The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-04-24
IN A LIVING TOMB

] was once third mate OF the Water
Nymph, fine clipper ship. engaged IN
the Australian trade.
One autumn she was discharging a
general cargo at the railway pier. VIII
Jamestown. Port Philip. and my duty
chiefly consisted in keeping a watchful
eye upon the stevedores at work In the
hold.
Notwithstanding all my vigilance
casks and cases were constantly sent
on deck void Of contents. and | had
Just been censured by the Chief officer
for not keeping a sharper lookout This
CALLED me much. for I was confident
the gang then at work were not the
depredators.
At last received a hint from the
cook that there was always plenty Of
grog knocking about in the forecastle,
and the inference naturally drew
was that the sailors had effected In.
gress to the hold by forcing a passag re
through the bulkhead In the fore peak
and made nightly incursions upon the
cargo. so I resolved to sneak below
after the hatches had been closed ut
sunset and endeavor to catch some of
the crew In fagrante delicto.
! told the first mate the suspicious l
entertained. and he considered MY
project a good one. so shortly after
nightfall he lowered me down the after
hatchway himself. carefully reclosing
II.
l groped my way forward for some
distance, clamberlng on hands and
knees over chests, bales and boxes, un.
til at last l found my progress impeded
by several huge cases Of machinery,
which barred up the passage from one
hatchway to the other on the star
board side.
On the port side and amids hips
small cases Of wine were slowed, aud
as could easily lift them I commenced
removing the top layer and crawling
ahead as I did so.
At last, on removing a good sized
bale. ! found empty space before me.
and. concluding l had arrived at the
main hatchway. whence all the cargo
had been removed. faced about and
began lowering myself by my hands
and feet to the keelson, but case I
grasped gave way, and l was suddenly
precipltated to the plank flooring. the
package falling upon my legs and hold.
Ing me down with its weight which
was considerable.
The air was hot and sitting, and q
peculiar sickening odor hung upon Il
After fumbling In my pocket for 4
match l struck the last ons had
against the iron band Of the case. d.
rect'y II KNITTED sheet Of whito flame
lifted around. and In It's pale, weird
light saw ghastly skeleton crouched
tn close proximity to where ! lay.
| uttered wild screams for help, lut
only the echoes Of my own voice an
swased and no other sound broke
through the dread stiffness save the
hurrying rush OF many feet % swarms
OF rats 6sd over and away from me.
I could see nothing In the intense
darkness: but - II iured BY fascina.
tiou. glanced In the direction OF tho
ghasty ngure until my syes were a.
most out Of their sockets. I was but q
younsstee. and ! could bsaS the horri-
BILE fantasy no longer. My o~erstrained
nerves relaxed, and I swoooed.
How long ! remained unconscious I
cannot tell but when my senses re-
turned heard noise q short distance
ahead Of where lay and saw a ray of
yellow light gleam through the inter-
st1ces OF some loosely slowed packages
on my right Then a sound Of q mans
voice fell upon my ear. aud By the
tone OF II knew that q sailor named
Carstalrs was In the vicinity Of where
lay.
IT'S q good thing for US the mate
thinks It's the Jumpers as breaches the
cargo or we'd never get a drop of this
good liquor. Say. Bill, can't We snug
gle of enough to last the voyage
homer I heard him say.
"Carstairsr' called in q faint voice
TINT sounded strangely unnatural even
to myself. Help! I'm jammed up In
here"
"Blll, Bill, did you hear thatr' half
shrleked the terror stricken sailor.
"Tts summat onnatral. anyhow
Let's get out Of this, Joe. knew no
good would ever come Of this way Of
doing business" replied his companion.
"For mercy's sake. don't ksave me
here to der cried.
That's the third mates voice, for
sure" said Carstairs. whats he arter
down here? Spying on us, | s'pose
But II he's got hurt It's best we should
so and help him. He's not bad sort,
and perhaps he won't split on u.s."
| was sorely bruised. but no bones
were broken. The sailors assisted me
along until got under the main hatch.
way; then they went up on deck via
the fOrecastle and told the mate they
thought some one was down the hold.
~. IL.