The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1907-01-12
CHAPTER IV.-(Continued.)

CHAPTER IV.-(Continued.)
The helm went over, and the yacht
1oo.ned ND black, a our own light died
away; and passed Us within cables
lsnRth. What lift Of the night there was
showed us her decks again but tAey were
not deserted, for ~ one or two aboard
ssve Q great cry, I saw the white and
horribly distorted face Of a man who
caung to the main shrouds-and he alone
was the guardian Of the wanderer.
That vision of the man I had left well
and hopeful and strong not three days
since was terrible to me. A brave man
had gone to his death, but to what
death, if that agonized face and distorted
visage betokened aught! And I had prom
tssd to aid him, and was drifting there
with the schooner, raising no hand to give
him help.
Skipper" cried, this time we'll risk
getting a boat of I'm going aboard that
vessel now, if l drown before I return"
Then turned to the men and said you
saw the yacht pass just now, and you
saw that man aboard her-he's my friend,
and I'm going to fetch him."
Az the good fellows gave way and our
boat rode easily before the wind, l no
decd for the first time that the clouds
were scattering; and we had not made
another cables length when q great cloud
above us showed silver at its edges, and
opaquely white in its center, through
which the moon shone. Anon 1t dissolv-
Cd. and the Transformation ON the surface
Of the water was q Transformation from
ths dark of storm to the chrome light of
q summer moon. The deserted yacht
was beating up to us, and we stood right
In her track.
Get a grapnel forward, and look out
there" cried the man in command.
Az if to help us, the wind fell away az
The schooner came up, and she began to
shake her sails. Suddenly there was the
sound as of fierce contest, Of the bursting
Of wood, and the spread Of flame; and in
that instant the decks Of the yacht were
Wiped up, and sheets of fire rose from
chem to the rigging above.
"Give way" roared Dan again, for the
men sat motionless with terror. Are you
-ouinx to let him burn?"
The words awed them. They shot the
long boat forward; and stood in her
stern to observe, If could, what passed
On the burning decks. And I saw sight
IL like to which pray that may never
~ again. Martin Hall stood At the main
tkrouds, motionless. volumes Of fame
GROUND him, his figure clear to be viewed
b. <hat awful beacon.
why doesn't he jump it?" called
aloud. But Martin Hall never moved,
bis gaunt figure was motionless-the
flames beat upon it, It did not stir: and
We drew near enough anon and knew the
worst
"He's dashed there-and he's Dead"
said Dan. Easy! for a parcel of stark
toolsi Would you run alongside herr"
There they lay, for any nearer ap-
pEoach would have been perilous, and even
In that place where we were, twenty feet
On the windward side. the heat was nigh
unbeArable. So near were we that look
Cd close as it might be into the dead face
Of Martin Hall, and saw that the 6ends
who had dashed him there had done their
work too well. But hoped in my heart
that he had been dead when the end of
the ship had begun to come, and that it
were no reproach to me that he had per-
tshed: for to save his body from that
holocaust was work no man might do.
So did we watch the mounting fire, and
the last tack of the yacht La France.
Saucily she raised her head to a new
breeze, shook her great sail Of flame in
the night, and scattered red light about
her. Then she dipped her burning jib
- If in salute, and there was darkness.
As we neared our own ship Roderick
took my hand, giving it great grip. Then
~ came aboard, where Mary waited for
- with white face, and the others stood
silent but we said nothing to them, going
below. There locked myself in my own
cabin, and though fatigue lay heavy on
ma. took Martin Halls papers from my
locker and lighted the lamp to read them
through.
But not without awe, for they were a
message from the dead.
CHAPTER v.
The manuscript, which was sealed on
In cover in many places, consisted of
several pages Of close writing, and of
Gketches and scraps from newspapers-
Italian. French and English. The sketches
] looked at first, and was not a little
surprised to see that one of them was the
vornait Of the man known as Roaring
John" and there was wit hthis a blur
- and faint outline Of the features of
ths seaman called "Four-Eyes." But
Whist. perhaps, was even more difficult to
understand was the picture Of the great
hun Of what judged to be q warship.
dAowing her a-building. with the work vet
pEosressing on her decks. The Newspaper
cuttings deemed to be in some part an
sxplanation of these sketches, for one of
dem gave q description Of a very note
worthy ba&tleship, constructed for =
South American republic, but in much
secrecy.
An this reading remained cnigmatical
Il course. and a. / could make nothing of
{ to connect 1t with the events I have
narrated, / went on to the writing. which
vas fne and small. a. the writing Of an
sxaot man. And <hs words upon the
head Of 1t were these: cs,s
SOME ACCOUNT OF A NAMELESS
WARSHIP.
Or Hin CHEW, AND HIN PuroaI.
Written for the eyes Of Kevk Gtross. Sv
nertis He'll Sossstinss Ne }r;swl.
Rnun that nlnr> ~. ~t~.-- -. 4. -