The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-05-09

ANTELOPEH
the mystery of the Antelope has been
cleared Pm afraid you're doomed to
remain a landsman to the end of your
days." prophesied Gerard after they
had listened to the beating of the rain
for awhile in silence
"You wouldn't blame me If you were
in the same fix as | am" retortetl
Captain jack, refilling his pipe.
How can you prove it, old mani
You don't know yourself what hap.
pened to the Antelope"
II know she sank under me without
five minutes warning-went down in.
CLASSY sea under u full moons rays
Flick and / had barely time to j. mp
and swim beyond the suction she made
In going down. If it hadn't been that
one of the small boats got adrift and
bumped into US | wouldn't be here to-
night telling you this old yarn for the
hundredth time"
II like to hear 1t. Jack"
you know Flick sprang to the
pumps the first thing. but she was dry
as bone. 1t was more as If she was
being pulled down by SOME gigantic
force. You know the man at the wheel
and the watch bad disappeared entire
ly when we reached the deck, and be-
fore we had time to get the rest of the
men out of the fo'cas'le she was drawn
under and we had to jump for our
lives"
And you won't take command Of the
Petrol? You know you can have a
third interest In her at your own price.
and she Will be gold mine to us in
the fruit trade. 1t isn't because she's
a steamer instead of sailing vessel.
is itY'
tNo, no. It's merely because can't
trust myself to take command of any
vessel until am assured that the fate
of the Antelope and the unfortunate
men of my crew are not the result of
my own negligence"
''Your own word. without that of
FIeck's. is sufficient for me. Jack. and
you know that your testimony as well
as his has fully satisfied the board of
inquiry that you are blameless."
II want to he satisfied myself: until
then will not have the nerve to take
command of the squarest scow that
ever cleared from any port" said Cap
tain Jack decisively.
"Of course l know you're right,
Jack. but it's blamed shame. because
the mystery of the Antelope will never
be cleared up"
Captain Jack made no reply. He
poked at the crumbling embers on the
hearth and drew them together in a
glowing pyramid. "Got any more wood.
Gerard?' he asked.
His host leaned to the ancient sea
chest which served as wood box and
threw back the lid. A salty edor is
sued from the recesseS of the chest.
Here's some driftwood that Peters
has picked up. I've been saving IT for
just such night as this. II isn't SO
old as some of the stuff H.. brings in,
but guess It's water soaked enough to
give us fireworks for awhile"
He tossed on several large timbers
which in the dim glow of the embers
were quite indistinguishable as to
shape.
First the smoke drew up in thin spi-
rails that grew heavier and suddenly
burst into a broad yellow flame that
turned to orange and blue and green
and then became mystic rainbow of
Enthusiastically writhing color. The salt
sizzled as the fire gripped into the wood
and shot up little electric sparks of
light thae died before they reached the
chimney's throat The wood creaked
as 1t warped from the scorching touch.
and loosened iron bolt fell rafting
to the hearthstone. The burning wood
settled anew, and as the flames mount
ed higher Captain Jack leaned forward
and pointed a shaking finger at the
fire.
Look. Gerard" he said hoarsely.
what Is thatY'
Gerard Arson stared with fascinated
eyes at the thing that appeared in the
fire. The heel of a broken bowsprit
with one splintered plank thrust forth
as it had been torn from the bow of a
vessel. The paint had burned from the
plank, but there remained imbedded in
the wood several copper letters covered
with verdigris and undoubtedly form
ing the terminal Of the Ill fated ships
namas