The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-01-29

'.acG that IL was TOO stu!ty 10 sleep
below Il was a calm night. We wer"
out Of The trades, and the Ghost was
forging ahead barely a knot an hour
So ! tucked blanket and pillow IN
der my arm and went up on deck.
As / passed between Harrison and
the pinnacle which was built into the
top Of the cabin noticed that he was
this time fully three points off. His
eyes were wide and staring. He
seemed greatly porturbod.
What's the natter" asked. Are
you sick"
lie shook his head. and with deep
sigh. as Of awakening caught his
breath.
You'd better get on your course,
then" | chidcd
He put a few spokes over. and |
watched the compass card swing
slowly to NNW and steady itself with
slight oscillations.
took a fresh hold on my bed
clothes and was preparing to start
eye and looked astern to the rail.
\ sinewy hand. dripping with water.
was clutching the rail. 4 second hand
took form in the darkness beside il
watched. fascinated What visitant
from the gloom of the deep was | TO
behold? Whatever it was. | knew that
it was climbing aboard by the log
line. | saw a head, the hair wet and
straight. shape itself and then the un.
mistakable eyes and face of Wolf
Larsen. His right cheek was red with
blood, which flowed from some wound
in the head.
He drew himself inboard with a
quick effort. and arose to his feet.
glancing swiftly. as he did so, at the
man at the wheel. as though to assure
himself of his identity and that there
was nothing to fear from him. The
sea water was streaming from him
It made little audible gurgles which
distracted me. AS he stepped toward
me | shrank back instinCtively, for l
saw that in his eyes which spelled
death.
All right, Hump" he said in a low
voice. Where's the mate?"
| shook my head
"johanson!" he called softly. 10
hansenl"
Where is he?" he demanded of
Harrison.
The young fellow seemed to have
recovered his cOmposure, for he an
swered steadily enough, Il don't
know. sir. | saw him go forward a
little while ago"
80 did ! go for'ard. But | didn't
come back the way | went. Can
you explain it,"
You must have been overheard.
sir"
Shall look for him in the steer.
age. sir?" | asked
Wolf Larsen shook his head You
wouldn't find him, Hump. But you'll
do. Come on. Never mind your bed
ding. Leave it where it is"
! followed at his heels. There was
nothing stirring amidships
Those cursed hunters" was his
comment. Too damned fat and lazy
to stand q fOur-hour watch"
But on the forecastle head we
found three sailors asleep. He turned
them over and looked at their faces
They composed the watch on deck.
and it was the ships custom. in good
weather, to let the watch sleep with
the exception of the officer. the
helmsman and the lookout.
Who's the lookout" he demanded.
Me. SIR" answered Holyoak. one
of the deep-water sailors, a slight ire
NOR in his voice. Il winked off Just
this very minute, sir. I'm sorry. sir.
1t won't happen again"
Did you hear or see anything on
deck"
NO. sir. /"
But Wolf Larsen had turned away
with a snort of disgust. leaving the
sailor rubbing his eyes with surprise
at having been let off so easily.
softly, now" Wolf Larsen warned
me in whisper. as he doubled his
body into the forecastle scuttle and
prepared to descend.
followed with a quaking heart.
What was TO happen knew no more
than did | know what had happened |
But blood had been shed. and il was
no within of Wolf Larsen that
he had gone over the side with his
scalp laid open. Besides. Johansen
was missing.
1t was my first descent into the fore |
castle. and ! shall not soon forget my
impression of it. 1t smelled sour and |
musty, and by the dim light of the |
swinging sea-,amp saw every bit OF
available wall space hung deep with
sea-boots. Olskins and garments
clean and dirty. of various sorts. |