Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1914-12-31

mad heard Adams description of the
intruder on the forecastle head and
that. what with drink and terror, he
had fancied the rest. And vet | was
not so sure.
Il was asleep, the first time" he
said. II don't know how long ago it
was. l woke up cold. with the feel
ing that something was looking at ME.
l raised up in bed, and there was Il
thing at the window. 1t was look
ing in"
"a white head?"
ut wasn't a head. For Gods sake,
Leslie, | can't tell you any more than
that. l saw it. That's enough. |
saw it three times"
ut isn't enough for me-" l said dog
gedly. 1T hadn't any head or face,
but it looked in. It's dark out there.
How could you see?"
For reply he leaned over and, turn
ing down the lamp, blew it out. We
sat in the smoking darkness, and SLOW
ly out of the thick night the window
outlined itself. l could see it distinct
ly. But how. white and faceless, had
1t stared in at the window or reached
through the bars, as Singleton declar-
ed it had done. and waved a fngerless
hand at us?
He was in Il state of mental and
physical collapse and begged so pitt
fully not to be left that at last | told
him l would take him with me on his
promise to remain in a chair until
dawn and to go back without demur.
He sat near me. amidShipS. huddlcd
down among the cushions Of one of
the wicker chairs. not sleeping, but
staring straight out, motionless.
With the first light of dawn Burns
relieved me, and | went forward with
Singleton. He dropped into his bunk
and was asleep almost Immediately.
Oleson and Adams made no attempt
to work that day. Indeed. Oleson was
not able. AS l had promised, the
breakfast for the after house was plac-
ed on the companion steps by Tom.
the cook. whence it was removed by
Mrs. Sloane. l saw nothing of either
| LISA Lee OF MIS-. JOHNS.
That afternoon. alone, | made Il sec
ond and more thorough examination of
the forecastle and the hold. In the
former | found nothing. Having been
closed for over twenty-four hours. it
was Sitting and full of odors.
The examination of the hold led to
M curious and not easily explained
discovery. The Ella was in gravel
ballast. and my search there was diff
ticult and nerve racking. The %creaking
of the Orders and floor plates. the
groaning overhead Of the trestle trees,
and once an unexpected list that sent
me c%areening head first against a bal
last tank, made my position distinctly
disagreeable. And above all the Incl
dental noises of Il ships hold was one
that could not place-a regular knock
ing, which kept time with the list of
the boat.
I located it at last. approximately.
at n Of the ballast ports, but there
was nothing to be seen. The port had
pteu carefully barred and calked over
The sound was not loud. Down there
among the other noises l seemed to
feel as well as heaE it. l sent Burns
down, and he came up puzzled.
Its outside" he said. "Something
cracking against her ribs.
You didn't notice it yesterday, did
youE'
"No; but yesterday we were not lis
tening for noises
The knocking was on the port side
We went forward together and, lean.
ing well out, looked W. the rail.
The missing ~marlinespike was swing
ing there, banging against the hui
with every roll of the ship. 1t was
fastened by Il rope lanyard to a large
bolt below the rail and fastened with
what Burns called q Blackwell hitch
a sailors knot.