The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-05-01
CHAPTER XVII.
An Evil Spirit

RNiA
We sailed from the Bay of Matanzas
at 2 O'Clock a. M, on the Sd Of April,
bound for the Cape of Good Hope,
which we were fated never to reach.
The Eugene had been freighted for
that colony with a rich cargo Of mo-
lasses, sugar, coffee. and tobacco, and
arrangements had been made that from
Cape Town she would be chartered for
London. Thus l had a fair prospect OF
seeing nearly a half Of this terrestrial
globe before I repassed my good old
fathers threshold at Eismere.
l earnestly hoped that we might
encounter no more waterspouts or tor
nadoes, as they were not at all to my
taste; but from other causes than phe-
nomena or the war OF the elements it
was my fortune, or, rather, my mis-
fortune, to undergo such peril and suf-
fering as were far beyond my concep-
ton or anticipation.
By 5 o'clock on the morning of our
departure the light on Piedras Key
was bearing south by east, sinking into
the waves astern, and going out as we
babe a long farewell to the lovely
shores of Cuba,
Three of our men had died of yell
low fever in hospital, so We sailed from
Matanzas with ten a~ble-bodied hands,
exclusive of three ship boys. the cap
tain. first and second mates.
In the waters, after the rainy sea
son. the sky is so cloudless in the fore
noon that the heat of the sun become:
almost insupportable; thus we were
soon glad to resort TO the use of wind.
sails rugged down the open skylight Il
an awning over the quarterback foI
GOODNESS, and to skids for the proven
ton of blisters on the sides of the brig
hut In the starry night the land-wint
which comes of these fertile isles
laden with the rich aroma of thei
spice-growing savannas. is beyond de
s%cription grateful and delicious.
without any incident worth record
ing. we ran through the sea of tn
Windward Isles, thence along the coas
! ~ South America, and when we ap
nroached the calm attitudes, as tina
: tract of the ocean near the equator i
named. we became sensible of the over
> nowering irerease of heat, while tn
> breezes we're but tanning ones" a
the sailors term those which, under tn
4 aouble influence of the air and motto
of the hull, are just sufficient to max
tho lighter canvas collapse and swe
= again.
We were soon aware of other an
,ovances than mere heat, for now
seemed as if there was an evil splr
IN hoard the Eugene, and that nothin
yrant right within or about her.
!, The crew sulked and %quarrele
y among themselves as if the demon
! misehief lurked in the vessel, and dali
something unfortunate occurred. IA
) Yards or braces gave way, by which IL
: yards were thrown aback;and in OF
). instance the brig nearly lost her mail
; MAST Standing and running rigglr
" go found to be mysteriously frette
: ard even cut. as If by a knife; al
y Ron The crew whispered together
], Antonio ell Cubano-that horrla' a
Is @,,.sterious fellow. whose charact
: none of us could fathom'
. Twice our compasses went wroh
: ~ remained so for days! n peto
= az cause was discovered the Eusen
had drifted far from her course
This varying was inexplicable' un.
>. uislop. who set himself TO Waten' q
n fre%ouently saw Antonio lowering ne,
~binnacle at night, unshipped u
enwnass box and found there were co
At eon iad near it an iron m~arlinspike
At C ons side and a lump of tallow on !
a other, either of which was suin'''
"a % ,n affect the magnetic needle.
~ 10 a. ter their removal the compa
A. as well as before. The cre
worst strictly questioned; all vowed I
ID W, w1'f ignorance of the transaction, a |,
- Antonio summoned every SAM ~ Inn
snaUish calendar to attest MS INN IN
;, csnce. but none, however, that !
St T Ths crew now felt convinced mat :