Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1913-02-22
;. Oars in her and all. And she


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.
1--WE was just cal1atin' to go on to her
when Charlie come and told US about
the longboat- 1 guess likely We can go
now; it's pretty nigh smooth as
pond. You'll take an oar. won't you.
Noah?''
81 can't leave the light very we'll. My
wife went over to the village last
night. You and Charlie and Bill 60
Want to go, too, Zeb?'
No, I'll stay here. guess The old
lady made me promise to keep my feet
dry afore 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 l won't be in the way?''
mo, mol 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. Thatn be
enough for one dory. If we need
more, Wen signal. Heave ahead"
The rowers hit her up and the
dory moved faster. Then Burgess, put
ting his hand to his mouth, hailed.
Ship ahoyi" he roared. tAhoy!"
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 timeI"
Thoph had jumped, seized the
chains, and was scrambling aboard. A
moment later he appeared at the rail
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 briggs deck.
'Ahoy." yelled Burgess. "All hands
on deck! tumble up, you lubbersi
Humph! She is abandoned, sure and
sartin.''
"Yup," asserted Bill. Her boats
are gone. See? Guess that explains
the 1ongboat on the beach, Charlie
"Phew,'' shifted Burgess. "She amt
no cologne bottle, is she? Well. come
on below and let's see what1l we see"
The cabin was a "mess," as Bill
expressed it. 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-
aiming 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. 81
don't like this much myself. I'm for
gettin' on deck where the airs better.
Sometimes happened aboard this 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, if possible. in worse
condition than the first. And the odor
was even more overpowering.
Shippers ROOM" observed Burgess,
peeping in. "And that bunk amt been
slept in for weeks. See the mildew on
them clothes. Phewi I'm fair sick
to my stomach. Come out Of this
On deck, in the sunlight, they held
another consultation.
"Queerest business ever I see." OBJ
served Charlie. I never"
81 see somethin' like it once" inter
rupted Bill Down in the Gulf twas.
| was on the old Flshhawk. 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-
tie" 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, 1 don't see anything. But 1
thought
He seemed to be listening