The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-20

EcHAPTER XIV
Stn Which b Nova Speaks.

difficult to- relate the incidents IN de-
tail. We must have been below the,
lftietlff degree Of south latitude, and
about 3bgdegrees west, with the wind
strong and occasionally putting up
into squalls, bearing flakes Of snow
which Btung exposed flesh and left a
sthinsmantle OF white along the decks.
was Tuttle's watch below, and as
paused in the protection Of the com.
paniorway looking forward, while
got my pipe going, could see De
&NoyaEon the bridge. wrapped up like a
mummy and crouchlng we'll down be-
hind the t~arpaulIns. All about was a
Wild sea scene. never to be looked
nponsam ID any other stretch Of waters
ohstheS globe-a dull, dead picture Of
hitter desolation. OF madly racing
waves, OF green, sullen sea, Of pale
blue Sky. the very frost in the air up.
] parent; q cold, drear expanse Of mo-
notonons distance wherever the eye
slooked-a desert Of water below, a
yoid sot air above. Dig Bill Anderson,
his head still bound up where ! had
cracked him; sloucbed In the doorway
ofSthe charthouse, staring Mt, and a
moment later De Nova came lumber.
ing down the steps from the bridge
andSspoke with him for some earnest
The boatswain finally went for
ward, clinging Ito a lifeline to keep
footing on the slippery deck. and the
second officer clnwed along the wealth.
erTailtuntil be reached the companion.
81 would like to have talk wiz you,
Mons. Stephens" he said, quite re.
spectfully, swaying to the wild leaps
OF u Syessel. 3S"Maybe II we so to re
leelo 81 3ze cabin here well be out Of ze
win" "a $ 3s
! followed him In silence, wondering
what could be coming now, yet ready
enough to take advantage Of any on.
portunity which might present itself.
sDe5Nova braced his back against the
Srail hlsScapEd drawn soflow that l could
perceive little; of his face but the gilt.
terSofsblack eyes. q
II We're a little bit bozzered wat to
do; Anderson an me" he began. ,eyl:
Sdentlyfill at ease and scarcely know
ling how o .express himself, ian so We
talk IT oyalre, an decide maybe We
bettahIspenk wiz you about 1t now, be-
fore ! mattalre get NOR bad. or re
men forward catch on to re facts an
getsugly. Maybe II come out albright,
maybe not. but, by gar, 1t, ain't no
nice iob: to? go sail bout zese sea I'm.
der assmadman--sacre non!"
madman!" I echoed in amaze
ment. Do you mean Tuttle?"
He nodded grayely. his expression
devoid OF all merrlment.
&te'Tis re way It was. We not know
snreEw'ezzer you. see It Eat way or no,
but, damme, Mons. Stephens, II re
fellow ain't mad as ze March hare. He
was re- fine sailor all right-oui, Eat
was true-nobody get more out Of re
Sen Queen ,zan he get. Sacre! he
drive De sheep hard 1t make my hair
white$ze way he hol' on. Maybe not
be- ''fraid to take ze3 chance Of re voy.
A ageEif5it Just be all men on board. I
not care zen for; I risk my life wiz 70
oxzers: But, monsieur I keep myself
to- Sink ofSze ladies' down below. an
how Eat fellow was gettin' more crazy
sail ze time. Sacre!!. It makes me
crazy, too. Zere's no KNOWN wat he
do$ wen he zat way; he take spells
wen maybe he murder. hear him
mutterS II see Il, III 70 mans eye. He
was m~uchfafraid OF you, monsieur, an
4 zatSis re time wen such fellows get
wat you call iit?-ze dangaire."
i I,Btared into the mates face, barely
able to- comprehend this quick justi.
1cationS Of my forebodings, brought so
closely home futile wns odd enough
toIbe sure. eccentric In both word and
action cracked undoubtedly In mat.
ters Or spirltlsm but that he was a
really dangerous %lunatlc had never
once entered my head. j shlvered ut
Standardization of the peril we were
81. but remained only partially con.
WINGED y
What reason have you to think the
man as. bad as all that?"
W \ monsieur, | witch him for
dong time; Bill, he watch him, for We
not like ze %ay he act since we first
SAIL Maybe he be lunys before zen.
but he get worse onyz voyage, Bill
an, me, We talk It all oyaire, an 20
mate not tell 20 same story re way no
did Ia Valparaiso. He forget some, he
add more. BY gar. \ lose much my
@faitht init II rat ship show up, or 20
sialand; either, / be mighty surprise.
Ouit oui! Ze man Tuttle,s he crazy all
right; we know Eat for sure. Do he
mot talk Wiz you, monsieur?"
No, not lately; indeed, he has
scarcely spoken to me. since our trou'
ble.r% 4 /
Vat was IT; rat was wy you not
notice. Well. he talk much-w'at you
call 20 blue streak-to Bill an ME.
sainte Anne. how he talk! He have
h new talk every day, an 70 notions he
a speak make a dog sick, by gar! LIS
ten;;1ttelltsome sings. was on watch,
Wen he comes up from re cabin; he
mot half dress, but itScold as hell" De
Nova 81 ivered; yet he walk bnck an
forth back an forth across zave In
mont ofSze cabin; like re lion In ze
cage, talking Wiz himself an wringi!n1g
his hands Maybe he! keep II up two
hoiir. mt I sink he freeze, Re cooks