The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01

in the outward situation: but brought the
voyage so near its end that every soul but
one waxed merry with the thought oil
shore-and that one seemed the merriest
Of all. They had come from the Longitude
OF the Cape to that OF Kangaroo Island in
twenty days, and in all probability would
enter Port Phillip Heads in two days
more. In one week the Lochwinnoch had
logged close upon two thousand miles; boy
and man, her commander had never made
/ such an casting in his seagoing life.
His pleasure and his pride were alike enor-
nous, and Skrimshire conceived that his
general goodwill toward men could
! scarcely have sufficed by the experience.
He determined. at all events. to feel his
I way to such compassion as an honest man
could be expected to extend toward an
| unhung murderer: and he felt it with that
mixture OF cautious craft and sheer impu-
dence which made him the formidable
criminal he was.
| 1t was the night that might prove the
last OF the voyage. and the last night Of
freedom for the unhappy Skrimshire. Ul-
happy he undoubtedly was. for the strain
Of continuing as he had begun. 1.-The life
and soul of the ship had told upon even
his nerves in the end though to the end it
| had been splendidly borne. Tonight. how
ever. as he paced the poop by the captains
side, he exhibited, for the first time a de-
spondency which exactly fitted In with
Nelson's conception OF his case.
81 shall never forget this voyage" said
Skrimshire, signing You may not believe
me. captain but I'm sorry it's over l am,
indeed: no doubt I'm the only man in the
ship who is
And why are your" asked Nelson. eye
ing his passenger for once with the curios-
VII; ,t, bod
also with the sympathy which had grown
upon him, despite. or on account of. those
sinister signals from the Castle liner.
Skrmshire shrugged.
"Oh, that's long story. I've had a rum
life OF 1t. and not what you would call the
life Of a saint. This voyage will stand out
as one Of its happiest chapters. that's all;
and it may be one OF the last"
why do you say that?'
"Oh, one can never tell"
But what did you think Of doing out
there?"
God knows,"
Nelson was miserable. There was ring
In the hoarse voice that went straight to
his heart. He longed to tell this man what
was In store for him-what he himself
knew-but he conquered the longing as he
had conquered II before. Time enough
when the detectives came aboard; dirty
work and all responsibility would very well
keep for them.
So the good captain thought to himself.
as the pair took turns in silence; so the
dominant brain at his side willed and in
tended that he should think.
Whatever you hear of me- resumed
Skrimshire at last, land however great Il
beast may some day turn out, remember
that l wasn't one aboard your ship. Will
you, captain Remember the best of me
and I'll be grateful, wherever 1 am, and
whatever happens"
II will" said Nelson. hoarse in turn;
and he grasped the guilty hand. Skrim-
shire had some ado to keep from smiling.
but there was another poinl upon which
he required an assurance and he sought
it after decent pause.
$50 you expect to pass the Otway some
time tomorrow"
by dinner time IL we're lucky"
And there you signal?"
Yes. they should hear OF us in Mel
bourne early tomorrow afternoon"
And what about the pilot?"
"Oh, he'll come aboard later-certainly
not before evening. It's easy as midocean
till you come to the Heads. and we can't
be there before nightfall, even IL the wind
holds fair"
Well let's hope it may. So long, cap
tain, and n thousand thanks for all your
kindness. Dark night, by the way"
Yes; let's hope tomorrow won't be like
it,"
But the next night was darker still;
there was neither moon nor star, and
Skrlmshire was thankful to have had
speech with the captain while he could.
for now he would speak to nobody, and
tomorrow
There was no tomorrow in Skrlmshire's
mind. there was only tonight. There was
the hour he had been living for these six
long weeks. There was the plan that had