The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1905-11-19
The Ghost of the Gun Deck
MrgR robertson
BY Morgan Robertson.

light of the gun-deck. was peering at
him. There was a gray stain of salt
on the faded beard, the musty smell of
wet seaweed in the air, frond OF
which was tangled in the beard, while.
TO complete the grisly parallel, the
presence held under one arm a deml-
john. and emanated such a faint sug-
gestion of a whiskey breath as Finne-
gan's spirit might be supposed to ra-
date in the land beyond.
Mr.. Thompson stared, open-eyed and
open-mounted while his hair tingled at
the roots and rose on end, and the blood
stopped cold in his veins. He strove to
speak, but could not; his tongue
was thick, stiff, and dry against
the roof of his mouth. Nor, for
the time. could he move, nor turn his
gaze away from the staring, frighten-
ed face. But under the strain his
senses reeled, the long, wide strata of
sleeping men faded and grew dim, the
stanchiOns hoists, and other deck fit
tings became a blur to his vision, and
merciful Inconsistencies had almost
come when the presence also grew dim
and shadowy-and then was gone. The
master-at-armS stared at vacancy,
still dumb and inert, until the blurred
picture in his eyes became defined and
his tongue loosened from the roof Of
his mouth-a matter of two minutes or
more, then the pent-up agony in his
soul found expression in hoarSe,
throaty screech that left him GREATNESS
and painting, but Weakened every man
sleeping on the gun-deck. Five hum
dred men lifted their heads, or sat up,
and there was chorus of growls, oaths
and admonitions to "shut up-whoever
you are"
''Finnegan-F ghost," slut
tered the master-at-arrns. I'm haunt
ed! I saw him-beside me-right be-
side met His voice became a wall.
He'll haunt me till I die! He'll haunt
me till I die.''
''Sarve We right answered one. eye
shouldn't ha killed him.
"G'wan and die, then" said another,
"and be quick about it,
Dry up, over there, and let's us
Sleep came another voice from over
the hammocks. and calls of like tenor
sounded fore and aft from the sleepy
and frritated men. Mr.. Thompson sub
sided and lay down, but not to sleep.
The others We're not troubled with
again the steady drone of shores filled
the space between decks. Then there
was a second awakening; a Lee Met
ford rifle clattered down the forward
hatch ladder, followed by the upper
deck sentry, heels over head. He pick
ed himself up. secured his piece. and
started up the ladder. but paused at tho
top, while he peered back and forth on
the main-deck.
What he HIS the matter wi you
called a man.
II saw Finnegan," answered the ma
rine, looking down. II saw him plain
IS day. He came up the hatch here.
was amidships and didn't recognize him
until L got here; then he turned and
looked at me. Lord, what a face on
him! I fell down the hatch.''
With nothing on his conscience, the
man was less agitated than had been
Mr. Thompson: yet his voice trembled
as he spoke, and it was some
moments before he assembled to his
post. Then two score of men began
talking, and this wakened others who
had not been awakened by the sentry,
and these Weakened more, until all
hands of that great ship were discus
sing the visitation, and one delegation
was interviewing Mr. Thompson. while
another talked with the sentry. These
two Were brought together by the Of
ficers, and they corroborated each
others description of F'innegan.
and you say you smelled whiskey?'
asked Mr.. Clarkson of the master-at-
arms.
Yes, sir. could swear to it,
Ard YOU .
81 wasn't near enough, SIR answered
the sentry.
The executive officer and the surgeon
who was present, looked each other III
the eyes.
rs it possible" said the latter, chat
he is alive, and that, as before, he has
for a purpose? What trou-
BILE threatens us at present?''
Mr.. Clarkson patted the air with both
hands. Lord knows" he answered.
I'VE lost him six miles out How could
he swim SO far without the life buoy?
How could he get aboard without be-
ing seen? Four search Lights are go
ing, and there's a lookout or a sentry
on every available spot
What danger menaces us?"
Nothing can hurt this ship but
torpedoes, and VIE can see and sink
a loI pcuO-DOdl Dtlpi6 SHE Ccll get dJ
US"
How about submarines? 2"
Mr.. Clarkson's face darkened "There
is news-only a rumor. I hope-of a
new batch sent overland in sections"
is there no protection-no means
Of destroying theme
None; the only plan is flight. They
are slow. and must lie in wait for Il
moving ship, or creep up to one at
anchor. But they cannot be seen. and
by means of the periscope-a camera
Ucida. in fact-they can see, two faith
pms down, all that shows above. They
strike ont of the dark. and cannot be
destroyed. No projectile can reach /
them. If We sight periscope tube we /
must run. and thank God if we dodge |
he torpedo"
DR. Bryce unused. mo doubt it's the |
end of Finnegan,'' he said after a |
But as to ghosts-whv-hal- /
ucinations are possible to two men at !
he same time-most certainly so if one /.
receives the suggestion from the other, /!
IS in this case And as to smelling /