The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-07-01

or look but. On the other hand. TALKED
more than ever and with invidious gaiety
to the first and second officers. The cap
tain giowered at his plate searching hi:
transparent aoul for he ideal COURSE and
catching very little Of the conversation;
how the topic of suicide arose he never
knew
IAN call 1t tn act Of a coward young
McKendricl, was declaring; you can say
what you Ike. but a mans no man that
does the like o. that
We'll, you think about it next time
you're havin' a shave" retorted Skrim-
shire. pleasantly. Think o. buryin ra-
zor in your neck. and the pain and the
blood comm over your fingers like as
though you'd turned on the hot tap; and
If you think long enough you'll know
whether it's the act OF coward or wheth-
er it amt"
''Id blow my blessed head in" said the
chief officer. It'd be quicker
.Oh, If it comes TO that" said Skrim-
shire, I'D take prusslc acid, for choice.
| 1t would take a lot 10. take me- admit:
but I'd do 1t like shot to escape worse
death. I've often thought, for instance
what rum thing it is. in these days, that
a man Of any sense or education whatever
should let himself live to be hung,'
| The captain looked UP at this; so far he
had merely listened. But Skrimshire was
addressing himself to the chief mate at
/ the other end Of the table. neither look
| nor tone was intended to include Captain
! Nilsson. the one being averted and the 9TH
er lowered. to a nice degree of insolent dis
| regard. On the other hand. the manner
of this theoretical suicide was all audaci-
| ty and nonchalance. combined with a GER
| tain underlying sincerity which gave it
4 N no ind Of ,cta
| In a word 1t was the manner of a man so
| convinced OF his own security to afford
| the luxury of telling the truth about him
/ self in jest.
They don't give you a chance" said the
mate. They watch you night and day.
You'd be good man, once you'd got to
dance the hornpipe on nothing. il you went
out any ether way"
Nevertheless. I'd do it, said Skrim-
shire. with CHEEKY confidence I'D back
myself to do 1t. and before their eyes
Poison"
"Ycs."
In ring, eh?''
"A ringl Do you suppose they'd leave
you your rings? No; It might be In hol-
low tooth. and It might not. All say Is
that I'd back myself TO cheat the hangman"
skrimshire said 1t through his black mus
tache. And I'd do 1t. too" he added. aft
er pause.
Then. at last. the captain put in his
word. You would do well,'' said he, qui-
city. Il once saw n man swing, and I
never want TO see another. Ugh,
His eyes met Skrimshire's, which fell de-
liberately. and the laxative togue wagged
no more that meal.
Thereafter Nelson was civilty itself
only observant civility. He had made up
his mind IN the knotty matter of the sis-
peeted murderer and the latter read his
determination as he had read the difficulty
which 1t solved. if only for the present
SO he means to let me go loose. Only
keeping an eye on me: so far so good. But
how long--how long? If l thought he was
going TO put me in irons as soon as he
sights the land"
He looked over the side and a slight
shudder shook even his frame. It was very
blue water now. the depth unfathomabIe.
a shark had been seen that morning. and
sharks or no sharks, Skrimshire could not
swim! But he had two months of steady
thought before him.
Meanwhile the captain showed some cum
ming in his turn. He evidently wished to
convince himself that Skrimshire had not
suspected the signaling. One day. at any
rate. the passenger was invited into the
captains cabin. in quite the old friendly
iashlon, Tor pipe and a chat; in the mid
die of which Nelson left him for five min
utes to speak to the officer of the watch.
AS the northeast trade winds blew as
strong and true as ever. as the yards had
not been tuched for days, and as no sail
was in sight, Skrlmshire scented a trap,
and presently beheld one set under his
nose In the shape of the signaling book.
Skrlmshire smiled. The captain found him
hurled in magazine and his little trap
untouched. And the obvious deduction was
also final to the sailors mind.
Six weeks produced no outward change