Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-06-08

shot from the hatch, saw he was an ordi-
nary seaman-a regulation man-of-war's-
man-from his light pumps to his oiled and
eelskin-cased pigtail curling clear of the
collar of his shit With light remark to
his fellows he seated himself on the top
step of the ladder leading down, and, rest
ing his elbows on his knees and his chin 4
on his clinched hands, started to palaver
with those below, probably enjoying to the
fullest extent the contrast in the discipline
of the two vessels.
His action was glaring piece of marine
carelessness, but it both saved his life and
opened 60 me way to act. Now, with the
dazzle of light full in his face, he might lift
his head yet fail to see me, and, as the
| time was ripe, felt for the foot ropes and
silently slid to the heel of the bowsprit.
| Once there, crept to the cathead, aud from
there with q spring l reached the fore
castle opening behind the unsuspecting
sailor. With sudden push sent him
| headlong on to his fellows, and then quick
| " closed the doors, slid the hatch cover, fas-
| tened it, and for the third time I had made
| the Phantom's forward quarters prison.
J There was now little time to spare, for /
knew the rumpus that would come would
| attract the cabin, and it behooved me to get
| command of that ere Lounsbury could act
| on the offensive. Snatching Delaying pin
| from it's ring on the mast, ran to the galley,
| but found it dark and deserted. From there
| l hurried aft, and, without the precaution
| of peeping through window, presented my
self at the open door of the companion way.
| [ knew not what l would find, but was far
from expecting the sight that met my eyes.
The lantern swinging from its beam had
| been trimmed and washed, and cast strong
! light over the interior. Though no one was
at the table, it showed that makeshift
| meal had been sent from the Sprite, for on
| the Phantom there were now no means of
cooking, as pots, kettles and table gear had
| gone the way of my instruments. In "a
bunk, the curtains of which were flung wide,
and at the side of which stood bucket of
i water, lay Ames, his face like chalk and his
I eyes closed, but whether in death or sleep
4 1 could not tell. On transom locker at the
| other side of the cabin sprawled the doctor,
somewhat more than tipsy, his head rolling
to and fro with the plunge of the vessel,
while in his hand was bloody rag or
bandage. He was vainly trying to reach
T bottle and glass that stood near him on the
floor, the heave of the schooner throwing
Iellim off his balance at each attempt to raise
himself. At the extreme end of the COM
pertinent was Lounsbury on his knees work
ing at the bplkhead with carpenters chisel
and calking malet. Ignoring the presence
of the drunken surgeon, he had torn away
half the casing to the partition, and had
fpally struck upon my hidden gold, which
now lay as plain to my eye as to his. For
this and probably for this alone, he had
once attempted to betray me, threatened my
life, oand well-nigh lost his own. He had
guarded the secret as well as l, and now,
after months of waiting, hard fare, and
harder blows, he doubtless felt full meas
ure Of sordid pleasure as my little hoard lay
uncovered before him. And not so little,
either. Five hundred pounds would make
him passing rich among his fellows.
Though his face was from me, it's exulta-
ton seemed to strike through him and shine
from his back. | could almost see the dry;
greedy grin and close set of his ragged teeth
as he laid his hand on the bag to judge its
worth by lifting. With the inborn sus-
picion of the everfearful thief or miser, he
threw a cautious look over his shoulder, and
as he did 50 his eyes met mine.
I once laughing shot clean
through the heart, and the sudden change of
his expression as death seized him, was APP
palling; but it was nothing to the swift al
teration that came over the face of Louns-
| bury as that villain recognized me. Crouched
low. at the top of the companion way, with
one foot on the steps and the other on deck,
I remained immovable as I witnessed the
, effect of my sudden appearance Without
shifting his position, the wretch held his
head craned over his left shoulder, his jaw
fdropped, and his small, piglike eyes opened
to their farthest extent, glazing at me as
!. though their owner was in a trance. His
face was too blackened and weather-beaten
to allow of a change of color, but pallor and
. fright were plain in his very attitude. Not a
| sound or movement was made by either OF
us as we thus faced each other, and the
surgeon, marking nothing amiss, still made
| desperate though ludicrous hobs toward the
liquor on the floor.
Perhaps for minute Lounsbury held his
| position, and then with a slow, snakelke
motion, his eyes still fixed on mine, he
, twisted till his back was to the bulkhead
( where, extending his arms against the wood
work, he fattened himself as though try
ing to shrink through the partition, horror
and dread written over his swollen and re-
pulsive features.
[ 1t had never been in my mind to play a
| part, but it was plain that to this ignorant
, | and superstitious man / was nothing less
, than veritable spirit of the dead. Indeed
t the glistening of my dripping clothes, the
with the paleness of long immersion on my
face, these, with the probable glitter of ex
{ | element in my eyes, all tended to make me
uncanny in appearance, especially as my
= figure was backed by the absolute backness
| of the night. Lounsbury had seen me IN ap
: parent desperation plunge overheard, and
doubtless thought had been drifting faith
oms deep below the Phantom's keel, yet in
: the hour of his success l had come to tor
ment him. Like Banquo's ghost-and ghost
{ was to him-I would not down.
: The agony working in his mind would
soon find an outlet in some fashion, but il
stirred him in a way hardly expected. Still
e piercing me with his glance, his broad chest
l heaved spasmodically and his right hand
gradually moved to the hilt of the cut1ass
: hanging on his left hip. Slowly, hike man
asleep, he drew the blade, and with SLAYER
, now running from the corners of his mouth
e he left the bulkhead and crept toward me
| Fascination ruled hicn t7iae spent-up energy