Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-02-22

acter that shook me from head to toe.
| | had no time to analyze these vari-
GUS impressions, however, for my at
tention was almost instantly distract
! ed. From the cabin came the sound
of a sharp fall; then a man cried out,
and on the heels of it Pull darted from
| the cabin. screaming horribly. We
We're all on deck, and as the little man
rushed toward the stern Handy Solo
mon twisted him deftly from his feet.
What is it," he cried as he pinned
the sufferer to the deck.
But Pull could not answer. He shiv
cred, stisfened and lay rigid, his eyes
/ rolled back.
Fits" remarked Thrackles impa-
| tiently.
| The excitement died. Rum was fore
ed between the victims lips. After a
little he recovered. but could tell us
nothing of his seizure.
After the dishes had been swept
aside from supper Handy Solomon an
nounced a second attempt to open the
/ chest.
"Pancho. here. says he's been me-
chanic," said he. Il right well know
he's been a housebreaker, so he's got
the sabe for the job, and you can kiss
the book on that
Perdosa, with grin. leaned over the
| cover from behind and began to pick
away at the lock with long crooked
wire The others drew close about. l
slipped nearer the door, imagining that
! in their riveted interest l saw my OPP
portunity. To my surprise l caught
glimpse of legs disappearing up the
companion l took stock. Pull had
gone on deck.
This surprised me, for should have
thought every man interested enough
in the supposed treasure to wish to be
| present at its uncovering, and it an
noyed me still more. The success Of
my plan demanded a clear deck. How
ever. there was nothing for 1t now but
| to trust that Pulz had wished TO visit
the forecaste and that might find the
afterworks empty.
l paused at the foot of the companion
and looked back. A breathlessness OF
excitement held the pirates in wise.
From above the hanging lamp threw
strong shadows across their faces,
bringing out the deep lines, accentuat.
ing the dominant passions. With their
rags and blood. their unshaven faces,
their firearms, their filth. they showed
In violent antithesis to the immaculate
white of Old Scrubs cabin, its glitter
ing brass and its shining leather.
| darted up the steps.
| The contrast of the starry night with
the glare of the cabin lamp dazzled my
eyes. stood stock still for a moment,
during which the only sounds audible
We're the singing of the winds through
The rigging, the wash of the sea and
the small. sharp click of Perdesa's In
strument as he worked at the chest.
Presently / could see better. look
cd forward and aft for Pull, but could
see nothing of him and had just about
concluded that he had gone forward
when | happened to glance aloft.
There, to my astonishment, made
him out huddled In silhouette against
! the stars close TO the main truck.
What he was doing there could not
imagine. However, l did not have
time TO bother my head about him
further than TO rejoice that he could
not obstruct me.
should very much have liked to get
hold Of a rife and ammunition or at
least to lay in biscuit and water, but
for this there was no time. 1t was
not absolutely essential. The dull glow
of the island was still visible. / had
my pillar Of fire and smoke 10 guide
me. Without further delay / jerked
loose the painter aud drew the extra
dory alongside.
had proceeded Just so far In my
movements when the most extraordl-
nary thing happened. / shall try TO
tell you of 1t as accurately as possible
and in the exact order Of its occur
renee First a long. straight shaft Of
white light shot straight up through
the cabin roof TO a great height. 1t
shone through the wooden planks as
an ordinary light shines through glass.
b. contrast the surrounding blackness
was thrown into Il deeper shade. and
yet the shaft itself was so brilliant as
almost TO scotch the sight. Curiously
enough. It was defined accurately. be-
ing exactly in shape Ike one Of the
rectangular tin air shafts you see so
often In city hotels. At the instant OF
its appearance the wind fell quite
csim
Almost Immediately the rectsngle on
the roof through which the light made
its passage began to splay out Ike
lighted oil. although the column retain
cd still the integrity Of its outline.
The fire. II such il could be called. ran
with incredible rapidity along the
seams between the planks forward and
aft until the entire deck was sketched
Ike a pyrotechnic display in thin. viz
~ lines Of Incsudescence From each
Of these lines then the fire began again
TO spread. ss though soaking through
the Pisnks.
All toox place practically in IN In
slant Of tire. / had no opportunity
20 move or to cry out Indeed. my
perceptions we're Inadequate to the
task Of mere observation Up to now
there had been no sound The wind
had fallen. The waters passed unno
ticed. A stiffness q death seemed TO