Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-06
CHAPTER XIV.

Lyddy.
There could be no hiding the facts from
the crew now. The news spread like Wlld-
fire among the men, and most of them Sc
cretly partisaned Parton's cause, although
the sailor who had seen the first encoun-
ter kept his word and said nothing, o. al
most nothing, about it.
The mate knocked unconscious for the
second time recovered slowly, and was too
weak from loss of blood and too sickcned
by pain to make it possible for him to 90
anything particularly aggressive that art
ernoOn night.
Parton's place was a puZzling one. He
momentarfIy expected that the mate S fury
over his second defeat would result in at
least an attempt to carry out his threat
and order Parton into irons, but the hours
passed and nothing of the sort was done
Parton nursed his bruised and swollen
neck and face as well as he could; but the
prospect seemed to him 10 be most uhut
teraIlN gloomy one He could have Jared
little worse if ne had stayed ashore and
taken his chances with his stepfather ana
Scotland Yard
The situation on board was almost an
impossible one. 1t seemed out of the ques-
ton that it should remain in statu quo I'M
til the ship landed in New York Ana even
then Parton could not predict in his nina
what was likely to occur when that Tune
came
new and imminent worry also grew
out Of the captains condition. Tfat WIZ
shrek had meant that some change had
come in it, it crossed Parton 5 nina once
that the cry might have been caused by
tie fact that the Old man had witnessed
from his bunk the struggle on the cahin
floor. and that he had used this shrek be
cause it his only way OF expressing
horror at what he my have been con
WINGED was impending murder, but tflS
seemed too impossible to be worthy OF Sc
rious consideration. w.,
The period of the captains apparent ioS9
of reasoning power had extended over al
most two weeks. During that time Parton
had been sure that he had not only peen
totally incapable of expressing himself Du'
NAT he had been unable to intelligently in
terpret in his mind the events that passed
within the very limited range OF his Wis on,
Parton learned that the captain had ldlIeu
into a deep stupOr after the epsoue' o"e
when he went to the companlonWay Ell
trance to go down to see him. ne was IN
formed by the sailor who was on gud-d
that he was to be in no CIRCUMSTANCES p'i-
ritted TO go below.
This angered him but it did not surprise
him. He could hardly feel that the sltua-
tor had changed for the worse except III
so far as the personal inconvenience Whlca
the fight and the resulting exile from 'he
cabin caused might be considered an assra-
walton OF its discomforts.
He knew now that for the remainder OF
the voyage he would have to look out for
his safety with exceeding care, but me
mere fact that the mate had attacked nun
showed that he recognized the strength Oh
the charge which Parton held over ms
head as a price for his own immunity from
disclosure
II was evident that he was no longer SO
certain as he had been that Parton was
wholly in his power. He could sun prIhs
the charges against Parton; charges Whico
he could not be entirely certain would De
sustained or would even have serious
effect on the young man after he had some
ashore But on the other hand. he rlust
know that there could be no such POSSIBLE
ity of doubt in his own case II Parton
Should make an accusation of THEFT against
him.
The mate did not know which of the men
it was who had seen him rife Partons
berth but that he had actually been seen at
ii by some one of them was certaln-other-
wise Parton would have known nothing
about 1T.
So therefore there would be the test
mony of the sailor against him, and added
to this would be Parton's own statement
that he had afterward caught him in the
very act of overhaulng his traps. and that
this had been the cause of the fight.
The mates position was not wholly en-
vIable, but he too angry to look after
his own best interests. Besides it was rea-
sonable to suppose that he had now gone
too far to make it possible for him to have
a reconciliation with the ships passenger.
The discipline of the ship also demanded
that he must make at least show of pun
ishing Parton for having thrashed him. He
had an uncomfortable conviction that what
small respect the men had had for him be-
fore the unfortunate encounters in the
cabin was now lost, but he felt that he
exhibiting the firmness of a commander
Before these unfortunate episodes had oc-
Cured Parton had looked forward with
considerable dread to the day when he
should land in Boston. He had decided that
II lie was 10 be arrested there he would
certainly be arrested on the very day of his
landing. But the situation on the ship had
become so uncomfortable that he actually
longed for landing day and it's possible
perils as promising a welcome relief.
About o'clock sailor came to him
where he sitting, aft OF the wheel,
and asked him If he wished TO have his
meal brought to him there. He was not
to be permitted TO enter the cabin again.
Even while Parton was considering what
reply he should make. there came through
the skylight a repetition of that slow,
blood-curdling cry. The shril, vibrating
shrek quavered upward. not loudly, but
with n strange, penetrating quaver that
made Parton half start from his chair
and brought more than sailor run
ming from the forward deck, where they
We're gathered after their evening meal
smoking their pipes and gossiping about
the days exciting episodes.
Entirely disregarding the mates orders
Parton dashed to the companionway and
down tire four or five steps with long,
jumping strides. No one offered to detain
him, and there was no one on watch at
the cabin entrance Parton went in, pay
ing no attention whatever to the mate,
who. he saw in the dim light of the cabin,
was standing near the center OF the little
room, leaning on the table and gazing as
II StfGCk QHInD toward the captain DSrtn-
Parton. turning his head neither TO the
left nor to the right, went at once to the
side Of the old man.
He lay 10 ali appearance quite as he had
heen. hut Parton saw with delighted Won
der that as he approached there. came 4
change of expression. slight but unmist1k-
able. on his face, and il seemed TO him that
there was a still further change as he bent
ever him and asked him slowly, and with
an effort TO make his words very distinct.
If there was anything which he wished 70
have done for him. 1t evident TO Par
ton that the Old man heard him, under
stood him ard made desperate attempt
to reply TO him in some way. but he failed
utterly.
Two sailors. who had descended into the
cabin after Parton and who were stand hg
close behind him as he leaned over the
captains berth were at this juncture Of
dcred roughly out of the cabin by the mate.
That they should have come in at all, Par
ton reflected was an evidence of how COM
rletely the discipline on the ship had gone
20 pieces. After they had slouched away,
10 the accompaniment of much angry ex-
pletive from the mate. the man turned
cUriously on Parton.
w hat n HI Won doing doyrr, harai,v