The Montgomery tribune., 1910-04-22

took the initiative.
II have been investigating the ar
rangement OF things below, Anderson"
| said, in explanation; rather odd
way in which the yacht is cut up. Did
you know there was a passage leading
all the way aft?"
The boatswain shook his head, too
surly naturally to answer.
well, possibly you know whether !
or not a similar passage leads forward
into the forecastle?"
There's a bulkhead door over
there" he returned, indicating by
gesture a spot concealed by the
donkey pump but | doa't know
where it goes, only it's dark as hell"
1T comes out under the forecastle,
sir" broke in coal HEAVIER named
Davis. 'Leastwise there's a trap in
the deck there, with a ladder leadin'
down"
'Ill finish the trip through then,
for 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 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 it on this trip
whether I'm capable or not. That
fn1 - it ,grl, 1,t
day without no rest. / know how to
| start an stop her, an watch the wa
ter gauge. If anything else goes
wrong he's easy enough called"
So 1t was Mcknight who was play
| ing the antics of a ghost ON board;
| Mcknight who had discovered that
| unusual passageway through the bulk
| the idea that in this manner he could
frighten 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-
fore he thoroughly demoralized the
crew, frightening them beyond all
my power Of control.
discovered the door concealed be-
hind the donkey engine, left 1t slightly
ajar behind me, and stepped forward
into the black passage. l had groped
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; som sthing, a hatch cover pos
sibly, seemed to settle into place, and
the ladder shook under my hand. l
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 be
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 wild bull for mo-
ment. thoroughly frightened and
whimpering, 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 well take your medicine. my
man. Yes. that's a gun you feel. and
l know how to use IT. So you're the
ghost of the Sea Queen, are you?
J guess you know what this means, IL
! turn you over to those fellows. DOM
] you?"
He groaned, and l ventured to re
: lease my grip on his throat, fiingint
back the canvas from his bead
} "Sit un. Well, I'll tell you. Mcknight
, you wolld probably go overheard te
} feed the fishes. Do you recognize
me?"
} Yes. sir" managing to find hi.
! voice for the first time. You're Mr.
Stephens"
: Right you are. and you can bless
your lucky stars that | am the on'
: who caught you. What started you a
5 this trick?"
: 1T was the Chilean, sir, Sanchez
: it,"
t did he do any of the ghost play
ing?"
9 mo, sir: he didn't have the nerve
but-but he rigged me up, and foun'
I out about these passageways."
: What was to do with the manr II
5 truth there was little | dared to d.
: under the circumstances.
: Now see here. Mcknight" said
d soberly. you quit this thing for goo'
d and all; IL there is any more ghos
:, walking done on the Sea Queen II
| turn you and Sanchez over to thu
! men. Besides. there's no use resort
I ing again to that sort OF trick. TO
o we're about at the end OF our cruise.