The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-15

in the vicinity of the bridge, drinking in
eagerly every phrase that he could catch
from the mouths of the restless officers,
from the youngest middle to the bald execu-
tive; though the latter took no part in the
discussion, but was, like Whittier himself,
an acute listener.
With thrill of something like relief, the
sailor saw the squat form Of the captain,
fresh from his forty winks, loom again into
the bridge lights, and he waited breath
lessly for what he hoped might come. But
the ship leaped on into the darkling north,
Captain Monkaster gazing fascinatedly at
the "bone in her teeth" The executive
officer, also marking the temperance of the
commander, paused in his pacing and stood
with head lifted, one foot forward, hands
locked behind his back in Napoleonic
pose, and with an expression on his thin
face scarcely. less concentrated than was
that of the great overman when he looked
toward England.
He finally passed up the ladder, saluted
Captain Monkaster, and moment later
the two stepped aside to the starboard end
of the bridge. None heard anything that
was said, but the quick gestures and uneasy
shiftings of positions disclosed that the
argument was sharp, if not acrid. Captain
Monkaster was not man to tolerate criti-
cism from one under him, or to permit an
inferior to overstep the bounds of strict
military discipline. With heavy heart,
Whittier at last saw the "hrst-luff" (the
executive officer "a superior whom he loved,
turn abruptly away, step briskly down the
ladder and disappear below.
Some time later, Whittier was fumbling
over shelf of charts in the chart house,
having some sort ofvague desire to locate the
position of Loomee, with what object he did
not know, unless it was whimsical wish to
seeif Alice were really there, and if so, if she
were still holding on. He paused in his
work at hearing the runbling voice Of
Captain Monkaster, who, CHANGING to be
standing near the voice tube leading to the
chart room, was unwittingly though there
was no cause for secrecy sending his voice
down it with sonorous clarity.
ooh, no! not yet awhile, Mr.. Lusk; not
for another hour or so. I can sleep by day,
and tonight this forging ahead has got into
my blood; it's better than good wine. I'm
IICSu d. q O1lSy d1Q WdA(1Ql do Tic UdQHs
About three o'clock I'll go down and turn in
for three or four hours-that will be a
plenty. How's that, Stevens9-twenty-
forty-three? That's better than the last
hour. Bullyl"
Whittier had cooked up his ear and a
serpent had entered into it. It's wisdom
was filling his brain. He went out softly,
hurried silently down the ladder, as if going
belatedly to urgent duty, and sought his
quarters in the steering engine room. But
there he momentarily broke down again.
Leaning on his stretched hammock that
swayed under him with the swing of the
ship, his head in his arms, he cursed and
Wept.
Observation-Disclosures the matter,
Whit, old mani" asked his astounded ship
mate, gunner mate "Fade-away' Forquer.
you been hittin' the alcohol chest?"
Whittier looked up, and the serpent
thought another thought. Forquer carried
the keys to the armory and magazines.
Whittier went over to him and whispered
colloquy followed. Forquer, alarmed, re-
monstrated with hushed violence. Whit
tier pleaded and clustered in the same key.
These two men were of the Damon and
Pythias breed, of which the army and navy
are prolific type of friendship born of
the forfeited home life. The debate was
lengthy, but in the end Forquer left the
compartment, and returning presently, he
placed something In the quartermaster'
hands-a ghstening, ominous thing.
There were two exits from the steering
engine room: one through passage running
forward on the orlop deck, the lowest down;
one through an overhead hatch-lid opening
on passage running forward to the main
salon. When one passed through the salon,
one came upon door to the left opening
on another passage-where the captains
orderly was misunderstanding to the
crews living spaces and to quarterback
ladder by which the open maindeck was
reached. On the right was the door open
ing into the captains stateroom. Whittier
left the compartment by the overhead trap.
Something ike an hour later, Captain
Monkaster retired. He carefully slid the
stateroom door shut behind him, partially
disrobed, and, leaving the electric light
turned on, lay down. Re lay uncovered,
being still in the tropic belt. With all the
slow sinuosity Of approved melodrama, a
stealthy form crept presently from behind
the fulllength cheval glass in the corner to
the left of the door, prostrately insinuated
itself worrn-ike along the deck to point
between the door and the couch, then
suddenly doomed erect. Captain Monkas-
ter, lying face outward, heard a clicking
sound, and opened his tired eyes to look into
the muzzle of a Colts service revolver,