Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1905-12-16
CHAPTER w.

The mate meantime was considering
the note put into his hands. 1t was
very short, and was a simple draft upon
a merchants house In Sydney-the short
est draft, | suppose, ever written, and on
the smallest piece of paper.
"Messrs. Hengstenberg & Co., Sydney
Pay bearer ego. New Ireland, 1884
Baron Serglus Won Holsteia"
81 will take him." sail the mate 81
expect to be out another three or four
months He can come aboard with me-
But. stranger" he said. persuasivey.
"can no business be done? Are they
open to reason7' He looked round at
the forest and deserted huts. Can we
trade for a few natives. you and me,
between us2 If could only see my way
to persuade 'em to worship me. I'd
blessed a. l wouldn't!-I would ship the
whole island. There would be fortune
In it,"
"They are open to no reason at all.
In fact, II they were at this moment to
come down upon us Unexpectedly, it
would be painful necessity for me-if
| valued my reputation as a prophetic
order them TO attack and spear both you
and your crew; otherwise | should be
considered a false prophet They are
wonderfully handy with their lances, and
they move in large bodies. Those pop
guns of yours would knock over two or
three, but would be of no avail to save
your own lives. Therefore | would ad-
wise that you get into your boat and
aboard your ship with as little delay as
possible"
The mate took his advice and departed
with his passenger.
And now" said the Baron Sergius.
II am alone at last, and can enjoy my
self without any Of that fellows groans.
| never knew before how extremely dis
agreeable one single murder may make
a man."
That evening the rescued man, David
Leighan. sat on the deck with his friend
the mate. The island of New Ireland
was now black patch low down on
the horizon, the night was clear, and the
sky full of stars. David was off the isl
and at last, aud once more free t. ~
turn to England; yet he did not look
happier; on the contrary, the gloom upon
his face was blacker than ever.
1t proved most unlucky voyage They
lost two men in an encounter with the IA
tives; they had no success in trailing
the captain continued to drink. The end
came Unexpectedly.
One night the watch on deck were
} startled by a bright light in the cap
tain's cabin. The light shot into flame
, and the flame leaped and ran along the
sides Of the cabin and caught in the decl
and licked the timbers of the ship. The
old schooner was as dry as finder, and
caught fire like a piece of paper. In
i've minutes 1t became apparent that the,
must take TO their boats. As to the
drunken man who had done the mischief
, he came out of the burning cabin ant
danced and sung until the flames drag
ged him down
In the fierce glare Of the burning shiI
, the mate looked at David reproachfully
implying that this misfortune was en-
tirely due to his presence.
2 Even now" he whispered. 81 will no
2 tell the men you have ruined the voy
/ age, burned the snip. killed the captain
and may be will kill us as well. Wha
. have you done that we should be punish
I ed like this for taking you on boardl Il
? it's II murder2"
E David nodded his head gloomily.
Then" said the mate, whatever hap
- pens to us, you'll get safe ashore. You
won't be drowned. and you won't b.
I starved"
, Three weeks later there were only tw'
survivors In that boat. The other mel
- had all drunk sea water. and so gone MAJ
e one after the other. and leaped over
I board in their delirium. Only Davi'
d Leighan was left with the mate, and the.
were lying one In the bow and one il
$ the stern, as far apart as the boat woul'
;. allow, and they were black in the face
Il gaunt and hollow-eyed.
When they were picked up the sign
. OF life were so faint In them that tn
p skipper, a humane person, took counse
e with his mate whether ii would not saw
IS the poor men trouble to drop them int
Il the water at once. But in the end b
hoisted them aboard and laid them o
J. the deck. with their heads propped up.
K For the rest Of the voyage the rescue
d mate kept sloof from the rescued passen
Il ger. He would not speak to him; h
l. avoided that part Of the ship where h
u happened to be. As for the latter
4 found place abaft near the helm. wher
/ he could sit upon coil Of rope. his hea
n upon his knees. And there he remained
= gloomy and silent.
IT There was trouble, too. First. the shi
:. sprung a leak. and the pumps had to b
e worked. Next. there was bad storm
o and the mizzen mast went by the boar,
K Thirdly, Ere broke out, and was sui