Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-01-24

round with the same expression Of
curiosity and greed 70 the old striped
box.
And now come 90 that portion OF my
story which fills me even now with a
shuddering horror when ! think OF T..
The main cabin had the rooms Of tbt
officers round it. but mine was the
farthest away from II at the end OF tb
little passage which led to the com
panion. No regular watch was kept by
me except In cases of emergency, and
the three mates divided them among
them. Armstrong had the middle watch.
which ends at in the morning. and be
was relieved by Allardyce. For my part
have always been one Of the soundest
of sleepers, and 10 is rare for anything
less than hand upon my shoulder TO
arouse me.
And yet was aroused that night,
rather in the early gray Of the morning.
Il was just 4:s0 by my chronometer
when something caused me to cit up in
my berth wide awake and with eveI
nerve tingling. i. was a sound OF some
sort, o crash with a human cry nc the
end Of IL, which still Jared upon my
ears. I sat listening. but all was now
silent.
And yet it could not have been
imagination, that bideons cry, for the
echo Of IL still rang in my head. and it
seemed to have come from some place
quite close to me I sprang from my
bunk, and. pulling ON some clothes, /
made my way into the cabin.
AT first saw nothing unusual there.
In the cold gray light I made out the
red clothed table, the six rotating
chairs. the walnut lockers, the swing
ing barometer. and there at the end the
big striped chest. was turning away
with the intention Of going upon deck
and asking the second mate If he had
heard anything when my eyes fell sud
denly upon something which projected
from under the table. 1t was ;he leg Of
man. "A leg with a long sea boot upon
IL. / stopped, aud there wa figure
sprawling upon his face, his arms
thrown forward and his body twisted.
One glance told me that it was Arm.
strong, the first officer, and second
that he was a dead man. For q few mo-
ments stood gasping. Then rushed
on to the deck, called Allardyce TO my
assistance and came back with him
into the cabin.
Together we pulled the unfortunate
fellow from under the table, and as we
looked at his dripping head We ex-
changed gIances, and do not know
which was the paler OF the two.
THE same as the Spanish sailor. ;"
said /.
1.-THE very same. God preserve MS
It's that internal chest! Look mt Arm
strong's handr'
He held ny the mates right hand,
and there was the screwdriver which
be had wished 10 use the night before.
Hes been ut the chest, sir. He
knew that | was ON deck aud you
asleep. He knelt down in front Of it and
he pushed the lock back with that tool.
Then something happened to him and
he cried out so that You heard him?"
"Allardyce, whispered, what
could have happened 20 him."
The second mate put his hand upon
my sleeve and drew me into his cabin.
1--WE can talk here, sir, and We don I
know who may be listening to us in
there. What do you suppose Is in that
box. Captain Barclay?"
II give you my word, Allardyce.
that have no idea. F"
"Well, can only find one theory
which will fit all the facts. Look at
the size Of the box. Look at all the
carving aud metal work which may
conceal any number Of holes. Look at
the weight Of 10. IL took four men to
carry il. On the top Of that remember
that two men have tried to open IL, and
both bave come 10 their end through 1t.
Now, sir, what can il mean except one
thing
"You mean that there is u man in it,
"Of course there is man in II. You
know how it Is in these South Amerl.
can states. sir. A man may be president
one week and hunted like dog the
next. They are forever flying for their
lives. Ny idea is that there is some fel'
low in hiding there who is armed and
desperate. and who will fight TO the
death before be Is taken"
"But his food and drink
"lt's roomy chest, sir, and he may
have some provisions slowed away. As
to his drink, be had u friend among the
crew upon the brig who saw that he had
what he needed.
"You think, then, that the label ask
ing people not to open the box was SIM
ply written in his INTEREST,"
"Yes, sir, that il my idea. Have you
any other way Of explaining the facts"'
had to confess that had not.
"The question is, What are we to
do?" | asked.
1.-THE mans dangerous rufiian who
sticks ut nothing. I'm thinking II