Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1912-05-02


ley for the rest of that morning, but toward noon
was compelled to rouse up my courage and serve thc
nohln~ to me. And it the at supper; the
mood was heavy upon him. but did not know when 10
would change and stood ever ready to dodge and run
1t changed in time, but not a. had feared. He
never again the trucuent abusive and inhunan
master of men that he had been. Forces within him.
self, stronger than himself were working upon hmt
he seldom spoke to any one. And one night about two
weeks from Our departure from Valparaiso while the
ship was sliding along under the steady southeast trade
wind, and the weather was such to bring healthy
sleep to any normal man. he burst into my room at
three in the morning. wildeyed and disheveled, his
fingers clucing his throat
Steward" he gasped, brokenly "breal; out bottle
Of brandy. quick. Gawd, what dream! Will never
get rid d- Of en- Quick with that brandy man. Give
tumbled out, got him opened bottle, water, and
tumber from the store-room. and served him. had
never seen human being take such a drink He
gulped down full tumblerful, and after moment,
while he stood shaking and quverng reached out the
glass for another. which gave him Soon his nerves
steadied and he looked TRANQUILITY at
Il have them every night now, Steward" he said.
mournfuly. That little devil of mine,
own father in his sleep In his sleep he would know
better. and in my sleep could control my But
he is not tu my SON. know he is not He is devil
How, Captain" asked What happens when
His teeth-the full set. big and strong and white
feel his big hands on my throat, the same as felt
them in that scrap, then he gets his devilsh mouth
ee, sinking in Steward, take this key-he produced
one from his pocket-'ts the key Of that cabinet
I've locked it, You keep the key and keep it locked.
and don't give me that key this voyage even though
ask for it: Understand? Throw it overheard if 1
ask and give j to me at Frisco Meanwhile keep the
Yes sir. understand" answered as took the key,
though as matter Of fact did not understand "rll
Captain wont you go back to bedt Take the bottle
with YOU lfl make You sleep soundly and stop the
.s % Ps of You o w now s Sn like
Yes, yes, know. he said, weakly, something after
the the manner Of ia psnitent boy IN take the bottle
He went to his berth and l him until
of the next day. He stupid from drink. but
made comment his condition except repeat to
his inunction in regard the cabinet and to see
that there bottle OF brandy in his at all
times l obeyed him, though / was strongly tempted
the 'sS ds '"a' ne throw ~"0's s''' exhibit over
Things went on smoothly for time. cared for the
counted the thrty-two teeth Of the Frenchman; the
very competent mates attended to the work OF the
duty by the way; the worked suenly. with only
occasional looks at the big auocrat who, with the
with impunity and the captain went into and remained
in condition OF stupid shaking imbecty due to the
brandy He soon outgrew the need Of one bottle day
and demanded two. which | supplied. For he was
now past advice and offers of relief from the medicine
chest Brandy all he wanted, he said, when
suggested intelligent treatment of his case And
his stomach yielded so that he could not eat even the
most tempting dishes that | could devise This gave
the brandy reer swing and he shook and quivered
and Quaked so that often | called from my sleep
to hold tumber to his lirs
We north OF the line. We had caught
the northeast trades, and while the days hot, the
nights cool. Every one on board but the skipper
complained of too much sleep for the two mates, ut.
mahandled them BOTH forbore the usual driving of the
giving them watch and watch and permitting them
to dOze Off in the night watches on deck without cr
csm rebuke. Every man on board including myself
and perhaps the skipper. looking toward the speedy
termination Of the p1ssass and excepting the skipper
had promised; for the stores purchased at Valparaiso
had included besides vegetables coopful OF fowls fat
chickens and one big gobber who was destined for the
cabin table had thrown hints the captain about
this turkey dinner; hoped to his appetite in
advance tina. when he saw the spread he would eat
appetite deferred the Christmas dinner until the end
Of the day serving him noting but sh, eaviaT sand.
that had succeeded he really did eat full meal in
the evening and retired early to his BERTH fortified for
sleep by full bottle OF brandy.
About ten o'clock however, just. four bells had
struck at the wheel was reused from my first sleep
by noises from the after-cabin rolled and lis
tened. There were sounds OF the physical contact
of hard bodies the overturnng OF chairs and desks and
the humping OF human elbows and shoulders against
the bulkheads. There three throaty,
choking shreks or screams then after moment of
silence heard-and swear it, as God is my witness
voice saving; Il keel YOU keel you wish my teeth"
rushed out meeting the second mate coming through
the forward eomp1nlon and the first mate reused from
his sleep like myself.
Whats up they asked simultaneously. Has he
got the Jim ans"
q, ", don't know answered Lets see" A.,
was quiet now. and tried the door: II was locked
from the inside and Went on deck TO the after
companion This too, was locked, | had keys Of
these doors and back 10 the mess-room. and
decided to break in the door and lind out what had
S happened few smashes with capstanbar in the
hands of the mate opened the door, and entered
the afcr-cabn. Captain Bechor lay face upward on
, the floor, his countenance purple his red eyes wide
open, and his throat mangled and macerated beyond
description A. the borders OF the gaping wound
. unmsakabe marks of teeth-be teeth such teeth
t as might be the possession of Bengal tiger or
grizzly bear. And to complete the homogeneous picture
the floor teeth white, quiet. and inert close
n on each side of the captains throat They were bic
teeth such had picked up. secured and deposited in
the museum | counted hirty-two and rushed to the
$ cabinet. | did not know whether not al
the moment. and do not know Yet as spooned
that pickle OF CHASTITY mementoes found and
and fngers-but not tooth And the cabinet had not
been unlocked since the captain had given the key
except by myself.
$ We pulled through. We buried the captain at sea-
and the took the ship into San Francisco, where
n all hands. including myself, quit her My next ship
bark engaged in the west-coast trade, and the
S first stopping-pla Valparaiso, where | went