The Springdale news., 1909-04-20

rows so called devil fires. Strange ly enough this illumination, unlike the volcanic giows, appeared to be cast on the clouds from without rather than shot through them from within. as were the other volcanic emanations. At the same instant l experienced d sharp interior revulsion of some sort. most briefly momentary. but of char acter that shook me from head to toe.
 1 had no time to analyze these yari- ous impressions, however, for my at tention was almost instantly distract ed. From the cabin came the sound and on the heels of 1t Pulz darted from the cabin, screaming horribly. We We're all on deck. and as the little man rushed toward the stern Handy Solo mon twisted him deftly from his feet.
 What is it?" he cried as he pinned the sufferer 10 the deck.
 But Pulz could not answer. He shiy- cred. stiffened and lay rigid, his eyes rolled back
 "Fits," remarked Thsackles impa- tiently.
 The excitement died. Rum was fore ed between the victims lips After a little he recovered. but could tell us nothing of his seizure.
 After the dishes had been swept aside from supper Handy Solomon an nounced a second attempt 10 open the chest
 "Pancho, here, says he's been a me chanlc," said he. T right well know he's been housebreaker. so he's got the sabe for the job. and yon can kiss the book on that
 Perdosa. with a grin. leaned over the cover from behind and began to pick away at the lock with long crooked wire. The others drew close about. l slipped nearer the door, imagining that in their riveted interest I saw my op- portunity. To my surprise I caught glimpse of legs disappearing up the companion. I took stock PulZ had gone on deck.
 This surprised me, for 1 should have thought every man interested enough fin the supposed treasure to wish to be present at It's uncovering, and it an- noyed me still more The success of my plan demanded clear deck. How ever, there WAS nothing for 1t now but to trust that Pulz had wished to visit the foreeastle and that I might find the afterworks empty
 paused at the foot of the companion and looked back A breathlessness Of excitement held the pirates In wise. From above the hanging lamp threw strong shadows across their faces bringing out the deep lines, aeeentnat- ing the dominant passions. With their rags and blood their unshaven faces, their firearms. their filth, they showed in violent antithesis to the immaculate white of Old Scrubs cabin. its glitter ing brass and It's shining leather. l darted up the steps.
 The contrast of the starry night with the glare of the cabin lamp daZzled my eyes. l stood stock still for moment during which the only sounds audible were the singing of the winds through the rigging, the wash Of the sea and the small. sharp click Of Perdosass in strument as he worked at the chest
 Presently l could see better 1 look ed forward and aft for Pulz, but could See nothing ef him and had Just about concluded that he had gone forward when l happened to glance aloft. There to my astonlshment, l made him ont huddled In silhouette against the stars close to the main truck. Whnt ha HntnO thapa 1 pnJllH mt imagine However, did not have time to bother my head about him further than to rejoice that he could not obstruct me
 l should very much have liked to get hold of q rife and ammunition or at least to lay i'll biscuit and water, but for this there was no time. It was not absolutely essential. The dull glow of the island was still visible. I had my pillar of fire and smoke to guide me. Without further delay l jerked loose the painter and drew the extra dory alongside
 l had proceeded just so far in my movements when the most extraordi nary thing happened, l shall try to tell you of it as accurately as possible and in the exact order of it's occur. renee. First long. straight shaft of white light shot straight up through the cabin roof to q great height. It shone through the wooden blanks as an ordinary light shines through glass. By contrast the surrounding blackness was thrown into deeper shade, and yet the shaft itself was so brilliant as almost 10 scotch the sight. Cautiously enough, it was defined accurately. be ing exactly ill shape like one of the rectangular tin air shafts you see so often in city hotels. At the instant of its appearance the wind fell quite calm.
 Almost immediately the reetangle on the roof through which the light made Its passage began to splay out like lighted oil, although the column retain ed still the integrity of its outline. The fire. if such it could be called, ran with incredible rapidity along the seams between the blanks forward and aft until the entire deck was sketched like pyrotechnic display in thin. viv- i'd lines of incandescence From each of these lines then the fire began again to spread. as though soaking through the blanks
 All took place practically In an h. stant of time l had no opportunity to move or to cry out. Indeed, my perceptions were inadequate to the task of mere observation, Up to now there had been no sound The wind bad fallen. The waters passed unno- Heed A stiffness of death seemed to