The Monticellonian., 1904-02-25

HIS lace sldrlHS at the Wnlte sun over head. A grin came over the silent one in the bow, and his hand stole around to the sheath knife at his hip. His eyes glowed with the dull-red like those of hungry wolf, while the lips drew back from the yellow fangs as he crawled to- wards the prostrate man in the stern. He paused ere he reached him, and his breath came in hot gasps, while the veins stood out in black cords on his neck and forehead Then the red went out of his eyes, and he shuddered and looked away. With a dry choking sob he hurled the knife far into the sea, and erept back to his place in the bow
 Hours passed and the sun stole down towards the west, while the fins of the sharks, like the black sails of death glided silently round and round the lit tie boat, their gaunt shadows showing beneath the oily smoothness of the sea.
 The mate stirred and dragged himself up, and sat with his back against the gunwale.
 Hello! I must have been asleep, What station was that we just passed? Hayle, was iti We're nearly there now, only two more stops. What a surprise for Polly! l wonder if the kiddy has grown. It's long time since saw them, and they don't know I'm coming I've got some nice things for them. too. Let me see, There's that piece of China SILK for the missus, and sn ostrich s egg, and some of them little shells the mig gers use for money away down in the islands. There's monkey and parrot Tor the little one along with those lit- tle ships l made on the way out-nice little ships-ships with their holds full Of ire-sharks-dead men-and-and on, yes. it's that greasy steward again the dago-he's late with my tea I can tell you there's going to be a lot of changes in this ship when we get in There's Dutchman for'ard who's got to go anyhow. Before we go to sea again l am going to have her decks clipped, and the sidelights put forward don't believe in carrying them aft; she fines away to much. you can't see them if you have your courses down I wish they would quit pounding for awhile. the old man always seems to start them pounding when it's my watch below That's the worst of iron ships. you don't get quite so much grooming and creaking perhaps; but then you have to make up for it when they start knocking the rust off her. How unsociable everyone is, Say. you over there, Come. drink up and we'll have another all round. it's my shout! Phew, how hot it is, hot enough to drink up the ocean, Why don't they shut off some of this sun? What Godforsaken place it is anyhow, I don't believe there is a God-if there is-if there is he owes me something to drink. curse, What? Who spoke? What? Oh. yes. it's that Dutchman in the bow, of course. No; it couldn't have been him. See how black he's gone he's dead-dead. and I'll be the next. Look at his tongue-Id better pitch him oyer-he's pretty to look at Guess I'll canvas him up and wait till sunset and do the thing ship-shape. It won't be long now. the sun is getting quite low and red; we'll have wind to-mor- row. Look at those little clouds up there, a sure sign of wind little yellow wind clouds all round the sun-how curious they look! They seem to form a golden cross be- hind the sun. 1 wonder if it is the sun, l can't seem to see quite so well as did awhile back. It looks to me like a face-and-it' coming nearer-I can see il now, it's face with a crown of scarlet thorns, Whats ell that got to do with me? Hang it all. how my throat hurts! Why the flaming - don't some ship come along and get me out of this? If only the wind comes tonight I'll cheat those beastly sharks out of feed-Ill cheat 'em-I'H cheat the deyil-I'll cheat God, That voice again. What row my ears are mak- ing. I can't hear anything That voice, What did it say? T have suffered SHffered yes, of course. I've suffered suffered with thirst-and with Dutch men-and with -and-and- 0 God. help me to pray! Help me to pray for the dear ones at home-for the dear ones at home who are wait. ing! God guide and watch over them tonight. for to-morrow-for to-mor- row will-be-alone-in the world. Good-by Polly, I shan't be long. and this will be my last voyage. l promise, Good-by sonny, dad-dad- dy = will = be - back - soon - back - soon -."
 The sun gleamed a moment, then sank behind the rim of the western ocean.
 
 "Tonbrldge Castle" January 2Sth. 1901 Lat degrees s Long degrees W Sea rough Strong s W Trade s a m Passed ships long boat, bottom upl Black and White.