Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-04
CHAPTER III.

| l~1ILLY EDWARDS came on deck IIk with a line of irritation right IIIDI angling the furrows between - his eyes.
 "Go ahead" the quarter deck bade him, seeing him afiush with informa- tion.
 ''The captain won't believe me- blurted out Edwards.
 ''Is 1t as bad as that?' asked Bar nett, smiling. Tt certainly is," replied the younger man seriously. T don't know that I blame him. I'd hardly believe it my self if hadn't" "Oh, go on! Out with 1t! Give us the facts. Never mind your credibil- ity."
 "The facts are that there lies the Laughing Lass little weather worn, but sound as dollar, and not living being aboard of her. Her boats are all there. Everything's in good condition, though none too orderly. Pitcher half full of fresh water in the rack. Sails all o. K. Ashes Of the galley fire still warm. I tell you, gentlemen, that ship hasn't been deserted more than cou- pie of days at the outside"
 Are you sure all the boats are theref" asked Ives.
 'Dory, dingey and two surfboats. Isn't that enough%
 Plenty"
 Been over her, inside and out No sign of collision. No leak. No any thing, except that the starboard side Is blistered a bit. No evidence of fire anywhere else. I tell you," said Billy Edwards pathetically. tits given me headache"
 Perhaps it's one of those cases of panic that Forsythe spoke of the other night" said Ives. "The crew got frightened at something and ran away, with the devil after them"
 But crews don't just step out and run around the corner and hide when they're scared" objected Barnett.
 That's true, too," assented Ives. "well. perhaps that volcanic eruption jared them so that they jumped for It."
 Pretty wild theory, that" said Ed wards.
 No wilder than the facts, as you give them," was the retort.
 That's so," admitted the ensign gloomlly.
 But how about pestilence" suggest ed Barnett.
 Maybe they died fast. and the last survivor. after the bodies of the rest were overheard, got delirious and jumped after them"
 Not if the galley fire was hot" said Dr. Trendon briefly. No; pestilence doesn't work that way"
 Did you look at the wheel, BlllyT' a-ked Ives.
 Did I? There's another thing. Wheels all right but compass Is no good at all. It's regularly bewitched."
 What about the log. thenT
 Couldn't find 1t anywhere. Hunted high. low. jack and the game; every where except in the big. brass bound chest I found in the captains cabin. Couldn't break Into that"
 "Dr. Schermerhorn's chestr' exclaim- ed Barnett. Then he was aboard"
 Well. be isn't abonrd now" said the ensign grimly. Not in the flesh. And that's all" he added suddenly.
 "No, 1t isn't all. said Barnett gently. There's something else. Captains or dersf'
 "Oh. no. Captain Parkinson doesn't take enough stock In my report to tell me to withhold anything" said Ed wards. with trace of bitterness in his voice "Tt's nothing that believe my self. anyhow"
 "GIve us a chance to believe 1t" said Ives.
 well" said the ensign hesitantly. there's a sort of atmosphere about that schooner that's almost uncanny."
 "Oh. you had the shndders before you were ordered to board bantered Ives.
 T know t. I'd have thought 1t was one of those fool presentiments If were the only one to feel t. But the men were affected too. They kept to- eether. Ike frightened sheep. And I heard one say to another. Hey, Bouey. d'you feel Ike some one was a-buzzin' your nerves Ike a fiddle stringT Now demanded Edwards plaIntively. what right has a jackie to have 
 That's strange enough about the said Barnett slowly. Ours b all light again The schooner must have been co near the electric disturb ance thst her instruments were perms- nenfiv derxnred- That would lend weight to the vol ranic theoFy.- satd Carter
 So the captain difnr tske klndly tp [ rrrr e- IrrElsaars n-~r<4r~nf rrrz ~