Year: 1876

DcuSlue, ,JCaiouoiy SAoi"oihS WY
body who might perchance overhear
his rawlings and rise up in judgment
against me.


One day the crisis came. A few
hours would determine all If he
died l was once more a free man.
free from the imputation Of foul
crime, free to carry out my honest in
tention of fulfilling the dead mans
wishes, but also free from the dread
of exposure, which to me would be
worse, as bare Suspicion, than death
itself.


If the Captain could but sleep, his
life would be saved. How easy to
make that sleep his last-thc devil
was at my elbow, the laudanum bot
tie in my hand. But at my sorcst
need the strength to resist was given
to me. Ipoured ont the proper dose,
and advanced to the cot in which the
Captain lay. A strange light was in
his eyes. Rising suddenly, and
throwing the bed-clotes off his tall,
lean, sinewy form, he half leaped from
the bed, and seizing the box of dia-
monds, which he had throughout his
illness never allowed from beneath
his pillow. in one hand, he shrieked:


"Never, never! Will you allow
me to be poisoned like a dog! Help!
some of you" The effort was too
much; clasping the box to his bosom
he fell back on his pillow-a convul-
sive shudder passed over his frame
he was dead.


don't pretend to analyze my feel
ings at that moment. My reason
well-nigh deserted me. | did not
stop to think Of the possible conse
quences. Snatching the box from
the relaxing grasp Of the corpse |
rushed from the cabin and fell over
Pete, the negro, who was just outside.


"Sce to the Captain. He is dead;''
and l sped onward; but the powerful
negro had his hand upon my arm.


"Massa Doctor not go so quick
Massa Grierson dead, Cap'n die, too
doctor got his box of jewels. Give
up dat box" and the negro seized me
in his grasp and struggled with me
tor the possession of the box.


At that moment the strength of 4
lion was in me; | wrestled with my
assailant, and freeing myself from his
grasp made for the companion stairs
I had reached the deck, with what
intention | knew not, but Pete was
again with me, wrestling with the
strength of a demond for the posses
sion of the prize.


The ship was rolling heavily in q
dead calm, and, as we fell together
we slid across the deck toward the
lee scuppers. With a superhuman
effort freed my right arm, and, with
all my force, threw the box over tho
quarterback ratings. 1t flew open
as it fell into the sea, and, in the
moonlight, the diamonds fell like q
shower of falling stars into the black
water


The negro, seeing my movement
left his hold of me and sprang for
ward to catch the box as it fell. A
heavy lurch and | was alone on the
deck.


The rapidity with which everything
had taken place seemed to have
stunned me and deprived me Of the
power to utter even one cry for help
When | recovered myself it was toe
late--Pete and the diamonds were
gone forever.


| looked round-the deck was de-
serted save by the man at the wheel
who, halfhidden by the whecl-house
had not seen the struggle


Can | be blamed? | held my
tongul. The Captain was buried al
dawn, and the chief officer took com
mand of the ship. 1t was clear that
Pete must have fallen overheard and
no one suspected the share | had had
in the catastrophe. In due time we
arrived in Bristol, and for my own
satisfaction instituted the necessary
inquiries as to the individuals named
by the man Grierson. The bank had
long since ceased to exist. traced
some vague rumor of 4 man having
died suddenly in stage-coach while
passing through an obscure village
in Somersetshlre, but could never OBJ
tain any clue to his representatives
1t was perhaps as well that | failed
l am still pool man, but | would
rather die so than accept the posi-
bility of becoming rich at the terri
bic risk which attended the unlucky
bequest of the Box of Diamonds.