The suburban citizen., 1900-04-07

was llLtu VI Ats
NlB and, as L wanted
.@8/ N2 some more exciting
:-WNHA\ employment, 1
,S-I{fHA \ joined whaler
%Z#.2IH&hA-A We were unlucky--
<----zs!.lIM ls@s- somehow I bring
gzs9.e-..sss-..-ssz.---> no luck anywhere
t<sBzsss..[e- and we were nearly
r-s5sz--ssss5i.zSz-- empty.
One bright after
noon, Just after eight bells, made up
the log and took it to the captains
cabin ! knocked at the door, and as
nobody answered L walked in. 1
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 told
him I had brought the log, laid it
down on the table behind him, and, as
he made no answer, / walked out.
I went on deck and the first person I
mel was the captain. was puzzled
Il could not make out how he had
got there before me.
Chow did you get up here?' said.
''I just left you writing in your cabin. J"
81 have not been in my cabin for
the last half hour" the captain an
swered; but though; he was chatting,
and didn't like it.
"There was someone writing at your
desk just now" said eff it wasn't
gou, you had better go and see who it
is. The log is made up. / have left
it in your cabin, sir, and with that 1
walked sulkily away. L had no idea
Of being chaffed by the captain, to
whom had taken a dislike.
'Mr. Brown" said the captain, who
saw [ was nettled, "you must have
been mistaken, my desk is locked.
But come--we'l go down and see
about it,"
I followed the captain into the cabin,
The log was on the table, the desk
vas closed, and the cabin was empty.
"You see, Mr.. Brown" he said,
laughing, "you must have been mis-
taken, the desk is locked"
I was positive, Someone may
have picked the lock-" 1 said.
"But they couldn't have closed it
again, the captain suggested; "but to
satisfy you, will open it and see if
the contents are safe, though there is
not much here to tempt thief"
He opened the desk, and there
stretched right across twas a sheet
of paper with the words "Steer n.
W" written in an odd, cramped hand.
"You are right, Mr.. Brown; some
body has been here. This IS some
hoax
Not to appear to suspect anyone in
| particular, the captain determined to
have up all the crew. We had them
up, one by one. We examined them
and made all those who could write
write "Steer II. W." but we gained
no clew. One thing was very clear
it could not have been old Shiel, who
was proved to have been forward at
the time I was in the captains cabin.
/ The mystery remained unsolyed.
That evening sat with the captain
in his cabin. We were neither Of MS
inclined to be talkative. tried to
shink Of home, and the pleasure it
would be to see the old folks again,
but still my thoughts always wandered
back to that mysterious writing. L
tried to read, but ! caught myself fur
tiyely peeping at the desk, expecting
to see the figure sitting there.
The captain had not spoken for some
slime, and was sitting with his face
buried in his hands. At last he sud
denly looked up and said
Suppose we alter her course to
Aorthward, Mr.. BROWNE"
don't know what it was; cannot
hope to make you understand the feel
ing in my mind that followed those
words; it was a sense of relief from q
horrible nightmare. L was ashamed
of the childish pleasure L felt, but I
could not help answering eagerly,
Certainly; shall 1 give the order?"
I waited no longer, but hurried on
deck and altered the course Of the yes.
sci.
1t was a clear, frosty night, and as
/ locked at the compass before goilq
below I felt strangely pleased, and
caught myself chuckling and rubbing
my hands; at what, / cannot say
didn't know then, but great weight
had been taken off my mind.
1 went down to the cabin, and found
the captain pacing up and down the
small space. He stopped as I came
in, and looking up said, abruptly:
"It can do no harm, Mr.. Brown"
eff this breeze continues" / an.
swered, eve can hold on for thirty
hours or so, but then, I should think
"
"But then-we ohall find ice. How''
the wind?"
STEADY, north by east"
had the morning watch to keer
next day. / was too restless to sleeI
after it, SO 1 kept on deck the whole
of the day. Even that did not satisfy
me. 1 was continually running al