St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1911-01-07

ging. Fortunately the weather was
calm and the wind light Then came
the worst trouble of all-our stock o.
water in the after scuttle butt ras
out; there was plenty forward on thu
main deck. but all next day the gorille
seemed to sense our predicament, fG
he lay crouched on top of the deck
house ready to spring on whoever ut.
tempted to reach the casks.
by nightfall Captain Graves was
desperate with the crying and wailing
of the boy, whose one cry was thirsty
mummy! so thirsty!'
Il was at the wheel; the skipper
was below. The gorilla, when last
saw him. was curled up in the fore.
top apparently asleep. Captain Graves
came softly up the companion and
whispered that he was going to steal
out of the cabin door on to the main
deck and make dash for the sorely
needed water. G
Let me go, captain begged, but
he refused, saying that he could better
locate the water casks in the dark.
ness, while I might trip or stumble
and bring the beast down on me. So
remained aft, listening intently. There
was no moon and the night was pitch
dark, the brig rolling heavily and max.
ing all the weird noises usual to a
wooden vessel in a seaway.
while stood there / heard a quick
rush, a smothered, choking cry, and
the sudden splash Of body alongside.
I knew what it meant-the captain
had gone to his death like the rest OF
his unlucky crew.
"Maddened with horror and rage
left the wheel and sprang for the main
deck, Selling Delaying pin as ran
But the grizzly gray devil eluded me,
although l searched every nook and
corner, even climbing on the bulwarks
to look in the boats swinging in the
davits.
Happening to look aft spied the
shaft of yellow light streaming from
the open cabin door, and my heart
gave jump of dismay. In an instant
| realized the utter futility of my rage
and what the consequences of it might
be. Mrs. Graves and her baby had
been left alone, exposed to the fury OF
that incarnate fiend had he chosen to
pay them a visit While / had been
raving aloud, running to and fro and
thrashing the empty deck it would
have been easy for the gorilla to steal
into the cabin and wreak his ferocity
on the defenseless mother and child
within. 1t must have been a premoni
ton, for even as looked dark shape
blurred the oblong of light and in two
jumps reached the rail, where il
tossed something oversize.
"My yell startled the fiend, for with
snarling yelp he sprang for the main
rigging and vanished overhead in the
gloom, where l could hear him chat
tering and gnashing his great teeth.
Il made a dive for the cabin, bang
ing the door behind me, hurried to dc
likewise for the companion, and then
called for Mrs. Graves. Too we'll
knew what the result would be. Only
my own voice echoed in that silent
cabin; mother and babe had gone to
join father and husband, and was
alone on the brig! Then must have
swooned, for when came to the
morning sun was cutting zig-zag pat
terms on the floor as the ship swung
aimlessly hither and yon.
I'm a moment the dread happenings
of the past night of horror flashed into
memory, and in that same instant
resolved to quit the brig, If possible;
otherwise it would be my turn to feel
the gorilla's claws gripping my throat
and in trice I'd be pitched over
board to join my shipmates.
Cautiously l peered out of the
cabin windows along the main deck;
the great hairy brute, as tall as full
grown man, was summing himself on
top of the galley, and, hoped, asleep
My plan was to make a rush for the
stern, where the boat was still tow
ing, slide down the painter, cast of
and trust to luck for being picked up.
Better a slow death by exposure and
starvation in an open boat than by
strangulation with the hot and fetid
breath of the ape in my nostrils.
We'll, stuffed some ships biscuits
in my shirt, opened the companion
doors very quietly and made a break
for the taffrail. It was only half a
dozen strides, but quick as I moved
the gorilla was quicker, for as strad'
died the rail heard the swift pattel
OF his feet on the deck planks. l made
a dive for the painter, fortunately
caught it and landed in the boat.
Looking upward, saw the ape
making to follow me, but hesitating al
trusting his bulk to the light, swaying
rope. To head him off / whipped out
my knife and slashed at the painter
severing it with single stroke.
But before I drifted clear the fiend
leaped for the boat, struck its bow
bounded off into the sea, and came w
suffering alongside ready to Chamber
over the gunwale. With cry of rage
[ seized an oar and let him have II
with the sharp edge of the blade
squarely on top of his fiat and ugly
skull. Still snarling and swapping, the
dirty carcass sank alongside, leaving
but a ring of bubbles. Then for the
second time l lost my senses.
when next / opened my eyes was
alone on the limitless ocean. How long
| drifted don't know; the memory oil
the tragedy I had been through
coupled with thirst and hunger, must
have driven me mad. On the island
had no recollection of events on the
brig, but when you called me by name
something in my brain snapped, and
the whole horrid tragedy came back to
ma AZ nv a lightning FASH"