The St. Mary banner., 1901-11-09


we were on allowance of oil. The par
son had as yet uttered no sound. but had
flashed among us like meteor, and then
vanished into the blackness of darkness,
where no one dared to follow him. We
shuddered as we thought of our COM
rades Of the other watch sleeping be-
low.
The captain, as we'll as everyone else
in the cabin, had been reused by the
unwonted sounds overhead, and had
found his way on deck to learn the
cause. Armed with all sorts of weap-
ons, we mustered forward in a sort of
irregular phalanx, ito beat the jungle
for the tiger" as the second mate, an
old East Indian cruiser, quantity express
sed it.
Tonawanda, who had been slyly lis
tening near the scuttle, reported having
heard the sound of someone moving the
fore-peak hatch; but after this ceased
all was still as the grave.
Steward, bring a light here from the
cabin" said the captain. 1T won't do
to. go down there in the dark
But at this moment one of the men
below, disturbed by the hustle, reused
up and crying, Whats this row about?'
struck match and lighted the lamp.
Look out, Jones!' said half dozen
voices from the deck. Look out for
Parson; he's crazy!"
"Parson be blamed" muttered Jones,
with his eyes half open and out of tenn
per at having his slumbers interrupted.
II don't see no Parson. Why, Parson
relieved me at the wheel-hallo! what's
the fore-peak scuttie off for?"
BY this time the two mates, backed
up BY others. all with weapons Of some
sort, had affected lodgment in the
forecastle. The little trap-door was
clapped on and the lunatic was thus
Gagged in the lower hold. One after an
other Of the watch below awoke and roll
led out of their hunks with all sorts of
incoherent questions. as they wondered
at this armed invasion.
"Silence!' said the captain at last.
Listen now. if you can hear any sound
below. Take off the hatch again
He called the Parson by name several
times, but got no answer. He peered
cautiously down the little square hole
but nothing was to be seen. Reclosing
it and securing it by the weight of
couple Of sea-chests, we drew OFT our
forces to consult upon some new plan OF
attack. i
"He must be routed out Of that some
how" said the mate "The poor fellow
may kill himself if he isn't taken care Of
And, for that matter, there's no know
ing what damage crazy man may do
to the ship. He may build fire down
there, if he can find enough to make one
Of"
That's true" said the captain. "We'l
take off the main matches now, and go
down in force"
"Ay, sir; there's no help for it," as
sented the second mate. "Gi me my
choice of capstanbars, and I'll lead away
if you say the word. Here's fix for a
decent ships company Of twenty men,
eh, with a luny-tic under EN-. It's WIS sn
any powder magazines
Our cargo, which consisted chiefly OF
cooper and hides, was necessarily stow
ed, as 1t was received on board at vari-
ous ports on the Chilian coast. Thus
while the ship was heavily laden, from
the nature of her cargo there was plenty
of open space in bulk, and it was easy to
pass anywhere. fore and aft.
Taking off the lower matches. we
pushed a short ladder down to facilitate
our exit, if indeed, and with arms and
lanterns jumped into the hold. Then di-
viding our forces We pressed fSward'
oeerine about on every side. Nothing
was to be seen, nor could any answer
be elected to our calls. Suddenly the
lantern which l was carrying was dashed
from my hand into fragments with what
seemed to be a piece of board, darted
eudwise a yell, unlike anything human.
rang in our ears, and something brushed
roughly BY me in the darkness. moving
toward the outlet at the hatchway.
We turned about and gave chase, call
inc upon our comrades on the other side
Of the central partition, or shifting
| board" to hasten with the other Ian
tern. Again we reached the open hatch
way where we had jumped down. We
caught a glimpse of the Parson on the
ladder Just as he was poising another
| piece of wood in his hand and taking
aim for good throw. :,
Look out for your lantern" was
cried, in warning tones. and two cap
stan-bars were hurled at the dimly seen
6eure.e There was crash and we were
wrapocd in total darkness.
We shouted to those on deck, but they
were sure he had not come 50 high
The lower matches were pushed into
nlace and the short ladder now connect
Cd up with the upper deck.
An unlooked-for reinforcement now
;oined us in the person of Austin, the
| Chileno, bearing in his hand few faith
oms Of slender line and a short torch
Handing the torch to the second mate
he retained the cord himself, and they
two led the advance.
The torch threw 4 wide glare ahead o:
nc lighting up the whole width OF the
hetwcen-decks. The madman, crouched
against the forward bulkhesd,. was
brought tc- bay. .
| rr:srz ~,ere 6xed upon the torch