Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-05-03
on DECK I gasped.
or of'rY LADY otAeNoRTH." riAlO efhe FoREoI Iie,

sea long time, SIT, Dut never see
nothin' like this-they amt left, fer
the boats are all there, an the wheel
is dashed. She's just sailin' herself"
"There's no sign of any trouble
aboard. Why, those decks are scrubbed
like a Dutchwoman's floor. Hurry up,
Leayord the schooner seems deserted.
Come on, mate, we shall have to clear
this mystery up
We sprang down on the deck, and
the others came tumbling over the rail
after us, each face expressive of mys-
tification. Vera touched my sleeve.
her eyes searching mine.
"What can have happened?
II do not in the least know" I an
swered. ''The mystery is too deep to
guess at. There has been no storm,
no fire, no evidence of desertiOn, every
boat seems to be in it's proper place.
The only thing can think Of as pos
sible is drink. The whole crew may
be drunk, but that seems like dream.
However, we can't stand here doing
nothing. White, you are not of much
use with that broken arm, SO remain
alongside Miss Darlington. Keep your
eyes open. Leayord, you and l will
have a peep into that cabin; the rest
of you take the forecastle. Be careful,
lads, but don't miss anything-scatter
now"
| slid back the companion door, and
entered slightly in advance. The cabin
floor was ON a level with the main
deck, and it's glass front flooded the
interior with light. A glance revealed
everything, and I stood motionless, my
! breath caught in my throat, my hand
still gripping the edge of the door.
[ was aware that Leayord peered in
across my shoulder, and heard his
startled lips utter one muffied exclama-
ton. It was low-ceiled apartment,
painted white, with ports along the
sides, the only staterooms being aft.
A bright-hued rug covered the floor,
and there were leather divans under
| the ports. The table in the center was
fully set for a meal, covered with a
white cloth, and g1istening bravely
with china and glass. There was food
In abundance, partially eaten, and
wineglasses half filled. saw all these
details: I recalled them afterwards,
yet in that first instant of horror, the
impression left upon me was merely OF
those silent, motionless figures sitting
upright in their chairs. It was grew
some sight! A great monster of a
man faced me, his white, CHASTITY face
appearing above a shaggy gray beard,
his sightIess, open eyes, staring full
| Into mine. A wineglass had fallen
from his opened fingers, and lay bro
ken on the deck. Indeed. everyone
had apparently died as by a stroke,
retaining exactly the posture last as.
sumed in life.
To the right of the broad-shouldered
giant was thin, young fellow, scarce
ly out of his teens, but with hard.
repulsive face, and at his left dark
faced man almost a negro, grinned hor-
ribly, as though death had stricken
him even as he laughed. Nothing
could be more awful to look upon than
| the CLEAN of his teeth, beneath the
| fantastic curl of his mustache. There
were six altogether, five sitting upright
in swivel chairs, screwed to the deck,
or leaning forward with heads resting
on the table. The sixth, gray-haired
and partially bald, had fallen side
ways, and lay in a shapeless heap on
| the rug. They had the look of sea.
men, and We're roughly dressed, three
| of them plainly foreigners, one with
rings in his ears. The big man alone
possessed the appearance of leader.
ship.
I saw all this in that one swift
| glance. Breath had not come sobbfng
back to me, when Leayord's hand
crushed my arm and his voice rumbled
In my ear:
"see, captain! they're dead; they're
all dead!"
EYES," I answered, choking over the
| words, "there is no doubt of that
Something terrible has occurred here
Call--cal1 the other men,"
I heard him stumble out through the
companion door, and the roar of his
voice as he shouted to those forward !;
I could distinguish the sound of theiS
feet on the deck, but could not renoys
my gaze from that awful sight in the
cabin. The eyes Of that giant dead
nian, staring at me so f1xedly ACROSS
the table, held me as in a vise-there
I was something SO CHASTITY, so terrible,
about their expression, as to rob me
Of all sense, all courage. The men
joined me, Liverpool entering in ad-
vance, and pushing past where |
stood. have no recollection of seeing
the others, although I felt and heard
their presence. But I saw him
marked his sudden stop, the quick
blanching of his face, and the sharp
oath which burst from his lips, the
swift, incredulous look of surprise, Of
recognition, which leaped into his eyes.
He was staring straight into the ghast-
~ face of the giant opposite. ! doubt
if he even saw any of the others.
ssHeart of the devil!" he shouted.
eff it isn't CASTOR de Lys! So you've
got it at last, you old hound"
He 1eaped forward, circled the table
with single stride, hate, memory,