The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1906-04-08


10 take in anything else accurately
I cannot describe to you exactly m
feeling which this face produced o.
me- but | imagine that a tame birt
must experience similar sensation
when rat or weasel is climbing abou
, Its cage and thrusting a wicked heat
through the bars. For one moment
was paralyzed with terror. the mex
. mad burst open the cabin doors anC
Jumped wildly on to the bank. Once
out In the open. with room to NOV,
and run, 1 recovered my nerve and
glanced curiously about me. The
dinghy and its occupants had disap-
peared, but the quarrel had begun
again on the Dandy, more violent and
menacing than before BY the light
that shone from her cabin I could see
two figures struggling in the we'll and
swaying about dangerously near the
side, and I fancied that amid the i'm
precautions 1 could catch the dull thud
of blows
Come on to the shore you I
out like a man."
Let go OF my throat. you damned
- shouted the other "or T'll-''
'smothered cry. and both men had
gone overheard into the river with a
heavy splash, and at the same moment
the light In the cabin went out. I
rushed frantically along the bank,
crashing through the thick vegetation
and sinking into deep holes filled with
slime and water.
Where are your I shouted. .Call!
I can't see''
The idea that two men might be
drowning almost within my reach. and
l powerless to help, maddened me, and
drove every other thought from my
head. But, strain my eyes as / might,
I could see nothing but the dark, un-
broken surface of the river and
deathlike silence seemed to have set
tied down upon the night. was
brought W at last q bout a handred
feet from the Dandy by a small dyke.
In the darkness it was difficult for
me to gauge it's breadth or depth. and
as I was uncertain whether / could
jump it. and afraid to plunge through
it for fear I should find myself stuck
in the treacherous mud. I decided that
l had better go back and fetch a Ian
tern. l knew that the tide must have
carried the bodies beyond the point had
reached, and, If / was to find my way
off the marsh in search of help. must
have some artificial light to aid me.
SO made my way back to the Dipper. |
lit the candle lantern that / always
carry with me, and, shouldering the |
quant-pole, once more retraced my
steps along the bank.
The dyke was less formidable than |
I had imagined, and with the aid of |
the quant-pole I was soon on the other |
side. Then, with certain Tightening |
at the heart, I stepped on board the |
Dandy I had some difficulty in en- /
tering the cabin. The doors were |
tightly shut and the wood had swol- |
len, and it needed violent effort to |
force them apart. inside the air was |
damp and musty, the woodwork was |
rotting, and the cushions were covered |
with mildew and gnawed by the river
rats. A swinging lamp hung from the |
roof. I felt it: but it was cold, and
moist with dew. There was no trace
of bottles or glasses. One glance, in
fact sufficed to convince me that was
the first person who had been inside
that cabin for months: and with this
conviction a queer, creepy feeling
came over me, and I stepped quickly
back on to the bank.
Fortunately the nights in August are
not very long, and with the first streak
of dawn I crept into my bunk and fell |
asleep. But my nerves were so I'M
strung that the slight bump that Ned |
gave to our stern as he came aboard |
1T $50 woke me with start. and
me out into the we'll with a
scared and, I imagine, a pallid face.
CT, coil
he sound of his voice struck cheerfully
IN nv ears ct see as I come along. |
by her doors being open, that somebody
nave been aboard the Dandy in the
night
Though his words were a statement
IF fact, his face implied a suppressed
1uery. to which l did not reply di-
'ectly.
You said' 1 remarked, that two
nen were drowned out of herr
Yes sir" said Ned. 1T were just
bout a year ago"
Where did it happen?" I asked.
II can't rightly say. sir" replied Ned.
The boat were moored where she is
low, but the bodies was found two
niles lower down-by the eel-set."
rs it known how it happened?'
Lsked again.
TT were never known for certain,
aid Ned, lowering his eyes as if to
void mine Zone of the gentlemen
lad lost an eye and couldn't see very
lear. They do suppose that he missed
lis footing and fell in, and that the
,ther went in after him. Leastways,
hey were both found together, Gluten
ng hold of one another
"And was there any suggestion OF
oul play?'' g..
There was some talk" replied Ned
vasively, but l could never get the
lights of it. The verdict what they
rave at the inquest was Accidental
leath. "
Thank you. Ned I said. That's
III / wanted TO know and now you can
,e getting me my breakfast. - Corn
ill Magazine.
Ranter-"But. siry a genius is
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