The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1912-07-05
Gof @eo;Te g. 4eEnfon

~-~Hoo
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 bought outright cargo of
conee and headed for Cape Town, South A.
r1ca. where consigned it to VIM. G. Anderson
4 Son, with instructions to sell It for cash,
and quickly
made Leigh sailing -master, and we cleared
light for Australia. with a short stop at the
Mauritius for coal: We coaled 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
a canny Scot came aboard He seemed sus-
picious Of US from the first and I noticed that
he was studying the ship closely as we steamed
up to anchorage of Williamstown.
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 Maui
ritius. While not alarmed by the apparent
suspicion of the pilot was impressed by it
and gave strict orders TO- Leigh to allow no one
to come aboard Leighs 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 I went ashore,
and In two or three days the doctor decided
that should have nurse, as was all alone.
The doctor 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. I could not
imagine what had happened until he said:
THAT man looks enough like you to be your
twin brother! I never have seen such a re-
semblance between two men,"
l 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 I was recovering at the hotel events
were Transporting in connection with the ship.
Wilson. it developed, soon relaxed his vigi-
lance and gave himself up to pleasures ashore,
but without coming near me, whereupon old
Leigh blithey betook himself to his beloved
bottle. After few days the shreWd Scotch
pilot paid the ship friendly visit. found Leigh
full three sheets in the wind, encouraged him
to proceed with his rotations 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 at
Melbourne, I received word from Joe that the
ship had been recognized as the Ferret and
seized; that he had taken to the bush and
that had better disappear as quickly and
quietly as possible If l wished to escape arrest
for the officers were looking for both Of US.
l told Nourse that a warrant was out for
my arrest on some technical violation of the
port regulations, and that while had no fear
of the result of trial, did not feel strong
enough 70 60 through with 1t, and therefore
I intended to leave at once, and secretly, and
stay away until the trouble blew over. He
agreed to go with me. and soon after dark
VIC left the hotel quietly by rear entrance
which opened on an alley.
We engaged carriage and drove to a sub
urb on the railroad running to Sydney.
On the long drive to Longwood became
convinced that my capture was certain, for
the country was SO thinly settled that we were
sure to attract attention and be easily fol-
lowed, while II stuck to the railroad I was
sure to be apprehended. In seeking some new
way out of the dilemma I conceived the idea