Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-10-25
CHAPTER VIII.

1t was Paolo's watch. A night for
dreamy thoughts of home. of kinsfolk. of
the more tender things of life but for us
night for the talk of that great might
be- which was then so powerful a source
of speculation for both of u.s. And we
were eager to talk, eager to know when
we should next hear of Captain Black or
OF the nameless ship.
Il shouldn't WONDER" said Roderick
after twenty surmises of the sort, "if we
heard something Of her as we cross. [
have given York orders to keep we'll in
the track of steamers; and if your friend
Hall be right that is just where the I'M
known ship will keep. l would give a
thousand pounds to know the story of the
man Black. IS it possible that a man
could commit piracy, to-day. in the At
lantic, where is the traffic of the world:
where, if the powers once learned of it.
they could hunt him down in day? And
yet, put into plain English, that is the
tale your friend tells"
1T is; have never doubted that from
the first. Captain Black is either the
most original villain living. or the whole
story is a silly dream-besides. we have
yet to learn if he is the commander of the
nameless ship; we have also to learn if
the nameless ship is not myth"
l remained above for half an hour, gaz-
ing over the great sweep of the Atlantic.
Paolo was on the bridge. l took all OPP
portunity of watching him. I made pre-
tense to go to my cabin, and bawled a
goodnight to the mate as | went; but
1t was only to put on felt slippers and to
get warm coat, and I made my way
Stealthlly amidships. l took a stand aft
OF the shippers cabin, where I could pry,
yet not be seen. l heard Paolo address
several of the men forward. and it seemed
to me that his mode of speech was not
quite that which should be between officer
and seaman.
1t CHANGED that in this watch the new
men were on deck, my old crew being in
the port watch. suddenly. on the far hor-
lion over the starboard bow, l saw the
flare Of a blue light, bright over the
water; and showing as it fared. the dark
hull Of a great ship. Paolo himself struck
light to flare which he had with him on
the bridge and answered the signal.
This action completely staggered me.
Without q thought l rushed up the ladder
to the hurricane deck and stood beside
Z 4
could see hil biting his lips, while an
| ugly look came into his eyes.
Good evening, Mister Mate" 1 said
will you kindly tell me why you burnt
that blue light?"
Il burnt it to answer the signal yon-
der"
But that was no affair of ours -
He shrugged his shoulders, and NUT
| tered something about custom Yet in
another moment he made effort to recall
| himself, and met me with an open. smil-
ing face which covered anger.
When 1 turned in at last, the little wind
there was had fallen away. I must have
| slept very heavily for an hour, when
great sense of unrest and waking weari-
ness took me-. and L lay, now doing, now
dreaming, so that in all my dreams l saw
the face of Paolo. l seemed TO walk the
| decks of the Celsis, yet was Paolo there
more strong and masterful than |.
Then the man Paolo stood over me,
| looking straight into my eyes; and when
would have risen up to question Kim
/ | was powerless. l opened my eyes and
saw, during the verffS=ss reality. of time
that others looked down into mine.
| saw them for some small part of a sec
ond, Yet in the faint light that came from
the port l recognized the face and the
! form, and was certain of them; fer the
man who had been watching me as slept
was Paolo.