The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-04-08

though he had seen us only the day
before.
"Hullo, boys" said he, "been busyT
How are We, sir?" replied Handy
Solomon. Good Lord, mates. look al
| that
| our eyes followed the direction OF
his forehnger. Against the dark blue
Of the evening sky 10 northward glow
ed faint phosphorescence, arch shap
ed, from which shot, with pulsating
regularity. long shafts of light. They
beat almost TO the zenith and back
again n half dozen times; then the
whole illumination disappeared with
the suddenness of gas turned out.
"Now, | wonder what that might
be-" marveled Thrackles.
Northern lights" hazarded Pull
I've seen them almost like that in
the Berinc seas"
Northern lights your eyer sneered
Handy solomon. you may have seen
them In the Berlng seas. but never
this far south and in August. and you
can kiss the book on that"
"What do you think. sir?" Thrackles
inquired of tie assistant
Devils fire." replied Percy Dat
row brienya The islands a little
queer I've noticed 1t before"
"Dcbbil fire." repeated the niger
barrow turned directly TO him.
Yes. devils fire. and devils. too. for
all | know. and certainly vampires.
Did you ever hear of vampires. doc
tori"
NO" growled the Niger.
well. they are women. wonderful.
beautiful women. A man on long
voyage would just smack his lips 10
SEE them. They have shiny gruy eyes
and lips red rs raspberries. When you
meet them they will talk with you and
20 home with you. And then when
you're asleep they tear n little hole IL
your neck with their sharp claws. and
lips. when they aren't svomen they
take the shape Of big bats like birds"
He turned TO me with so beautifully
casual an air that wanted TO clap
him on the back with the Joy Of II.
"By the way, Eagen. have you no
ticed those big bats the last few even
lngs over by the cliff can't make
out in the dusk whether they are
or just plain bats" he dk
rected his remarks again 20 the mig
ger. Next time you see any OF those
big bats, doctor, just you notice close
II they have just plain black eyes
they're all right, but II they have
gray eyes. with red rims around 'em.
they're vampires. | wish you'd let
ne know IL you. do find out. It's in
Don get me near no bats" growled
the niger.
where's Seloverr inquired Oar
row.
''IIe stays aboard" fastened TO say.
Wants to keep an eye on the ship"
That's laudable. What have you
been doing?'
We've been cleaning ship. Just
yesterday evening"
what nextf"
I'VE We're thinking of wrecking the
Golden Horn"
quite right. Well. II you want any
lelp with your engines or anything of
he sort. call me"
He arose and began to light his Ian
ern. .l.
II hope as how you're getting on we'll
here above. sir?" ventured Handy
solomon insinuatincly.
VERY well, thank you" replied
Percy Darrow dryly. Remember 4,
hose vampires, doctor"
He swung the lantern and departed
Without further speech. We followed |
he spark Of 1t until 1t disappeared in
he arroyo.
Behind us beloved the sea. Over
gainst us In the sky was the dull
threatening glow Of the volcano. About
is were mysterious noises of crying >
birds, barking seals. rustling or rush /
ng Winds. ! felt the thronging ghosts |
# all the old worlds superstition swirl |
ng madly behind us In the eddles that !
visited the smoke of our fire. 4,
We wrecked the Golden Horn. For |
ward was rusted out donkey engine, !
which we took to pieces and put to-
'ether again. 1t was no mean Job.
or all the running parts had to be
leaned smooth and with the excep-
ion Of a documentary knowledge on
he part OF Pull and Perdosa we were ;
In fact we should not have
ucceeded at all had it not been for
Percy barrow and his lantern. The
irst evening we took him over 10 the
liff's edge he laughed aloud.
"Jove, boys, how could you guess 1t :.
III wrongf' he wondered.
With a few brief words he set US |
light, Pull. Perdosa and listening in
emily, the others Indifferent in the
of being able TO compre-
lend OF course we went wrong
gain In our next days experiments.
nut Darrow was down two or three
lines week and gradually we edged
oward practical result. I
His explanations consumed but n
ew moments. After they were fin.
shed we adjourned to the fire. /
Thus we came gradually TO a better
with the doctors assist.
mt In many respects he remained
iiways puzzle to me. Certainly the
non pqypr knavy hon, a., ,al.