Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-04-06

One bright alter
noon, just after eight bells, I made up
the log and took it to the captains
cabin. I knocked at the door, and as
nobody answered walked in. L
thought it odd the captain hadn't
answered me, for there he was sitting
at his desk, with his back to me, writ
ing. Seeing he was employed L told
him I had brought the log, laid 1t
down on the table behind him, and, as
he made no answer, [ walked out.
I went on deck and the first person l
mel was the captain. was puzzled
Il could not make out how he had
got there before me.
Chow did you get up here9" said.
Ell just left you writing i'll your cabin.
tI have not been in my cabin for
the last half hour" the captain an
swered; but I thought he was chatting,
ana didn't like it.
"There was someone writing at your
desk Just now," said; ''if it wasn't
you, you had better go and see VINO IL II
is. The log is made up. have lei,
it in your cabin, sir" and with that
walked sulkily away. I had no idea
of being chatfed by the captain, to
whom had taken q dislike.
"Mr. Brown" said the captain, who
saw I was nettled, "you must have
been mistaken, my desk is locked.
But come--we'll go down and SCI
about it, :.
followed the captain into the CABIN
The log was on the table, the desl
was closed, and the cabin was empty,
s'You see, Mr.. Brown" he said
laughing, "you must have been mis-
taken, the desk is locked"
1 was positive. Someone ma
have picked the lock-" I said.
"But they couldn't have closed !
again." the captain suggested; "but
satisfy you, 1 will open it and see
the contents are safe, though there
not much here to tempt thief"
He opened the desk, and there
stretched right across twas a shet
of paper with the words "Steer \
W." written in an odd, cramped hanC
"You are right, Mr.. Brown; some
body has been here. This is som
hoax"
Not to appear to suspect anyone
particular, the captain determined
have up all the crew. We had the
up, one by one. We examined the
and made all those who could VIII
write "Steer N. w." but we game
no olew. One thing was very clear
it could not have been old Shiel, wh
was proved to have been forward
the time was in the captains cabii
The mystery remained unsolved.
That evening I sat with the captai
in his cabin. We were neither OF I
inclined to be talkative. l tried
think OF home, and the pleasure
would be to see the old folks agail
but still my thoughts always wandert
back to that mysterious writing.
tried to read, but 1 caught myself fu
lively peeping at the desk, expectll
to see the figure sitting there.
The captain had not spoken for son
time, and was sitting with his ia
buried in his hands. At last he SUI
denly looked up and said:
"Suppose we alter her course
northward, Mr.. Browns"
I don't know what it was; cam
hope to make You understand the te
ing in my mind that followed the
words; it was sense of relief from
horr;ble nightmare. I was asham
of the childish pleasure [ felt, but
could not help answering eagerl
"Certainly; shall I give the order?
I waited no longer, but hurried
deck and altered the course OF thew
sci.
tt was clear, frosty night, and
Looked at the compass before goi
below I felt strangely pleased, a
caught myself chuckling and rubbl
nv hands; at what, I cannot say"
didn't know then, but great wele
had been taken off my mind.
T went down to the cabin, andfou
the captain pacing up and down
small space. He stopped as | ca
in and looking up said, abruptly;
nTt can do no harm, Mr.. Brown
"If this breeze continues"
swered, "we can hold ON for tn
hours or so, but then, I should thl
"But then-wesha find ice. HO
the wind?"
"Steady, north by east :,
had the morning watch to X
next day. Twas too 30, restless saal th to w 81
of thesday. Even that dia nos 81"