Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-04-26
CHAPTER ~.

sHEIIEp By A MYSTERIOUS FOE ON SHORE
~OKE remained on the bridge un'
til long after Iris had seen and
admired the cluster Of stars
which old time navigators used
to regard with awe. When shafts of
white light began to taper pennon-like
in the eastern sky the girl went back to
her cabin. Contrary to Hoziers expec-
tation. Coke did not attempt to draw
from him any account Of their cOnver.
sation prior to the inexplicable mishap
to the wheel. He examined u couple
Of charts. made slight alteration In
the course ard at 4 o'clock took charge
Of the bridge.
Just ave a look around now while
things Is quiet" he said. nodding to
Hozier contidentially. I'll tell you
wot l fancy. A rat dragged bit OF
bone into u gear box. If the plankin'
Is badly worn anywhere. get the car
penter to see to 1t. l do ate to ave
feelin' that the wheel can let you
down. S'pose We was maxim Bahia
on the homeward run an that 'appen'
ed! 1t 'ud be the end Of the pore ole
ship, an' oO'd credit It? Not soul.
They'd all say. Jimmie threw 'er
away"
Hozier found a gnawed piece Of ham
bone lying In the exact position antici
pated by Coke.
The carpenter busted himself with
saving and hammering during the
whole Of the next two days. for the
Andromeda revealed many gaps In hei
woodwork. but the escapade Of an er
rant ham bone was utterly eclipsed by
a new sensation. At daybreak one
morning every drop Of water III the
vessels tanks suddenly assumed u
rich blood red tint. This unnerving
discovery was made by the cook. who
was Mortified to see a ruby stream
pouring into the earliest kettle. Think
ing that an iron pipe had become oxi'
died with startling rapidity. he tried
another tap Finally there could be nj
Olukluk iuc ioSt tbot W S0oAs VI"
canny means the whole Of the fresh
water on board had acquired the coloI
II not the taste Of thin burgundy.
Coke was summoned hastily. No
blesse oblige. being captain. he val
iantly essayed the task of sampling
this strange beverage.
1T ain't p'ison." be announced. gaz
ing suspiciously at the little group OF
anxious faced men who awaited his
verdict. 1T sartinly amt p'ison. but
it's wuss nor any teetotal brew I've
tackled IN all me born days. Ere.
Watts. you know the tang of every
kind o. likker-'ave sup"
mot me-" said Watts. Il don't like
the look Of 1t. First time I've evel
seen red ink on tap. For the rest OF
this trip l stick to bottled beer OF
something with a label"
ut smells like an infusion Of per
manganate of potash" volunteered Ho.
zier.
Does it?" growled Coke. who seem.
ed to be greatly annoyed. "Wot pity
1t amt an infusion of whisky an pot.
ashw and he glared vindictively at
Watts. "Some ijjit as bin playin' a
trick on us. that's wOt 1t is-some
blank soaker 90 don't give hooraN
in hades for tea an coffee an cocoa.
but wants tonic. Stooard!"
"Yes. sir" said the mess room attend
ant.
Portion out all the soda water In
the lockers an whack II on the table
every meal till 1t gives out. See that
nobody puts away more'n Is proper
allowance too. I'm not goin' to cry
hush baby Wen the Andromeda gets
this sort Of kids dodge worked or on
'er."
"If you're ausodin' to me-" put In
the incc.sed chief" whose temper
rose on this direct provocation. II want
to tell you now
Does the cap fit?" sneered Coke.
mo, II doesn't never card Of that
kind Of potash In me life. Dye take
me for chemists shopT
Never card Of IT," cried the incens.
ed skipper. who had obviously made
up his mind us to the person RESPONSE
bic for the outrage. There's arr a
dozeu cases Of It In the after hold-or
there was wen we put the 'atches on
Even II some Of the cases were bro
ken. sir, the contents could not reach
the tanks" said Hozier. But the com.
,napdorpa wpa n