The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-06-10
CHAPTER XIV.
In Which De Nova soeaks.

What now occurred came upon US
with such suddenness that | find II
difficult to relate the incidents in de
tail. We must have been below the
fiftieth degree of south latitude. and
about 135 degrees west. with the wind
strong aud occasionally putting up
into squalls bearing fakes of snow
which stung exposed flesh and left a
thin mantle OF white along the decks
II was Tuttle's watch below. and as |
paused in the protection of the com
paniOnway looking forward. while I
got my pipe going, l could see De
Nova on the bridge, wrapped up like
mummy. and crouching well down be-
mind the tarpaulins. All about was
wild sea scene, never to be looked
upon amid any other stretch of waters
on the globe-a dull. dead picture of
utter desolation, of madly racing
waves. of green, sullen sea, of pale
blue sky, the very frost in the air ap-
parent; a cold. drear expanse of mo-
nOtonOus distance wherever the eve
lOOked-a desert of water below,
his head still bound up where | had
cracked him, slouched in the doorway
Of the charthOuse, staring aft, and
moment later De Nova came lumber
ing down the steps from the bridge
and spoke with him for some earnest.
ly. The boatswain finally went for
ward, Clinging 10 a lifeline to keen
footing on the slippery deck. and the
second officer clawed along the wealth
er-rail until he reached the companion
Il would like to have talk wiz you.
Mons. Stephens" he said. quite re
specially, swaying to the wild leaps
of the vessel Maybe If we go to re
lee of re cabin here well be out of re
win"
followed him in silence, wondering
what could be coming now. yet ready
enough to take advantage of any Oh.
pOrtunity which might present itself
De Nova braced his back against the
rail, his cap drawn so low that I could
perceive little of hts face but the gilt
ter of black eyes
We're a little bit bozzered wat to
do, Anderson an me-" he began. evi-
IDENTIFY i'll at ease and scarcely know
ing how to express himself, an so we
talk it ovaire, an decide maybe we
bettah speak wiz you about II now. be-
fore re mattaire get NOR bad, or ze
men forward catch on to re facts an
get ugly. Maybe it come out all right,
maybe not, but, by gar. it amt no
nice job to go sail bout zese seas I'M
der madman-saCre. noui"
"A mailman" | echoed in amaze
ment Do you mean Tuttle?"
He nodded gravely. his expression
devoid OF all merrlment
lis re way it was We not know
sure w'ezzer you see il Eat way or no.
but, damme, Mons. Stephens. il re
fellow amt mad as re March hare He
was ze fine sailor all right-oui Eat
was true-nobody get more out of ze
Sea Queen Fan he get. Sacre. he
drive re sheep hard; II make my hair
white re way he hol on Maybe | not
be 'fraid to take re chance of re voy-
age if It just be all men on board. I
not care zen. for | risk my life wiz re
ozzers. But, monsieur, keep myself
to sink OF ze ladies down below. an
how Eat fellow was gettin' more crazy
all re time. Sacre! il makes me
crazy, too Zere's no KNOWN wat he
do wen he Eat way, he take spells
wen maybe he murder | hear him
TDI| II | II In,
was much afraid Of you, monsieur, an
Eat is re time Wen such fellows get
wat you call tee dangaire"
| stared into the mates face, barely
able to comprehend this quick justi-
fcation of my forebodings, brought so
closely home. futile was odd enough
to be sure. eccentric in both word and
action, cracked undoubtedly In mat
tiers OF spiritism, but that he was
really dangerous lunatic had never
once entered my head | shivered at
sudden realization OF the peril we were
in, but remained only partially con.
WINGED.
What reason have you to think the
man as bad as all that"
Well, monsieur, | watch him for
long time; Bill, he watch him. for we
not like ze way he act since We first
sail. Maybe he be luny before zen,
but he get worse on re voyage Bill
an me, We talk it all ovaire, an zs
mate not tell ze same story re way he
did in Valparaiso He forget some, he
add more, BY gar, | lose much my
faith in it. If Eat ship show up. or re
island. either, | be mighty surprise
Oui. oui! Re man futile, he crazy all
right; We know Eat for sure. Do he
not talk wiz you, monsieur"
mo, not lately; indeed. he has
scarcely spoken to me since our trou-
BILE"
Eat was it; Eat was wy you not
notice. Well, he talk much-w'at you
call re blue streak-to Bill an me-
Sainte Anne, how he talk. He have
new talk every day, an re notions he
speak make a dog sick. by gar! Lis.
ten; tell some sings | was on watch
wen he comes up from re cabin; he
not half dress, but it cold as hell" De
Nova shiyered; yet ne walk back an
forth, back an forth, across zare in
front of re cabin. like re lion in re
cage, talking wiz himself, an wringing
his hands. Maybe he keep II up two