The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-07-07


He's asleep" said I, stopping
short.
Bill breathed hard. Hes in q
queer sleep" said he; kind o. trance
more like. Go closer"
took fast hold of Bills sleeve, and
we both went. The light of the stars
was sufficient to show thst Dadd's
face was very white, and that his dim,
black eyes were wide open. and star
ing In a very strange and dreadful
manner straight before him.
"Dadd," said l, softly, "Dadd."
There was no reply, and, with q
view of arousing him, tapped one
sinewy hand as 1t gripped the wheel,
and even tried to loosen 1t.
He remained immovable, and, sud-
denly with great cry, my courage
deserted me, and Bill and l fairly bolt
ed down into the cabin and woke the
skipper.
Then we saw how It was with Jem,
and two strong senmen forcibly loos-
ened the grip of those rigid fingers,
and, lay ing him on the deck, covered
rest Of the night two men stayed at
the wheel. and, gazing fearfully at the
outline Of the canvas, longed for
dawn.
It came at last, and, breakfast over,
the body was sewn up In canvas, and
the skipper held a short service COM
piled from Bible which belonged to
the mate, and what he remembered Of
the Burial Service proper. Then the
corpse went overheard with a splash,
and the men, after standing awkward.
ly together for a few minutes, slowly
dispersed to their duties.
For the rest Of that day we were all
very quiet and restrained; pity for
the dead man being mingled with q
dread of taking the wheel when night
came.
"The wheels haunted" said the
cook, solemnly; "rlark my words,
there's more of you will be took the
same way Dadd was"
The cook, like myself, had no watch
to keep.
The men bore up pretty well until
night came on again, and then they
unanimously resolved to have q
double watch. The cook, sorely
against his will, was impressed into
the service, and I, glad to oblige my
patron, agreed to stay up with Bill.
Some Of the pleasure had vanished
by the time night came, and seem
ed only just to have closed my eyes
when Bill came, and, with a rough
shake or two, informed me that the
time had come. Amy hope that I
might have had of escaping the ordeal
was at once dispelled by his expect
ant demeanor, and the helpful way In
which he assisted me with my clothes,
and, yawning terribly. I followed him
on deck.
The night was not 80 clear as the
preceding one, and the air was chilly,
with a little moisture in Il. button
ed up my jacket, and thrust my hands
in my pockets.
Everything quiet?'. asked Bill. as
he stepped up and took the wheel.
cay, ay," said Roberts, quiet as
the grave" and, followed by his will
ing mate, he went below.
/ sat on the deck by Bills side as,
with light touch on the wheel, he
kept the brig to her course. It was
weary work sitting there, doing moth.
ing, and thinking OF the warm berth
below, and believe that should
have fallen asleep, but that my watch
full companion stirred me with his
foot whenever he saw me nodding.
I suppose I must have sat there.
shivering and yawning, for about an
hour, when, tired. of inactivity. got
up and went and leaned over the side
OF the vessel The sound of the wa
ter gurgling and tapping by was so
soothing that I began TO doze.
/ was recalled to my senses by q
smothered cry from Bill, and, run
ming to him, found him staring TO