The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1916-04-08

ne ullSHI COllLulI SOLlO
tempt to strike me or choke me; for
in such way only l knew | could be
stirred to shoot.
This is Endeavor island" | said.
Never heard Of it," he broke in.
AT least, that's our name for it" l
amended.
Our" he queried. Who's our"
Miss Brewster and myself And
the Ghost is lying, as you can see Tor
yourself, bow on to the beach"
There are seals here" he said.
They woke me up with their barking,
or I'd be sleeping yet. heard them
when | drove in last night. They were
the first warning that | was on a lee
shore. It's a rookery. the kind of a
thing I've hunted for years. Thanks
to my brother Death, I've lighted on
a fortune. It's a mint. What's its
bearings"
Haven't the least idea" said.
But you ought to know quite closely.
What were your last observations
He smiled inscrutably, but did not
answer.
We'll. where's all hands," l asked.
How does 1t come that you are
alone?"
was prepa,aS for him again to
set aside my question. and was sur.
prised at the readiness Of his reply.
My brother got me inside forty.
eight hours, and through no fault Of
mine. Boarded me in the night with
only the watch on deck. Hunters went
back on me. He gave them bigger
lay. Heard him offering 1t. Did 1t
right before me. OF course the crew
gave me the go-by. That was to be
expected. All hands went over the
side, and there l was, marooned on
my own vessel. It was Deaths turn.
and it's all in the family anyway"
But how did you lose the mastsr''
asked.
Walk over and examine those lam
yards" he said. pointing to where the
mizzen rigging should have been.
They have been cut with knife!"
I exclaimed.
Not quite" he laughed. 1T was q
neater Job. Look again"
looked. The lanyards had been al.
most severed. with Just enough left to
hold the shrouds till some severe
strain should be put upon them.
"Cooky did that" he laughed again.
Il know, though | didn't spot him at
It. Kind of evened up the score q
bit"
Good for Mugridge!" cried.
Yes, that's what | thought when
everything went over the side. Only
/ said it on the other side OF my
mouth
But what were you doing while all
this was going on?" l asked.
MY best, you may Oe sure. which
wasn't much under the circum
stances"
turned to re-examine Thomas
Mugridge's work.
Il guess I'll sit down and take the
sunshine" / heard Wolf Larsen say
ing.
There was hint. Just slight hint
of physical feebleness In his voice
and it was 30 strange that | looked
quickly at him. His hand was sweep
ing nervously across his face. al
though he were brushing away cob
webs. was puzzled. The whole
thing was so unlike the Wolf Larsen
l had known.
How are your headaches" asked
They still trouble me-" was his an
swer. 81 think / have one coming
on now"
He slipped down from his sitting
J posture till he lay on the deck. Their
he rolled over on his side, his head
resting on the biceps Of the under
arm, the forearm shielding his eyes
from the sun. l stood regarding hin
wonderingly.
"Now's your chance, Hump" he said
Il don't understand" I lied, for
thoroughly understood.
"Oh. nothing" he added softly, al
II he were browsing; only you've co
me where you want me-
mo, l haven't" retorted; for
want you a few thousand miles ava!
from here"
He chuckled, and thereafter spok,
no more. He did not stir as I passed
by him and went down into the cabin
I lifted the trap In the floor, but To-
some moments gazed obviously init
the darkness of the lazaretto beneath
! hesitated to descend. What II hi
lying down were q ruse? Pretty, In
deed, to be caught there like a rat
I crept softly up the companionwa.
and peeped at him. He was lynn
as l had left him. Again l went be
low; but before I dropped into tn
lazaretto took the precaution of cast
ing down the door in advance. A
least there would be no lid to the trap
But it was all needless. / regaine,
the cabin With a store of jams, sea
biscuits, canned meats, and sucl
things-all l could carry-and re
placed the trap door.
CTO BE CONTINUED)
| Contrary.