Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-11-15
CHAPTER XIV

| There was light from six lanterns held
! by giant negroes, TO greet me when
had mounted the ladder and was at last
on the deck of the great ship; but none
of the men spoke a word, nor could | see
their faces. One of the men silently
touched me on the shoulder, and follow
| ed him along narrow strip of iron deck,
| past a great turret which reared itself
| above me, and again by the covered forms
/ of quick-hring guns. We descended a
short ladder to a lower deck, and so to
the companion way, and to a narrow pas
sage in which were many doors. One of
these he opened, and motioned me to en-
ter, when the door was closed noiselessly
behind me, and l found myself alone.
My first feeling was one of intense sur
i prise I had looked to enter a prison.
The cabin was not large, but one more
artistic in effect was never built. Hung
all around with poppy-colored silk. the
same material made curtains for the bunk.
1t was employed also for the cushions and
covering of the armchair and the couch,
and to drape the dressing glass and basin
which were in the left-hand corner 1t
seemed, indeed. that the whole room was
a harmony in scarlet, with a scarlet cell
| ing and scarlet hangings. The feet sank
! above the ankles in a soft Indian rug
which was ornate with the quaint mosaic
! like workings and penetrating colors of
all Eastern tapestry. For light. there was
an arc lamp, yelled with gauze of the
! faintest yellow. The room would have
| been perfect but for horrid blot upon it
! "a blot which stared at me from the
| outer wall with bloodshot eyes and hide
| Gus visage. 1t was the picture of a mans
| head that had been severed from the body.
The picture almost terrified me. but
| thought. If no worse harm befall me,
| what odds? and l sat down, all wonder
| ing and dazed.
My conclusion was that the man Black
could be showing me this marked consid-
GRAFTON only for some motive of self-inter-
est. 1t was evident that he had been
aware of my intention to follow him from
the moment when Roderick purchased our
new steamyacht. He had put one of his
own men craftily upon the ship to watch
us. and had made bold attempt to deal
with us in mid-Atiantlc. Fooled there,
he had taken advantage of my folly in
| entering such a place as the Bowery. and
| had given orders that | should be carried
| to his own ship.
Suddenly the electric light went out. l
sat quite still for some half an hour.
There was no noise of movement save on
| the deck above. and my own cabin re-
manned as still as the grave. 1t appeared
that | was to be left unmolested for that
night at any rate. l undressed and lay
! down in one of the most seductive beds |
have met with at sea. l was so weary
and fatigued with my sufferings in the
open boat that fell asleep at once, and
must have slept for many hours. l awoke
IN the day. The red curtains opposite my
bunk were drawn back, admitting dull
| light from a port hole through which l
| could look upon a tumbling sea, and a sky
| all grit with rain clouds. My armchair
was occupied by a man. dressed with
all the scrupulous neatness of a thorough
going yachtsman. He had a bright, open
! face, and there was something refined
and polished in his voice
| Good morning to YOU" he said: 81
| hope you have slept we'll? l didn't wake
you before, because sleep is the best medi-
cine in your case. I'm a doctor, you
| know"
"Oh. you're the notwithstanding
to the crew, I suppose; you must see
good deal of practice"
He looked rather surprised at my mean
ing remark, and then said quite calmly.
Yes, write good many death certif-
Gates. You must be hungry. l will ring
for breakfast; and. if you would take a
rub, your bathroom is here"
He opened the door in the passage. and
led the way to a cabin furnished with
marble and brass fittings, wherein was a
full-sized bath. l took a bath, and found
him waiting for me when l had finished.
We returned to the scarlet room, and
there spread upon the table was a meal
| worthy of Delmonico's. There was coffee
served with thick cream; there were