, 1909-06-24

i VIII try to do as you wi3h,"
she faltered. but are you armed?"
Not now. but l will get a revolver
from my stateroom. First, let me
help o to you cabin"
She permitted my guidance without
. word Of protest. only glancing once
up into my face as she put a question.
you will return here? you will let
me know at once what you discover?
Promise me this"
Il promise; n more, l will pledge
myself to be cautious, SO do not
worry"
! procured my revolver, turned the
! light low once more in the main cabin,
and then stole silently into the narrow
passageway leading forward. There
was no light in the pantry, but the
faint reflection from the cabin enabled
me to distinguish the more prominent
outlines. A form lay outstretched on
a locker, and | bent over it silently.
II was Dade, curled up on his side and
sound asleep. There was no doubt
about the reality of his slumber: the
fellow was no shamming, and l drew
back. lea ling him undisturbed. The
alley-way leading forward was ex-
tremely narrow. yet Of a height sufR-
cient to afford comparatively easy
passage had it only been lighted. Sud
denly a faint glow appeared ahead,
and a ome later / slipped eau
tiously through a small bulkhead door
ajar, into a low, square room,
containing six hunks arranged in tiers
Of two. A slush lamp swung from a
~blackened beam, and various articles
of wearing apparel dangled from
hooks. l peered INTO the hunks. dis
covering three occupied, the uncon.
scious sleepers being Cooky. the
smooth-faced Chilean. and the gunner.
a Swede named Gustafson. None
awoke under my scrutiny, although
the Chilean was talking in his sleep
and threshing his arms about as If in
nightmare. l BEN down, looking at
him more closely, attracted by some
thing oddly familiar in the upturned
features. BY all the gods, the fellow
was Lieut.. Juan Sanchez. his
long mustaches shaven, and look
ing ten years younger! 1t was so odd
a thing. this sudden renewal Of a con-
troversy originating thousands Of
leagues away, that I nearly laughed
outright, forgetting for the instant the
serious purpose bringing me there.
Yet this surprising discovery OF
Sanchez aboard seemed of compare
lively little Importance, and was as
quickly dismissed. The narrow bulk.
head door leading forward was tight.
ly closed, and in that dim light I had
to hunt for it, SO perfectly was 1t fitted
into place. When discovered. how.
ever. 1t proved to be unfastened. and
stepped forth into an emptied coal
bunker, whence l could look straight
|< Forward along the glowing boilers into
|f the engine room. / advanced carefully
jH 1lcng the slight open space until
~ ear'e upon the squad of firemen and
~ big IN Andersen. The latter shaded
his eyes. staring at me as though he
Uistook me for another ghost, hut
I Dol the initiative.
II have been investigating the ar
anrement of things below. Anderson,
said, in explanation: rather odC
way IN which the yacht is cut up DiI
you know there was a passage leadin:
all The way aft?"
The boatswain shook his head. toe
sIrly naturally to answer.
We'll. possibly you know whethe'
or not a similar passage leads forwar
into the forecastle?"
There's a bulkhead door ovel
there he returned, indicating by
a gesture a spot concealed by the
donkey pump. but don't know
where 1t goes. only it's dark as hell
1T comes out under the forecasfle
sir" broke In a coal HEAVIER named
Davis. "Leastwise there's a trap In
the deck there. with a ladder leadin
down"
I'll finish the trip through. then
feet when l command a vessel. Where
is the engineer, Anderson"
He waved his bic hairy hand in the
direction of the boilers.
Went to his bunk to lie down fol
an hour; he was about all in"
Are you capable of standing watch
alone in an engine room?"
The fellow grinned, his bulldog jaw
p%rotruding.
Well. I've had to do it on this triI
whether I'm capable or not. Thai
fellow can't stand II in her T'ght al
day without no rest. know how tt
start an stop her. an watch the wa
ter gauge. If anything else goei
wrong he's easy enough called"
So 1t was Mcknight who was play
np the antics Of a ghost on board
Mcknight who had discovered tina
as zsageway through the bulk
heads; Mcknight who had conceived
he idea that in this manner he could
Brighten us into turning back. Well
truly, | did not altogether blame the
han, and, now that my own fear ol
he supernatural was allayed. did moi
eel any desire TO punish him severely
SIN hjs masquerade must stop be