Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1908-04-24


the cabin, screaming horribly. We
were all OH 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 shiy-
cred, stiffened 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 second attempt to open the
chest.
"Pancho, here, says he's been me-
chanic,' said he. II right we'll know
he's been 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. I
slipped nearer the door, imagining that
in their riveted interest saw my OPP
portunity. To my surprise l caught
glimpse Of legs disappearing up the
companion. l took stock. Pulz had
gone on deck.
This surprised me, for should have
int
in the supposed treasure to wish to be
present at its uncoyering, and 1t an
noyed me still more. The success Of
my plan demanded clear deck. How
ever, there was nothing for it now but
to trust that Pull had wished to visit
the forecastle and that might find the
afterworks empty.
paused at the foot of the companion
and looked back. A breathlessness Of
excitement held the pirates in vise
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
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
were the singing of the winds through
10 ri fl,n 80
the small, sharp click of Perdosa's in
strument as he worked at the chest
Presently could see better. look
ed forward and aft for Pulz, but could
| see nothing of him and had just about
| concluded that he had gone forward
when l 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, 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 rifle and ammunition or at
L
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 to guide
| me. Without further delay jerked
loose the painter and drew the extra
dory alongside.
l had proceeded just SO far in my
mr. o,,fc
nary thing happened l shall try to
tell YOU of it as accurately as possible
and in the exact order of its occur
renee. First long, straight shaft of
white light shot straight up through
the cabin roof to a great height 1t
shoEe through the wooden planks as
an ordinary light shines through glass.
By contrast the surrounding blackness
was thrown into deeper shade, and
yet the shaft itself was SO brilliant as
almost to scotch the sight. Curiously
enough, 1t was defined accurately. be-
ing exactly In shape like one of the
rectangular tin air shafts you, see SO
often in city hotels. At the instant of
Its appearance the wind fell quite
calm.
Almost Immediately the rectangle on
the roof through which the light made
| Its passage began to splay out like
lighted oil, although the column retain.
ed still the integrity of Its outline.
The fire, If such it could be called, ran
with Incredible rapidly along the
seams between the planks forward and
aft until the entire deck was sketched
like pyrotechnic display in thin, Wv.
id lines of incandescence. From each
of these lines then the fire began again
to spread, as though soaking through
| the planks.
All took place practically in an In
slant of time / had no opportunity
to move or to cry out. Indeed, my
perceptions were 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 of death seemed to
have descended OH the ship. 1t was
broken by sharp double report, one
| as of the fall of a metallic substance,
the other cnused by the body of Pull
which, shaken loose from the truck
by heavy roll, smashed against the
rail of the ship and splashed over
board. Some one cried out sharply
(, An instant later the entire crew strug-
gled out from the companlonway rush
/ ed in grim silence to the side of the
vessel and threw themselves into the
sea.