The Southern herald., 1912-07-26
GOt Geoye B. 9eynton

Some OF the upper works were stripped away
and the whole appearance of the vessel was
changed to such an extent that even her build
ers would hardly have recognized her.
At Santos l bought outright a cargo Of
coffee and headed for Cape Town South Az
rica, where consigned 1t to VIM. G. Anderson
Son, with instructions to sell II for cash.
and quickly
| made Leigh sailing-master, and we cleared
light for Australia, with a short stop at the
Mauritius for coal. We coaed again at Al
bany, West Australia. From there We went
to Port Adelaide, South Australia, and then on
to Melbourne where we came to grief on
Fort Philip Head We signaled for pilot and
canny Scot came aboard He seemed sus-
pcious of us from the first and noticed that
he was studying the ship closely as we steamed
up to anchorage off Wiliamstown.
landed at once and went to the Civil Serv
ice Club Hotel to recuperate from a bad case
of malaria which had contracted at the Mau-
ritius. While not alarmed by the apparent
suspicion Of the pilot l was impressed by 1t
and gave strict orders to Leigh to allow no one
to come aboard. Leigh's one weakness was
drink, and to guard against his becoming help
lessly intoxicated instructed Wilson either to
remain on board or visit the ship every day.
My fever grew worse after | went ashore,
and in two or three days the doctor decided
that should have a nurse as l was all alone.
The doctor was with me when the nurse ar
rived, and as the latter entered the door the
doctor made a quick movement as though
something had startled him, looking in amaze
ment from one Of us to the other. l could not
imagine what had happened until he said
THAT man looks enough like you to be your
twin brother! | never have seen such re-
semblance between two men!"
surveyed the nurse more critically and
saw that we did look strangely alike, even
to the SCARED face The nurse said his name
was william Nourse and that he had arrived
in Melbourne only two or three days before
from Tasmania, where he had worked in the
Hobartstown hospital
While was recovering at the hotel, events
we're transpirng In connection with the ship.
Wilson, 1t developed, soon relaxed his vigil
lance and gave himself up to pleasures ashore,
but without coming near me, whereupon old
Leigh blthely betook himself to his beloved
bottle. After few days the shrewd Scotch
pilot paid the ship a friendly visit, found Leigh
full three sheets In the wind, encouraged him
to proceed with his potations until he fell
asleep and then went over the ship at his
leisure, taking measurements and making OBJ
servations.
Naturally, his measurements corresponded
exactly with those Of the Ferret, which had
been reported as missing
was greatly surprised when. late one aft
ernoon about ten days after our arrival al
Melbourne, l received word from Joe that the
ship had been recognized as the Ferret and
seized; that he had taken to the bush and
that I had better disappear as quickly and
quietly as possible II ! wished to escape arrest
Tor the officers we're looking for both Of US.
told Nourse that warrant was out fol
my arrest on some technical violation Of the
port regulations, and that, while had no feal
Of the result Of a trial, did not feel strong
enough to go through with It, and therefore
/ intended to leave at once, and secretly, ant
stay away until the trouble blew over. HI
agreed to go with me, and soon after darl
we left the hotel quietly by a rear entrance
which opened on an alley.
We engaged carriage and drove to sub
urb on the railroad running to Sydney.
On the long drive to Longwood becam
convinced that my capture was certain TO
the country was 20 thinly settled that we wer
sure to attract attention and be easily TO
lowed, while If l stuck to the railroad wa
sure to be apprehended In seeking some neV
way out Of the dilemma I conceived the ide