had we missed the rude warning Of
the spar, it was but fair to reckon we would
have fouled the schooner herself unless in
my INSTALLATIONS had altered our conrsa,
in which case we would have missed her n.
together.
Quickly turning the boats head about I
let it drift stern first, and even before "a.
pected, heard the rush of the tide agaiuat .
vessels stem, while almost instantly, may
rified through the fog, doomed up like q
blank wall the bow of the schooner.
So suddenly were we upon it THAI the iib
boom was well over us before T 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 came to
a rest. The suck of the rushing waters
against the broad, fiat end of the scou
made me fearful that the noise would call
the guards attention forward, and, wills
pering into the ear of Ames to hold all fas&
until l returned, gently rid me of my boats,
took my sword betwixt my teeth, swarraed
up the stay to the bowsprit, and stood again
ON the deck of my own schooner.
At last twas done. The exultation I feA
would be but natural to any man who sees
the successful ending of 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 /
gotten abreast the foremost when heard
the burly tones of one man addressing an.
other, and the noise of oars as they fell int
rowlocks came plainly to my strained ear.
Stepping softly over the bulwarb I lowered
myself to the channel and listened. =
can yet get astray in the fog an come not
back by dawn, I'll have We in the guard
house for bein' off post" said the voice from
the deck. II ~''-> :. -.
May" came the answer from boat;
rye do me good turn by giving me this
leave; fear me not. I'll 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 will fetch the rum
"Fetch it, then, but not in yer skin, WA
the return. IF they speak O me, say ye
heard was going on quest to Kingsbridgs,
to be back on the morrow Ye had better
Delay yer lip, for ye are off post, an / hold
ye in my hand" @a t*ss& i
E "'Ay, ay! Never fear! Good night" WA
the answer, and the boat moved of. with
steady strokes of the oar, while the first
speaker evidently entered the cabin, az I
Then all was again silent. ~ |=- ssst<z>7 S,.>i
\ 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 gene below. could mot
place it, only noticing that both men spoke
with the SAVIOR Of sea brine in their words
and though one was totally strange to me,
the voice Of the other hung in my ear a. )
misty dream hangs in the mind after was,
!, ing, naught but its effect remaining, I=
Getting to the deck again, moved slow.
" aft, stopping as I noticed slight luminos.
ity at the side Of the cabin, but on further
cautious approach found the cause. Thu
cabin was lighted. To prevent the light
from going beyond the vessel tarpauli1
had been stretched over the cabin house
from rail to rail thus leaving an open: spaca
betwixt the rails and the deadli lights, where-
by was served the double end Of obtaining
air and guarding the outward show Of light.
IS Here was deviltry for sure. Dropping o.
to my stomach, ssnaked myself beneath the
ztarpaulin, brought my eye to the swung
back port, and nearly betrayed myself ~
the start i made. 5s
s. TO pn colsTINunD.l 81
Il tie social NVo1ld.
Bin g there any hing WORSE thaa
no have q guest you can IS amuse
. Yes; q be the guest q q NJ.
I hat can amuse s. etsd