Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-03-17

VNtI uOW W HIKE SUI soup out VI one
species. of seaweed. Me he initiated in
the art of fishing with white bone
lure. Our camp itself he reconstruct
ed on scientific lines SO that we en-
joyed less aromatic smoke and more
palatable dinner And all of it he did
amusedly, as though his ideas were al
most too obvious to need communion
ton.
Z We became in manner Intimate
with him. He guyed the men in his
indolent fashion, playing on their Gre
dulity, their good nature even their
forbearance. They alternately grinned
and scowled. He left always con-
fused impression so that no one really
knew whether he cherished rancor
against Percy barrow or kindly feel
ing.
The niger was Darrow's especial
prey. The assistant had early discov-
cred that the cook was given to signs,
omens and superstitions.
From curious scholars lore he
drew fantasies with which to torment
his victim. We heard of all the witch
es, warlocks, incubi. succubae, harpies,
devils, tmps and haunters of Avitchi,
from all the teachings of history, So
cred and profane, Hindoo. Egyptian,
Greek, medieval, Swedenborg, Rosi-
crucian, theosophy, theology, with ev-
cry last ounce of horror, mystery, shiv-
ers and creeps squeezed out of them
They We're gorgeous ghost stories, for
they We're told by man fully inform
ed as to all the legendary and grew
some details. AT first used to think
he might have communicated 1t more
effectively. Then saw that the cool,
drawing manner, the level voice, were
In reality the highest art.
He told his stories in half amused,
detached manner, which imposed con-
fidence more readily than any amount
Of earnest asseveration. The mere
fact of his own belief in what he said
came to matter little. He was the
vehicle by which was brought &C.
curate knowledge. He had read all
these things and now reported them
as he had read Each man could de-
eide for himself as to their credibility.
At last the donkey engine was clear
ed and relnstalled atop the cliff. The
niger built under her a fire of black
walnut, Captain Selover handed out
grog all around, and we started her up
with cheer just to see the wheels re-
volve.
Next we half buried some long
matches, end up, to serve as bits for
the lines, hitched our cables to them
and joyfully commenced the task Of
pulling the Golden Horn piece by
piece up the side Of the cliff.
The stores were badly damaged by
the wet, and there was no liquor, for
which was sincerely grateful. We
broke into the boxes and arrayed.our-
selves in various garments-which
speedily fell to pieces-and appropri-
ated gimcracks of all sorts. There
were some arms, but the ammunition
had gone bad. Perdosa out of forty
or fifty misfires got one feeble sputter
and tremendous bang which blew
up his piece, leaving only the stock
In his hand. A few timed goods were
edible, but all the rest was destroyed.
A lot Of hard woods, thousand feet
of chain cable and fairly good an
i Choir might be considered as prizes
AS for the rest, it was foolishness, but
we hauled it up just the same until
nothing at all remained. Then we
shut off the donkey engine and put on
dry clothes. We had been quite hap
Ply for the eight months.
1t was now we'll along toward spring
The winter had been like summer, and
with the exception of few rains of
week or SO we had enjoyed beauti-
full skies. The seals had thinned out
considerably, but were now returning
in vast numbers ready for their an
nual domestic arrangements.
Our Sundays we had mostly spent
in resting or in fishing. There were
many deep sea fish to be had, of great
palatability, but small gameness. They
came like SO many leaden weights. A
few Of lis had climbed some of the
hills in half hearted curiosity, but
from their SUBMITS saw nothing to
tempt WEAKNESS. Practically we knew
| nothing beyond the mile or so of beach
| on which we lived.
! Captain Selover had made habit of
coming ashore Mt least once during the
day. He had contented himself with
standing aloof, but l took pains to
seem to confer with -, so that the
men might suppose TIT l. as mate,
was engaged in carrying out his d.
rections. The dread of him was my
most potent influence over them.
During the last few days Of our
wrecking Captain Seloyer had omitted
his daily visit. The fact made me un-
easy, SO that at my first opportunity
sculled myself out to the schooner.
found him. moist eyed as usual, lean
! ing against the mainmast doing moth
ing.
/! We've finished, sir" said I.
He looked at me.
VIII you come ashore and have a
look, sir?" inquired.
II amt going ashore again." he NUT
tered thickly.
"What" cried.
II amt going ashore again." he re.
peated obstinately. "and that's oil there
Il to 1t. It's too much Of a strain on
Gny man. Suit yourself. You run
them. l shipped as captain of yes
sci. I'm no dock walloper. won't d.
tt-for no manv'
I gasped with dismay at the man
complete moral collapse 1t seemed
, incredible. I caught myself wonder
ing whether he would recover ton