Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-06-08
Copyright, 1897. by D. Appletou& Co. All
rights reserved
By cHAUNcY 6. HOTcHkIss
CHAPTER XXI.
DE PROFUNDIS.

It was now so dark that the SKIP showed
but family through the hole in che boats
bottom. AS time advanced and there be
came great danger that the wind niSht rine,
thereby rendering my attempt abortive, 1
sank myself into the water and came to the
surface clear of MY late shelter. The tide
or some unknown force had drawn the
wreck from the schooner s side, and found
I had been slowly drifting south, being now
some ten or a dozen rods off the vessels
starboard bow. By the most intense lis
tening I could hear subdued sound Of
voices, but from what part of the deck it
proceeded l was too far away to determine.
Ali around me was black water, with moth
ing in sight saving the shadowys hull of the
Phantom and a guiding light, evidently
swinging over the stern of the SRrite, though,
that craft was swallowed by the distance
and general gloom. Not star was in sight,
not breath broke the glassiness of the 81
lent swell es at rolled northward. The ocean
never seemed so vast nor it's depths so re-
pulsive as now, when in the darkness it
chung to me with it's chilly fingers. The
fathoms below gaped like an open pit, and
it was with convulsive horror that let go
my hold the dingy and struck out for
the schooner, resolute, come what might,
to rid myself of the frightful loneliness
which all at once was magnified before me-
Indeed, felt that my time had come. For
good or evil there would be sharp turn
of affairs, but if evil, would die by shot or
sword; not to the black element about me
would l give myself.
Like frightened child fleeing from the
dark, l at first swan boldly, but, as my
vigor sent before me small surf that roared
through the silence, l abated my speed,
and with slow and noiseess stroke headed
myself toward the schooner's bow, that
might approach her as l did when drifting
through the fog. The gold in my pockets
dragged on rne, but not once did think
of Kidding myself of the burden, for the
swim was shott, and I had won the money
hardly. However, it seemed an age ere I
saw the Phan TOMS bowsprit outlined against
the sky over my head. and by the time
felt the firmness of her bobstay in my hand
something like confidence came back to
me, and my momentary horror of the deep
was past. The touch of the rigging put
strength in NE, and l slowly drew myself
out of the water, that the torrent from my
clothing might not attract attention from
the deck. l could now hear the sound of
voices plainly, and knew it came from for
ward, but it was too muffled for me to make
head or tail of the conversation. Itwopld
guide my actions in measure, for, so long
as it continued, my presence would be I'M
suspected.
Carefully dragged myself up until came
within reaching distance of the bowsprit,
and then brought my head to the level of
the deck. The jib and staysail hung mo-
tionless from their riggings, but from be-
meath the latter I marked the figure of a
man leaning against the larboard fore
-shrouds and smoking a pipe as he looked
over the water. He was partly turned to-
ward me, and as long as he held this POI
sition could not advance. As far aft as
could see the deck was otherwise deserted,
though light, hitherto concealed by the
xail, cleaned from the cabin window. A
slight yellow haze spread from the open
hatch of the forecastle, and from there came
the voices heard.
Putting myself astride the bowsprit, sat
concealed from the larboard side by the
schooner's head cloths, though by bending
my body could peer beneath the sails and
see the figure that blocked my further prog
ress. The talking from the open hatch
drowned the drip of the small streams still
flowing from my clothing, though it seemed
to accentuate the mournful creak that
from the top hamper occasionally answered
sthe heavier rolls of the sea. was now mo-
ms1tarily at my wits end, for neither for
ward nor backward could I go. Had ]
wished to return to the wreck, could have
found that speck in the darkness, and my
plans had not extended beyond getting on to
the vessel, and this had been accomplished.
But had not remained passively seated
astride the bowsprit many minutes before a
scheme opened before me- 1t was born of ne
cessity, and unless he should soon move, de-
manded the life of the fellow standing by the
shrouds. I had barely-come to this conclu-
sion when, as though he read my thoughts
and felt thesinister threat they contained, he
knocked the ashes from his pipe and turned
himself sosxaEi.his companions below.