Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-18
CHAPTER xvlll.
In Which We Lay the Ghost.

The coming of night found our Stu
alton less promising a thick veil Of
clouds ,obscuring all CLEAN Of stars,
the wind veering more to the west
ward and growing bitterly cold. The
barometer was falling slowly, pres
aging, the approach Of storm; yet
nothing openly threatened with the
exception of these thickenfng cloud.
masses scudding up from out the
southwest, their wildness reflected in
the darkenfng sea, and the continuous
thunder of waves along the ice-front
blocking our passage. visited tho
engine and boiler rooms, ordered half
speed and prompt attention to signals,
took one last searching glance about
the dimming horizon, and finally
threw myself, without undressing, on
my bunk for brief rest below.
As lay there, thinking of that wild
scene without, discovered sleep i'm
possible. Was doing right thus to
hold on for further southing? My
conscience was not altogether clear,
for realized that it would be luck
rather than seamanship that would
take us through and bring us safely
out again. Only some mystery Of
Providence had thus far given us
passage, had held the wind to anoth-
or point of the compass, beating back
the invading foes and yielding to us
m open sea. But would such fortune
last-a day, two days. more? We
could race northward with the ice, but
what about that vast field stretching
TO the northwest? II by some shift OF
wind It were to close in, the helpless
Sea Queen would be crushed like an
eggshell. And Lady Darlington had
said she trusted me implicitly. Was ]
showing myself worthy by thus push
ing the yacht deeper into danger?
/: By heaven, for, her sake, if for nc
other reason, would play the man!
Ay, and comprehended exactly what
such resolve would cost-realized full
" what that mongrel crew would say
and do the moment their ghostly ter
rors fed. and they knew I had given
up search for the treasure. l should
have to command by brute force, by
threat and blow. There would be
mutiny aboard for every league until
we made port. knew the nature OF
that sea-scum forward-how they
would whine and curse, how they
would hate me for failing to hold
them to their course in face Of death!
Well, let them hate; my &ve was
worth by sfar the more,-.and the life
and honor Of Lady Darlington but.
weighed all else on board-ay, and the
treasure OF the Donna Isabel! I'm.
plicitly'- saw her eyes again as she
said it, and sprang to the deck, fun.
bling in the darkness for the latch Of
my door.
The main cabin was dimly lighted
and chill, the fire in the stove low.
paused to rattle it, and add few
Jumps Of coal from the scuttle stand.
ing near by. In spite Of surrounding
comforts what grim, inhospitable
place this was for any woman like
her! The very snugness of the cabin
served only to emphasize the gloom
and peril without, the frightful polar
mystery which surrounded us, which
drives men mad amid its awful dis
tances, its shrouded silence.
Suddenly, directly opposite where
stood, 1 saw it again-that same
shapeless, white, gliding figure. An
instant only stood rooted to the spot,
my blood like ice, my eyes full Of hor-
ror.s Then the swift reaction came,
the reserve courage of man ashamed
OF such weakness, and l leaped
straight toward the misty object, grap-
ping at 1t with my hands. touched
nothing but air, falling headlong with
a violence Earring the entire cabin,
and overthrowing chair crashing to
the deck. Dazed, confused, l stag
gered to my knees, staring about into
the dim shadows. A white-draped
figure was at my very elbow. and I
sprang to my feet, only to take
quick step backward, grasping at the
table, as l recognized Lady Darling.
ton.
Good God! was that you?" gasped,
the horror still possessing me.
This certainly is" she answered,
swiftly. But what do you mean?
What has occurred?"
s Il hardly know" and looked about
me. and then into her face. breathing
heavily. II seem unable to separate
the real from the unreal. / am half
afraid l am losing my mind. Lady
Darlington, it is not only the Grew for
ward who are seeing ghosts on board.
laughed at my experience before, be-
1ieying it mere illusion that could
never occur again. In that spirit /
told you about seeing white, misty
figure in this cabin the night after
futile died. It vanished like wreath
Of smoke, and daylight made me be-
lieve the vision was born Of tired
brain. But have seen It again now
yonder, as plainly as can see you.
It was no dream. no imagination; yet
when sought to grasp the thing, my
hngers encountered nothing but all"
l. saw her hands tremble, her white
face turned whittier / pointed; but she
had not beheld what had, and her
mind remained clear. HI
What was It you saw!
"a -shapeless white agure misty.
vanishing like q bubble"
"YondeE you sayf Just where youi
saw it before?"
Ihad-not thought Of that, yet II was
true {here. beside Tuttle's door. An
lna&autsshs stood motionlssss cher eyes.
searching the dim corners a. the cab.
inFas though tracing some suspicion
awakened within her mind. Suddenly
81, nj 0v&ol ov,v, s