Gilpin observer., 1913-02-27
er. Oars in her and am And DE

Captain Zeb, who had been inspect
ing the anchored vessel through the
| spyglass, lowered the latter and
seemed puzzled. BLESSED if she don't
look abandoned to me. Can't see a
sign Of life aboard her."
I'VE couldn't neither" said Thoph.
eve was just callatin' to go off to her
when Charlie come and told us about
the longboat. guess likely we can go
now; it's pretty nigh smooth as
pond. You'll take an oar. won't you,
Noah?"
Il can't leave the light very we'll My
wife went over to the village last
night. You and Charlie and Bill go.
Want to go, too, Zeb?"
mo, I'll stay here, guess. The old
lady made me promise to keep my feet
dry afore l left the house."
you want to go, Mr.. Ellery? Lots
Of room"
The minister was tempted. The sea
always had a fascination for him and
the mystery of the strange ship was
appealing.
Sure won't be in the way?"
mo, no! course you won't" said
Burgess. Come right along. You set
in the bow. If you don't mind gettin'
sprinkled once in a while. I'll steer
and Thoph and Bill1l row. That'n be
enough for one dory. If we need
more, We'll signal. Heave ahead"
The rowers "hit her up" and the
dory moved faster. Then Burgess, put
ting his hand to his mouth, hailed.
| Ship ahoy!" he roared "Ahoy!"
| No reply.
The dory slackened speed, turned in
obedience to the steering oar, and slid
under the forequarter Of the an
chored vessel. Ellery, looking up, saw
her name in battered gilt letters above
his head-the San Jose
Stand by, Thoph!" shouted Charlie.
"S'pose you can jump and grab her
forechains? Hold her steady, Bill.
Now, Thoph! That's the time!"
Thoph had jumped. seized the
chains, and was scrambling aboard. A
amidships. rope in his hand. The
dory was brought alongside and made
fast; then one after the other the men
in the boat climbed to the brig's deck.
"Ahoy!" yelled Burgess. "All hands
on deck! tumble up, you lubbers!
Humph! She is abandoned. sure and
sartin."
"Yup," asserted Bill. Her boats
are gone. See? Guess that explains
the longboat on the beach, Charlie"
"Phew!" shifted Burgess. she amt
no cologne bottle. Is she? Well. come
on below and let's see what'n we see"
The cabin was "mess," as Bill
expressed 1t. The floor was covered
with scattered heaps Of riff-raff. OIL
skins. coats. empty bottles, and pa
pers. On the table a box stood, its
hinged lid thrown back.
Medicine chest" said Burgess, ex-
amining It. And rum bottles aplenty.
Somebody's been sick. shouldn't won
der"
The minister opened the door Of one
Of the little staterooms. The light
which shone through the dirty and
tightly closed "bull's-eye" window
showed tumbled bunk, the blankets
soiled and streaked. The smell was
sitting.
Say. fellers." whispered Thoph. 'T
don't like this much myself. I'm for
gettin' on deck where the airs better.
Somethin's happened aboard this craft.
somethin' serious"
Charlie and Bill nodded an en-
phatic affirmative.
Hadn't we better look about a lit
tie more?" asked Ellery. There's an
other stateroom there"
He opened the door Of 1t as he
spoke 1t was. II possible, In a worse
condition than the first. And the odor
was even more overpowering.
"Skipper's room." observed Burgess.
peeping in. And that bunk amt been
slept in for weeks. See the mildew on
them clothes. Phew! I'm fair, sick
to my stomach. Come put Of this"
On deck, in the sunlight. they held
another consultation.
"Queerest business ever l see." OBJ
served Charlie. l never"
II see somethin' like 1t once" inter-
rupted Bill. Down in the Gulf twas.
was on the old Fishhawk. Eben
Salters' dad from over to Bayport
skipped her. We picked up a West
Injy schooner, derelict, abandoned
same as this one. but not anchored.
Of course. Yeller jack was the trou-
BILE aboard her and Where you
bound. Thoph?"
"Goin' to take squint at the fo'cas-
tle," replied Theophilus, moving for
ward. The minister followed him.
The fo'castle hatchway was black
and grim. Ellery knelt and peered
down. Here there was practically no
light at all and the air was fouler
than that in the cabin.
"See anything. Mr.. Ellery?" asked
Thoph, looking over his shoulder.
mo. don't see anything. But I
Thought"
He seemed to be listening.
what did you think"
~Nothing l."