Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-12
CHAPTER XIV.
In Which De Nova Speaks.

IN Which De Nova Speaks.
What now occurred came upon us
with such suddenness that I find 1t
difficult to relate the incidents in de-
tail We must have been below the
fiftieth degree of south latitude, and
about 1876 degrees west, with the wind
strong and occasionally putting up
into squalls, bearing flakes of snow
which stung exposed flesh and left q
thin mantle of white along the decks.
1t was Tuttle's watch below, and as
paused in the protection Of the CON-
panionway looking forward, while I
got my pipe going, could see De
Nova on the bridge, wrapped up like a
mummy, and crouching we'll down be-
hind the tarpaulins. All about was a
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; cold, dreAr expanse of mo-
notonous distance wherever the eye
looked-a desert of water below, a
void OF air above. Big Bill Anderson,
his head still bound up where had
cracked him. slouched in the doorway
OF the charthouse, staring aft, and a
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
10 -
footing on the slippery deck, and the
second officer clawed along the wealth
er-rail until he reached the companion,
II 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 we'll be out of re
win"
l followed him in silence, wondering
what could be coming now, yet ready
enough to take advantage of any op.
portunity which might present itself.
De Nova braced his back against the
rail, his cap drawn so low that l could
perceive little OF his face but the gilt
ter of black eyes.
Were little bit bozzered wat to
do, Anderson an me-" he began, evil
IDENTIFY Ill at ease and scarcely know
ing how to express himself, "an' so we
talk 1t ovaire, an decide maybe we
bettah speak wiz you about it now, be-
fore re mattaire get NOR bad, or re
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 un-
der madman-sacre. non!"
"A madman!" l echoed in amaze
ment. DO you mean Tuttle?"
He nodded gravely, his expression
devoid OF all merrinent.
tbs re way it was. We not know
sure w'ezzer you see 1t Eat way or no,
but, damme, Mons Stephens, il re
fellow amt mad as re March hare. He
was re fine sailor all right-oui, Eat
was true-nobody get more out of re
Sea Queen zan he get. Sacre! he
drive re sheep hard; 1t make my hair
white re way he hop on. Maybe l not
be 'fraid to take re chance of ze voy.
age II 1t just be all men on board. /
not care zen, for risk my life wiz ze
ozzers. But, monsieur, keep myself
to sink Of re ladies down below, an
how Eat fellow was gettin' more crazy
all re time. Sacre! it makes me
crazy, too. Zere's no KNOWN wat he
do Wen he Eat way; he take spells
wen maybe he murder. I hear him
mutter 1t; see it in re mans eye. He
was much afraid of you, monsieur, an
Eat is re time wen such fellows get
wat you call it?-ze dangaire."
l stared into the mates face, barely
able to comprehend this quick tusti-
fication 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 a
really dangerous lunatic had never
once entered my head. shivered at
sudden realization of the peril we were
IN, but remained only partially con-
Hnced.
What reason have you to think the
man as bad as all that?"
We'll, monsieur, I watch him for
long time; Bill, he watch him, for we
not like re way he act since we first
sail. Maybe he be iuny before zen,
but he get worse on ze voyage. Bill
an me, we talk 1t all oyaire, an ze
mate not tell re same story re way he
did in Valparaiso. He forget sone, he
add more. By gar, lose much my
faith in it. II Eat ship show up, or 20
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. I was on watch,
wen he comes up from re cabin; he
not half dress, but 1t cold as hell" De
Nova shivered; yet he walk back an
forth. back an forth, across care In
front Of re cabin, like 70 lion ia re
cage, talking wiz himself, an wringing
HIS hands. Maybe he keep 1t up two
hour an sink he freeze. Ze cooks
cat was sleep in re longb0at. ! watch
vile he come up an see 20 poor devil.
Quick he grab her by ze tail an fling
It way overheard, like Eat. hear re
cat yell, an zen 60 splash. Eat seem
tn YnaEa him fcal haftalxA fnse In