The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-10-27
CHAPTER XVI.

IN Which Again Come TO Command.
Dade awole me, the gray light OF
the Antarctic day streaming in through
the portfolio.
q pounded on the door twice, SIR
ne explained, quickly, "but you was
sleepin' so hard l had to come in.
Somethin' s gone wrong in Mr.. Tut
ties stateroom, sir"
Wrong! what do you mean?"
"Well, sir a gun went of in there
just now. an"
was already upon my feet, pulling
on my clothes.
Run up on deck and ask De Nova
TO come down here at once. Lively
now, my lad"
The two had already reached the
foot of the companion stairs when |
came out, and Dade had evidently
made the situation clear to the mind
of the creole.
"Have you been in zare, monsieur
ne asked, anXiously.
mo, not yet, but | fear the worst,
and thought it would be better for us
to go together. Stand by, Dade, for
we may need you
The eX-whaleman was lying on the
floor in a curled-up heap, a revolver
resting beside him, perhaps a foot
from his hand The pungent odor OF
powder was stll in the room. We
turned him over, revealing a bullet
wound Just In front of the ear, Be
>yond all, doubt he had shot himself
while sitting upon the edge Of the
bunk, and had tumbled forward, dead
before he struck the deck 1 glanced
toward De Nova, who stood staring
silently down at the dead man, and at
Dade, almost yellow with terror peer
tng cautiously in through the open
door
HE is beyond further trouble" !
said, solemnly. THE poor devil. Help
me lift him back into his berth"
Dade held aloof, but De Nova took
hold with me, and together we
Strengthened out the body, covering it
decently with a sheet Then we passed
out into the main cabin and closed the
door
What sort Of weather have we out
side, Mr.. De Nova?" l questioned, en-
deavoring to quell the beating Of my
heart.
"Clear an col, monsieur, 20 win
nor'west."
"Then we are holding our course?'
"Oui, oui," gesticulating, but wat
we do now? wat we do now?"
wen, that depends entirely upon
you and the crew." returned, shortly.
"Mr. Tuttle is dead, beyond recall. |
am the only competent navigator left
on board. For the sake OF my own
life, as well as the safety OF those
women in our care, propose assum-
ing command. Have you anything to-
say?"
The creole stood motionless, grasp
ing tlte edge OF the table, his black
eyes still fastened on Tuttle's closed
door.
"Well you had better decide" went
on, stoutly. and anyway the only
thing Tor us to do is to put this matter
straight before The crew. Keep quiet
abou what has happened until after
breakfast YOU, too, Dade-and then
have tie whole crew piped aft Go
kn about youI work until then, ana
Aep gear tongues i'll
Sal down on the diyan, watchag
a as he BUSTED about from the
70 the pantry, ever casting fur
glances coward the silent state
in w ich the dead man lay
q; up, and. TO Dade's horror
ree he mates room retur1ing
ehart uIOn which our course
prlcked UP until noon Of me
day, and spread 1t out across
IS / was stili eng ged in
Ii when Lady Darlington,
Eed, emerged from her cab
iched me before | was even
r presence.
l,tle still il?" she quos-
isly "and have you been
ghtg"
Dalcer Is dead" an
10 her SIT down beside
oa am the facts
saenly, her breath
1xcitenlent her faco