The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-07-01


long mustaches shaven, and look
ing ten years younger + was so odd
a thing. this sudden renewal Of a con
trOversy originating thousands of
leagues away. that | 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 | had
to hunt for il. so perfectly was II fitted
into place. When discovered, how
ever, it proved to be uuiasjenad. and |
stepped forth into an emptied coal
bunker. whence | could look straight
forward along the glowing boilers into
the engine room. | advanced carefully
along the slight open space until
came uron the squad of firemen aud
big Bill Anderson. The latter shaded
his eyes. staring at me as though he
misook me for another ghost, but l
ool, the initiative.
u have been investigating the Or
ransement Of things below Anderson"
said, in explanation: rather odd
way i'll which the yacht is cut ur. Did
yon know there was passage leading
all he way aft?"
The boatswain shook his head too
SurIy naturally TO answer.
Well, possibly you know whether
nr not similar passag" leads forward
into the forecastleo"
There's a bulkhead door over
there" he returned. indicating by
a gesture a spot concealed By the
donkey pump, but don't know
where it goes. only it's dark as hell"
1T comes ont under the forecastle,
sir broke in coal HEAVIER named
Davis. "Leastwise there's a trap in
the deck there. with ladder leadin'
down"
I'll finish the trip through, then.
fer like to know what is under my
feet when command vessel. Where
is the engineer, Anderson"
He waved his big hairy hand in the
direction of the boilers.
Went TO his bunk to lie down 70,
an hour; he was about all in
Are you capable OF standing watch
alone in an engine ROOM"
The fellow grinned, his bulldog jaw
protruding
Well, I've had to do Il on this trip
Whether I'm capable or not. That
fellow can't stand it in here night an
day without no rest know how to
start an stop her ana watch the wa
ter gauge. If anything else goes
wrong he's easy enough called"
So it was Mcknight who was play
ing the antics of a ghost on board:
Mcknight who had discovered that
unusual pasSageway through the bulk
heads; Mcknight who had conceived
the idea that in this manner he could
fIighten us into turning back. Well,
truly, did not altogether blame the
man, and. now that my own fear of
the supernatural was allayed, did not
feel any desire to punish him severely.
Still, his masquerade must stop be-
hDA' hC itliOld ILt'u the
crew. frightening them beyond all
my power Of control.
| discovered the door concealed be-
hind The donkey engine, left it slightly
ajar behind me, and stepped forward
into the black passage. | had CROPPED
along to the very foot OF the ladder.
feeling nothing but bare walls, and
hearing no sound except the slush of
bilge water, when suddenly an mar
ticulate cry sounded almost directly
above; something, a hatch cover pos
sibly, seemed to settle into place, and
the ladder shook under my hand.
drew back step, permitting the fell
low to come down until he reached
the floor. My eyes, accustomed to the
gloom, enabled me to dimly perceive
his shape. 1t was no more than a
fOrmless smudge he made, but
struck straight for what seemed to bn
the head, and landed with force that
dropped him like log In an instant
| was on top, Clasping the canvas
sheet he wore tightly about his arms,
and throttling him against the deck
He fought like a wild bull for a mo-
ment, thoroughly frightened and
whimpertng. dazed by the suddenness
Of attack, yet following the animal
instinct of struggle for life,
Damn you, Mcknight, lie still!"
painted, I've got you, and you might
Just as we'll take your medicine, my
man. Yes. that's a gun you feel, and
| | know how to use It. So you're the
| ghost of the Sea Queen, are you?
guess you know what this means if
turn you over to those fellows, don't
! your"
He groaned, and | ventured TO re-
lease my grip on his throat, finging
| back the canvas from his head.
'Slt up. Well, I'll tell you, Mcknight
you would probably go overheard to
feed the fishes. Do you recognize
| me-"
Yes, sir" managing to find his
voice for the first time You're Mr..
Stephens"
Right you are, and you can bless
your lucky stars that | am the one
who caught you. What started you at
this trick?'
! 1T was the Chilean sir. Sanchez.