The Delta independent., 1913-03-14
hard in the direction they were going


abandoned!"
"Rubbish!" painted Bill, twisting his
neck to look over his shoulder
"Course she amt! Who'd abandon a
craft such weather's this. and Prov.
incetown harbor only three hours run
or so?"
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
moment later he appeared at the rail
amidships. a 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 briggs 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"
"Cal'late it does; but it don't ex-
plain why they left her. She amt
Leakin' none to speak of, that's sure.
Rides's lights a feather. Christmas!
look at them decks; dirty hogs. who
ever they was"
Thoph led the way aft. The cabin
companion door was open and they
peered down.
"Phew!" shifted Burgess. "She amt
40 cologne bottle, is she? Well. come
On below and let's see what'1 we see"
The cabin was a mess" as Bill
expressed it The floor was covered
with scattered heaps OF riff-ran. oil
Ikins, 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 a tumbled bunk. the blankets
soiled and streaked. The smell was
sitting.
Say, fellers." whispered Thoph. Il
don't like this much myself. I'm for
gettin'' on deck where the airs better.
Somethin's happened aboard the craft
somethin' serious"
Charlie and Bill nodded an en-
phatic affirmative. =.
Hadn't we better look about 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 worse
condition than the first. And the odor
was even more overpowering.
"Skipper's room," observed Burgess.
peeping in. And that bunk aint been
slept in for weeks. See the mildew on
them clothes. Phew! I'm fair sick
to my stomach. Come out OF this"
On deck. in the sunlight. they held
another consultation.
"Queerest business ever / see." OBJ
served Charlie. l never"
II see somethin' like It 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 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? ?"
Coin to take a 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
lhan that in the cabin.
See anything, Mr.. Ellery?" asked
Thoph, looking over his shoulder.
40. ! don't see anything. But
thought"
He seemed to be listening.
What did you think?"
Nothing. L"
Hold on! you amt goin' down
there, be you? ] wouldn't. No tellin'
what you might find. Well. all right.
amt curious. I'll stay up here and
you can report"
Ellery descended the almost perpen.
dicular ladder gingerly. holding on
with both hands. At the foot he
stopped and tried to accustom his eyes
20 the darkness.
A room perhaps ten feet long, sc
much he could make out. The fooI
strewn, like that OF the cabin. with
heaps of clothing and odds and ends.
More shapes OF clothes hanging up
iAI. Li-~