The Columbus journal., 1910-04-27

where It goes. only it's dark a hell. !"
1T comes out under the forecastle.
SIR" broke In q coal HEAVIER named
Davis. ''Leastwise there's q trap In
the deck there. with a ladder leadin'
down."
iii finish the trip through. then.
for l like to know what Is under my
feet when I command a 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 for
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.
We'll, I've had to do 1t on this trip
whether I'm capable or not. That
fellow can't stand 1t in here night an
day without no rest. I know how to
start an stop her. an watch the wa
ter gauge. II 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
brighten us into turning back. Well.
truly, l 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-
fore he thoroughly demOralized the
crew. frightening them beyond Ill
my power of control.
discovered the door concealed b.
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 q step. permitting the Eel.
low to come down until he reached
the floor. My eyes. accustomed to the
gloom. enabled me to dimly perceive
his shape. It was no more than q
formless smudge he made. but
struck straight for what seemed to be
the head. and landed with force that
dropped him like q 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 . mo.
ment thoroughly frightened and
whimpering. dazed by the suddenness
of attack. yet following the animal
instinct of a struggle for life.
Damn you. Mcknight. lie STILL"
painted. I've got you. and you might
just as well take your medicine. my
man. Yes. that's a gun you feel. and
I know how to use 1t. So you're the
ghost of the Sea Queen. are you? I
guess you know what this means II I
turn you over to those fellows. don't
you?"
He groaned. and ventured to re-
lease my grip on his throat. flinging
back the canvas from his head.
''Sit up. Well. I'll tell you. Mcknight
you would probably so 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 l am the one
who caught you What started you at
this trick!"
1T was the Chilean. sir. Sanchez:
he said We could scare the whole out
it,"
did he do any OF the ghost play
ing7"
mo. sir: he didn't have the nerve.
but-but he rugged me up. and found
out about these passageways."
What was l to do with the man? In
truth there was little I dared to do
under the circumstances.
Nov see here. Mcknight I said.
soberly, you quit this thing for good
and all: II there is any more ghost
walking done on the Sea Queen I'll
turn you and Sanchez over to the
men. Besides. there's no use resort
ing again to that sort Of trick. for
we're about at the end Of our cruise. -
You mean we're going to turn
north?"
Yes. Now II I let you 90 will you
behave yourself?"
CTO BE CONTINUED)