The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-04-09
be Ships Ndpentqre.
BY W. CLARK RUSSELL Copyright 1899 by S Mcclure Co..

gave him glass of grog. AS he hand
ed the tumbler to the man he said:
Was your captain the man who stood
near the mizzen-rigging?
The Frenchman took long pull at the
glass before answering, and then said,
Yes as 49,.
DO you think he, fell dead, or was he
struck down?'' said Hardy, looking criti-
cally at the wild and dangerous face,
whose eyes stared into the Englishman's
vision with the fxity OF a buried bayo-
net.
He fell dead" was the answer, and
down went the remainder of the grog.
L believe l saw man rush from him
aft when he FELL said Hardy.
An expression of anger deepened the
ugly devils look of malevolence, but he
held his peace
Your captain is dead, and you are
here said Hardy. Your second mate
will take charge of the barque, 1 sup
pose?'
Our second mate was drowned week
after We left the Cape" answered the
Frenchman
What will the crew do?"
They will go to hellr'
Follow me-" said Hardy. and thew
climbed the companion steps.
The wind was sleeping. 1t was now a
dead calm, and the fog stepped in night
was lifting into the sight-conouering
blackness off an ocean that seemed to
be boiling upon some furnace of earth
miles deep. Damp draughts of air blew
with the rolling of the ship, and the
canvas beat out hollow notes like the
blasts of guns heard underground The
chief mate called the name of Mr. Candy,
who stepped out of the impenetrable pro-
found of the quarter
This man. said Hardy, talking in the
skylight sheen, lis mate of the baroue
we We're foul of just now Take him for
ward to the bo'sun and find him a bed
anywhere, and food If he needs it,"
Il don't need it," said the Frenchman
Come along" said Mr.. Candy. and
they disappeared.
Hardy paused to listen and peer. There
was nothing to see, but he might. have
heard sound Of weeping all about. as
though old ocean was mourning over it's
blindness. He then went to bed. but not
to sleep right away. The Frenchman's
lnsolent touching of his brow accentuated
his own deep suspicion of the cantain's
sanity, and very grave, though perplexed.
| reflection attended his thought of Layard
and the tragically perilous situation of
the ship in charge of a lunatic so subtly
mad that no one but his chief officer
might have understanding enough to see
how it was with him.
AT elght DellS in the middle watch he
was aroused by Mr.. Candy and was on
deck in a minute or two, for he was a
smart man all round; the first at the ward
arm in reefng when his duties had car
ried him there, the first to spring to the
cry, no matter the command, swift in re-
lief, and forever on the alert whilst the
responsibility of life cargo and fabric was
his. The fog was still very thick. but a.
thin wind had sprung up out of the east
and the streaming of the waters was like
the shaling of summer tide upon
single. The braces had been manned
when this weak air came and the yards
swung to hold the main topsail aback:
the ship rolled gently under the arrest
of her canvas, and there was nothing
to see and nothing to do but to let the
fog soak into the spirits.
"A spare bunk in the forecastle had
been found for the French mate" Candy
had said. The fellow had grumbled NUT
tered that he had been an officer on board
his own vessel and deserved better usage.
Candy said he was lucky to save his life,
and to find a bed in British forecastle.
The Frenchman growled that he consider
ed himself important enough to sleep in
the cabin.
what did you say to that?" Hardy
had asked.
81 said, you be damned" Candy re-
piled.
Not until five bells, half-past six. in