Rocky Ford enterprise., 1910-07-08

LOOK the initiative.
|. Il have been investigating the ar
rangement of things below. Anderson"
l said, Mn 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 similar passage leads forward
into the forecastle?"
There's bulkhead door over
there" he returned. indicating by
gesture a spot concealed by the
donkey pump, but doa't know
where 1t goes. only it's dark as hell"
1T comes out under the forecastle.
SIR" broke in a coal HEAVIER named
Davis. .Leastwise there's a trap in
/; the deck there. with ladder leadin'
down"
I'll finish the trip through, then.
for l like to know what is under my
feet when l 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
protiading.
well. 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. know how to
Iata nv,s h.. - .t-k. ehn
ter gauge. II anything else goes
wrong he's easy enough called
So 1t was Mcknight who was play.
Ing the antics Of 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
frighten US into turning back. Well.
truly. I 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.
| I discovered the door concealed be-
|
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 inar.
ticulate cry sounded almost directly
above: something. a hatch cover pos
sibly, seemed to settle into place. and
the ladder shook under my hand. I
drew back . step. permitting the fel-
low to come down until he reached
the floor. My eyes. accustomed to the
gloom, enabled. me to dimly perceive
| his shape. II was no more than q
formless smudse he made. but I
struck straight for what seemed to be
the head, and landed with n force that
dropped him like a log. In an instant
I was on top. clasping the canvas
sheet he wore tightly about his arms.
and throttling him against the deck.
He fought like q wild bull for a mo-
ment. thoroughly frightened and
whimperins. dazed by the suddenness
OF attack. yet following the animal
instinct Of struggle for life.
Damn you. Mcknight, lie stiIl!" I
painted. I've got you. and you might
Just a. well 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 your I
guess you know what this means n
turn you over to those fellows. don't
you?"
He groaned. and I ventured to re-
lease my grip on his throat. ninging
back the canvas from his bead.
sit up. Well. I'll tell you. Mcknight
you would probably go overheard to
feed the fishes. Do you recognize
mer"
Yes, SIR" managing to hnd his
voice for the frst 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
ing!"
NO. sir: he didn't have the nerve.
but-but he rigged me up. and found
out about these passageways."
What was I to do with the man? In
truth there was little I dared to do
under the circumstances.
Now see here. Mcknight" I said.
sobcrly. 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
north7"