The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1906-04-19

| either thrown himself overheard or
fallen overheard in the heavy weather
that we were having. Only one man
knew what had happened to him, and
that was me, for with my own eyes 1
saw the skipper tip up his heels and
put him over the rail in the middle
watch of dark night two days before
we sighted the Shetland lights.
well. kept my knowledge to my
self and waited to see what would
come of it, When we got back to Scot.
land it was easily hushed up. and no
body asked any questions. A stranger
business to inquire. Shortly after Pc
ter Carey gave up the sea, and it was
long years before could find where he
was. l guessed that he had done the
deed for the sake of what was in that
tin box and that he could afford now
to pay me we'll for keeping my mouth
shut.
Il found out where he was through
a sailor man that had met him in Lon
don, and down l went to squeeze him.
The first night he was reasonable
enough and was ready to give me what
would make me free of the sea for life.
We We're to fix it all two nights later.
When came found him three parts
drunk and in vile temper. We sat
down, and we drank, and we yarned
about old times, but the more he drank
the less liked the look on his face.
l spotted that harpoon upon the wall,
and l thought might need it before
was through. Then at last he broke
out at me, splitting and cursing, with
murder in his eyes and great clasp
knife in his hand He had not time
to get it from the sheath before had
the harpoon through him. Heavens,
what a yell he gave! And his face gets
between me and my sleep. l stood
there. with his blood splashing round
me. and l waited for bit but ali
was quiet, SO l took heart once more
l looked round, and there was the tin
box on the shelf l had as much right
to it as Peter Carey. anyhow. SO took
it with me and left the hut. Like q
fool, left my baccy pouch upon the
table.
Now I'll tell you the queerest part
of the whole story. l had hardly got
outside the hut when heard some
one coming, and l hid among the
bushes. A man came Sinking along,
went into the hut, gave cry as if he
had seen ghost and legged 1t as hard
as he could run until he was out of
sight. Who he was or what he wanted
is more than can tell For my part,
l walked ten miles, got train at Tun-
bridge Wells, and so reached London
and no one the wiser.
"Well, when l came to examine the
box l found there was no money i'll it
End nothing but papers that would
not dare to sell. had lost my hold
on Black Peter and was stranded in
London without shilling. There was
only my trade left. l saw these adj
vertisements about harpooners and
high wages, so went to the shipping
agents and they sent me here. That's
all l know. and l say again that If
killed Black Peter the law should give
me thanks, for l saved them the price
Of a hempen rope"
"a very clear statement" said
Holmes, rising and lighting his pipe
II think, Hopkins. that you should
lose no time in conveying your prls-
oner to place of safety This room
is not we'll adapted for cell, and Mr.
Patrick Cairns occupies too large q
proportion Of our carpet"
"Mr. Holiness said Hopkins, ~ do
not know how to express my gratitude
Even now | do not understand how
4 you attained this result
Simply by having the good fortune
to get the right clew from the begin
ming. 1t is very possible if l had
known about this notebook it might
have led away my thoughts, as it did
yours. But all heard pointed in the
one direction. The amazing strength
, the skill in the use of the harpoon, the
rum and water, the sealslSin tobacco
pouch with the coarse tobacco-a.
these pointed to seaman and one
who had been whaler. / was con
WINGED that the initials 'P. c. upon the
pouch We're coincidence and moi
luoSc VI l7etef Sdfey, since Ne SclQOu
smoked and no pipe was found in his
cabin. You remember that l asked
, whether whisky and brandy were III
the cabin. You said they We're How
. many landsmen are there who would
drink rum when they could get these
other spirits? Yes, l was certain il
was a seaman"
! "And how did you find him?"
"My dear sir, the problem had be
| come very simple one If it were {;
seaman it could only be q seaman whs
had been with him on the Sea Unicorn
So far as I could learn he had sailed
in no other ship. spent three days il!
wiring to Dundee, and at the end OF
that time | had ascertained the names
of the crew of the Sea Unicorn in 1888
When ] found Patrick Cairns amons
the naIpooners my research was near
ing its end. / argued that the MAI
was probably in London and that ht
would desire to leave the country fol
a time. l therefore spent some days
in the east end, devised an arctic eN
petition, put forth tempting terms fol
harpooners who would serve under