Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Times, 1909-08-05, Page 7E MYSTERY BD STEWART EDWARD WUITi And SAMUEL HOf KINS ADAMS COPYRIGHT, 1907. BY MCCLURE, PHILLIPS & CO. 'them. I shipped as captain of a ves- sel. I'm no dock walloper. I won't do ,it—for no man!' I gasped with dismay at the man's eeomplete moral collapse. It seemed incredible. I caught myself wonder- ing whether he would recover tone were he again to put to sea, "Mau, you must!" I cried at last. "X won't, and that's flat," said he And turned deliberately on his heel and disappeared in the cabin. 1 went ashore thoughtful and a Iittle Scared. But on reflection I regained 'a g'.+'at part of my ease of mind. You lace 1 had been with these men now ei . months, during which they had ;Ix ;s orderly as so many primary se: :boys. They had worked hard, : w; :at grumbling, and had even ap- / ;prt;..ehed a sort of friendliness about the campfire. My first impression was overlaid, As I looked back on the voyage with 'what I took to be a clear- er vision I could not but admit that 'the incidents were in themselves trio- ' 1a1 enough—a natural excitement by 1 gasped with dismay at the man's cot. lapse. a superstitious negro, a little tall talk that meant nothing. It must have been the glamour of the adventure that had deceived me—that and the unusual IC stage setting and costuming. Certain- ly few men would work hard for eight 'months without a murmur, without a chance to look about them. in that of course I was deceived by :my inexperience. I realized later the ;wonderful effect Captain Selover threw .away with his empty brandy bottles. The crew might grumble•and plot dur- ing the watch below, but when Cap- tain Ezra Selover said work they worked. Pre had been saying work for .eight months. They had from force of experience obeyed him. it was all very simple. CHAPTER XVI, 0 there I was at once deprived of my chief support. Although no danger seemed imminent, nevertheless the necessity of acting on my own initiative and re- sponsibility oppressed me somewhat. Truth to tell, after the first I was .more relieved than dismayed at the .captain's resolution to stay aboard. His drinking habit was growing on him, and afloat or ashore he was note little more than a figurehead, so that my chief asset as far as he was eon- •Cerned was rather his reputation than Ills direct influence. Fn contact with the men 1 dreaded ]est sooner or later he do something to lessen or destroy the awe in which they held him. Of course Dr. Scbernierlrom had been mistaken in his man. A real captain of men would have risen to The Reason why We Feel Tired '`Fhb aystern la overloaded with poison- oun waste matter. You expect to be tired when you have been working hard, for the aetiv ities • A the muscles or brain cause a breaking down of cells, or burning up, we might say, and after while the sys- tem becomes Clogged with this waste matter or ashes and you get tired. But you are often tired when you have not been working hard .and i# this easo the ecnditions are much .the same but the presence of the poisonous waste matter is duo to the derangements of the excretory organs --the liver, kidneys and bowels. 'tinder such circumstances yen cannot possibly do better than use Dr. Chase 'd Kidney -Liver Pills for they have a di• reit, specific end combined action on the liver, kidneys and -bowels, thoroughly :eleansing the excretory systent and re- storing healthful digestion, Three is no Medicine of more fre. .fluent or elective Use in the family that' ler. Chasie''s Kidney -Liver Pills fox they have no equal tie a cure for constipation, biliousness, liver troubles and, kidney derangementh# . One pill dose, td tenth a box, at all dealets of 7Edmaneon, Bate* da Co., Tofonto. circumstances wherever he fon them, But who could have foretol Captain Selover had been a rascal ways, but a successful and courage rascal, He had run desperate chap dominated desperate crews. could know that a crumble of Isla beach and six months ashore won turn him into what he had becom Yet I believe such cases are not u comihon in other walks of life. man and his work combine to me something, yet both may be absolu ly useless when separated. It w the weak link: I put in some time praying earnes that the eyes of the crew might blinded and that the doctor wou finish his experiments before the c drop could boil up again. My first act as real commander to announce holiday, My Idea w that the island would keep the m busy for awhile. Then I would a sign them more work to do. Th proposed at once a tour into the terior. We started up the west coast. Af er three or four miles along a mes formation where often we had to el cls long detours to avoid the gulli we came upon another short beac and beyond it a series of ledges o which basked several hundred seal They did not seem alarmed. In fac one old bull, scarred by many battle made toward us. We left him, scaled the cliff an turned up a broad, pleasant valley t ward the interior. There the later lava flow had bee deflected. All that showed of th original eruption were occasional re outcropping- rocks, Soil and grass ha overlaid the mineral. Scattered tree were planted throughout the fl Cacti and semitropical bushes mingle with brush on the rounded side hills A number of brilliant birds fluttered a our approach. Snddenly Handy Solomon, who wa in advance, stopped and pointed to th crest of the hill, A file of animal medovalong the sky line. "Mutton," he, '"or the devil's preacher!" "Sheep!" cried Thrackles. "Wher did they come from?" "Golden Horn," I suggested. "Re member that wide, empty deck fo ward? They carried sheep there." The men separated, intending fres meat. The affair was ridiculous. The sheep had become wild as deer. Ou surrounding party with its silly bared knives could only look after them open mouthed as they skipped nimbly between its members. "Get a gun off the old man, 111r. Eagen," suggested Pule, "and we'll have something besides salt"horse and fish." I nodded. We continued. The island was like this as far as we went. When we climbed a ridge we found ourselves looking down on a spider web of other valleys and canyons of the same na- ture, all diverging to broad downs and a jump into the sea, all converging to the outworks that guarded the vol- cano with its canopy of vapor. On our way home we cut across the higher country and the heads of the canyons until we found ourselves look- ing down on. the valley and Dr. Scher- merborn's camp. The steam from the volcanic blowholes swayed below us. Through its rifts we saw the tops of the buildings. Presently we made out Percy Darrow, dressed in overalls, his sleeves rolled back and. carrying a re- tort. He walked, very preoccupied, to one of the miniature craters, where he ilnelt and went through some opera- tion indistinguishable at the distance. I looked around to see my companions staring at him fascinated, their necks craned out, their bodies drawn back into hiding. In a moment he had fin- ished and carried the retort carefully into the laboratory. The men sighed. and stood erect, once more themselves. s we turned away Perdosa vented hat must have been in the minds of "A man could climb down there," id he. "Why should he want to?" I de - ended sharply. "Qulen sabe?" shrugged he. We turned In silence toward the ach. Each brooded his thoughts. he sight of that man dressed in over- s. carrying on some mysterious busi- ss, brought home to each of ns the et that our expedition had an db - et ns yet unknown to us. The ought had df late dropped into the ckground. For my putt I hrtd been immersed In the adventure and the bar and the insistent need of the ur that I had forgotten why I had me. Er. Sehermerhorn's purpose is as inscrutable to me as at first. hat bad I accomplished? The men, too, seemed struck with me such idea. 'There were no yarns out the campfire that night. Percy rrow clic'[ not appear, tor which I s sincerely sorry, His presence ght have created a diversion. Porante unknown reason all my old ap- rehensions, my sense aimpending aster, hail returned to cue strength- en. In the firelight the nigger's len face looked sinister, Pules net's+• s whiter countenance looked vicious: nil d? al - 'us ccs, Who Isla Id e7 n - A an te- as tly be lel al - was as en s- ey in- t - a r- es n s. t, s, d o- n e d d s at. d t 9 e s a e r• h Se r ' lEiii WIX+IGf311m T1MEki, • AUGUST v 1 K 'rnrackles' heavy, bulldog expression was threatening, Pordosa's Mexican cast fit for knife work in the back, And dandy Solomon, stretched out, leaning on his elbow, with his red headgear, his snaky hair, his hook nose, his restless eye and his glitter- ing steel claw—the glow wrote across his aura the names of Kidd, Morgan, Blarlcheard. They sat smoking, staring into the fire with mesmerized eyes. The si- lence got on my nerves, I arose im- patiently and walked down the pale beaeh, where the stars glimmered in �tplasiies along the wettest sands, The black silhouette of the bills against the dark blue of the night sky, the white of breakers athwart the indis- tinct heave of the ocean, a faint light marking the position of the Laughing Lass—that was everything in the world. I made out some object roll- ed about in the edge of the wash. At the cost of wet feet I rescued it, It was an empty brandy bottle. r CHAPTER XVII. HE next day we continued our explorations by land and so Sok. a week after that, I thought it best not to relin- quish all authority, so I organized reg - expeditions and ordered their di- re( ion, The men diel not object. It suns all good enough fun to them. The net results were that we found a resting place of sea birds—too late in the season for eggs—a hot spring near enough camp to be useful, and that was about all. The sheep were the only animals on the island, al- though there were several sorts of birds. In general the country was as 1 have described it° either volcanic or overlaid with fertile earth. In any ease it was canyon and hill. We soon grew tired of climbing and turned our attention to the sea. 1't'ith the surfboat we skirted the coast. It was impregnable except in three places—our own beach, that near the seal rookery and on the south side of the island, We ianded at each one of these places. But returning close to the coast we happened upon a cave mouth more or less guarded by an outlying rock. The day was calm, so we ventured in. At first I thought it merely a gorge in the rock, but even while peer- ing for the end wall we slipped under the archway and found ourselves in a vast room. Our eyes were dazzled so we could make out little at first. But through the still, clear water the light filtered freely from below, showing the bottom as through a sea glass. We salt the fish near the entrance and coral and sea growths of marvelous vividness. They waved slowly as In a draft of air. The medium in which they floated wap• absolutely invisible, for of course there were no reflections from its sur- face. We seemed to be suspended in midair, and only when the dipping oars made rings could we realize that anything sustained us. Suddenly the place let loose in pan- demonium. Tho most fiendish Cries, groans, shrieks broke out, confusing themselves so thoroughly with their own echoes that the volume of sound was continuous. Heavy splashes shook the water. The boat rocked. The in- visible surface was broken into facets. We shrank, terrified. From all about us glowed hundreds of eyes like coals of fire—on a level with us, above us, almost over our heads. Two by two the coals were extinguished. Below us the bottom was clouded with black figures darting rapidly like a School of minnows beneath a boat. They darkened the coral and the sands and' the glistening sea growths, only the occultations and brightenings suc- ceeded each other much more swiftly. We stared stupefied, our thinking power blurred by the incessant whirl of motion and noise. Suddenly Thrackles laughed aloud, "Seals!" he shouted through his trumpeted hands. Our ayes were expanding to the twi- A al sa m be al ne fa Ja th haeo la ho co W so ab Da ani p dis en eul ou Had Stomach Cramps Would Roll on the Floor in Agony. Mr. Wm. 1{ranth, contractor and builder, Owen Sound, Ont., writes:— 'Having read Como of the testimonials of cures effected by Dr. Fowler's Extract of Wild Strawberry, Y thought it advis- able to say a word of praise for its merits. Some years ago I was much troubled with stomach trouble and cramps. I used to roll on the floor in agony, end on one occasion 1 went into a faint after suffering intensely for four hours. A short time after this, in driving to town, I was attacked again and had to lie down in my rig, seeking relief. "When 1 reached the drug stere I asked the druggist for a quick temedy and laid behind the counter until relief carne. The remedy I received `flout the druggist was Dr. Fowler's Extract of Wild Stra*berry. Whenever, after that time, I felt Cramps .earning on, 1 found speedy relief fn the above mentioned remedy, and I am now cured of this dreadful maladyThe bottle isall, but its contents effeet a marvelous cure. 1 +can recommend it highly for the Cure of traanpsl" 1)r, 1! owler's 'extract of Wild Straw- berry has been on the mastket for 64 years. It is not a new and untried rennedy. Ask for it and insist on getting what you ask for. Refuse substitute . They're dangetsaus, Price 36 cents, Manufactured only by the T. Alban* Co,, Limited, Toronto, Oat, 1 cal Kidne s Troop's, i+'dneva, surely point to work l:i.lney, 2 orr+s, fide Kidneys, 1ilte the Wart, and the Stet aeh, find their weakness, not in the orgart it , if but in the nerve. that c•ontwl and guide awl strengthen them, Dr. t i.oep s R ,rtti w m, Moine spot•If]ealt y prepared to reach rh qtr cilia, nerves. To doetrm the Kidney.; el ,nn, is futile. It is a waste of tune, and oa money al roue back aches or weal; if the urine ey.hli. or is dark and stror,«.ifynuhave of i'rightc or other lists s.i,,g or (1.,1:g0/7)1/.; 'ia11 to orI try d-sac see whataiti n nd n l eio for you. Druggist recommend and sell WALLEY'S, DRUG STORE. light, We could make out the arch of the room, its shelves and hollows and niches. Lying on them we could dis- cern the seals, hundreds and hundreds of them, all staring at us, all barking and bellowing. As we approached they scrambled from their elevations and, diving to the bottom, scurried to the entrance of the cave. We lay on our oars for ten minutes. Then silence fell. There persisted a tiny drip, drip drip, from some point in the darkness. It merely accentuated the hush, Suddenly from far in the Interior of the hill there came a long, hollow boo -o -oral It reverberated, roar- ing. The surge that had Lifted our boat some minutes before thus reached its journey's end. The chamber was very lofty. As we rowed cautiodsly in it lost nothing of I its height, but something in width. It was marvelously colored, like all the volcanic rocks of this island. In addi- tion some chemical drip had thrown across its vividness long gauzy stream- ers of white. We rowed in as far as the faintest daylight lasted us. The occasional reverberating boom of the surges seemed as distant as ever. This was beyond the seal rookery on the beach. Below it we entered an open cleft of some size to another squarer cave. It was now high tide. The water extended a scant ten fath- oms to end on an interior shale beach. The cave was a perfectly straight pas- sage following the line of the cleft. How far in it reached we could not determine, for it, too, was full of seals, and after we had driven them back a hundred feet or so their fiery eyes scared us out. We did not care to put them at bay. The next day I rowed out to the Laughing Lass and got a rifle. I found the captain asleep in his bunk and did not disturb him. Perdosa and I. with infinite pains, tracked and stalked the sheep, of which I killed one. We found the mutton excellent. The hunting was difficult and the quarry as time went on more and more suspicious, but henceforward we did not lack for fresh meat. Further- more, we soon discovered that fine trolling was to be had outside the reef. We rigged a sail for the extra dory and spent much of our time at the sport. I do not know the names of the fish. They were very gamy, indeed, and ran from five to an inde- terminate number of pounds in weight. Above fifty pounds our light tackle parted, so we had no means of know- ing how large they may have been. Thus we spent very pleasantly the greater part of two weeks. At the end of that time I made up my mind that it would be just as welt to get back to business, Accordingly I called Per- dosa and directed him to sort and clear of rust the salvaged chain cable. Ile refused flatly. I took a step toward him, He drew his knife and backed away. "Perdosa," said I firmly, "put up that knife." "No," said he. I pulled the saw barreled. Colt's 45 and raised it slowly to a level with his breast. "Perdosa," I repeated, "drop that knife." The crisis had come, bat my resolu- tion was fully prepared for it. I should not have eared greatly if I had had to shoot the man, as I certainly should have done had he disobeyed. There would then have been one less to deal with in the final accounting, which strangely enough I now for a moment never doubted would come. I had not before aimed at a man's life, so you can see to what tensity the baffling mystery had strung me. Perdosa hesitated a fraction of an instant. I really think he might have chanced it, but Bandy Solomon, who had been watching me closely, growl- ed at him. "Drop it, you fool!" he. said. Perdosa let fall the knife, "Now, get at that cable," I command ed, still at white (teat. 1 stood oval him uutil he was well at work. thet turned back to set tasks for the other men. Ilandy Solomon met me half way. "Begging your psrdnn, Mr. Engen," sold he, "I want a word with you." "1 have nothing. to say to you," 1 snapped, still excited. "It AO reasonable not to hear it man's say," he advised in his mo:,t conciliatory manner. "I'm talking for all of 08." lIe paused a moment, took my si- lence for consent and went ahead. "Begging your. pardon, :tIr. I: tgen;' Said he, "we ain't going to do any marc useless work. There ain't itr, Iteziness about us, but we ain't going • to be busy at nothing. All the cam work atm me nanllrx' auto cut= ane eleanin' and the rest of it we'll do gladly. But we ain't,tgoin' to pound any more cable, and you can kis the bock on that," "You mean to mutiny?" I asked. He made a deprecatory gesture. "Put us aboard ship, sig', and let no hear the old man give his orders, and you'll find no mutiny in us. But here ashore it's different. Did the old man give orders to pound the cable?" "I represent the captain," I stammer- ed. Ire caught tale evasion. "I thought so. Well, If you got any kick on us, please, sir, go get the old man, If he says to our face pound cable, why pound cable it is. Ain't that right, boys?" They murmured something. Perdo- sa deliberately dropped his hammer and joined the group. My hand stray- ed again toward the sawed off Colt's 45. "I wouldn't do that," said Ilandy Solomon, almost kindly. "You couldn't kill us all. And w'at good would it do? 1 "Perdosa," said /firmly, "put up that knife," I asks you that. I can cut down a Chicken with my knife at twenty feet. You must surely see, sir, that I could have killed you too easy while you were covering Pancho there, This ain't got to be a war, Mr. Eagan, just be- cause we don't want to work without any sense to it." There was more of the same sort. I bad plenty of time to see my dilemma. Either I would have to abandon my attempt to keep the men busy or I would have to invoke the authority of Captain Selover. To do the latter would be to destroy it. The master had become a stuffed figure, a bogy with which to frighten, an empty blad- der that a prick would collapse. With what grace I could muster I had to give in. "You'll have to have it your own way, I suppose," I snapped, Thrackles grinned, and Pulz started to say something, but Handy Solomon, with a peremptory gesture and a black scowl, stopped him short. "Now, that's what I calls right prop- er and handsome!" he cried admiring- ly. "We reely had no right to expect that, boys, as seamen from our first of&certou Y can Kiss the book on it that very few crews have such kind masters. Mr. Engen has the right, and we signed to it all straight to work us as he pleases, and w'at does he do? Why, he up and gives us a week shore leave, and then he gives us light watches, and ail the time our pay goes on just the same. Now, that's w'at I calls right proper and handsome con- duct, or the devil's a preacher, and I ventures with all respect to propose three cheers for Mr. Engen." They gave them, grinning broadly. The villain stood looking at me, a sar- donic gleam in the back of his eye. Then he gave a little hitch to his red head covering and sauntered away humming between his teeth. I stood watching him, choked with rage and indecision. The humming broke into words: "'Oh, quarter; oh, quarter!' the jolly pirates cried. ,Blow high, blow Iow, what care wet But the quarter that we gave them was to sink them in the sea, Down on the coast of the high Bar - bare -e -e." "Here, you swab," he cried to Thrackles, "and you, rancho, get some wood, lively! And, Pulz, bring us a pail of water. Doctor, let's have duff to celebrate on." The men fell to work with alacrity. D CHAPTER XVIII. t'IAT evening I smoked in a splendid isolation while the men whispered apart. I had nothing to do but smoke and to chew my cud, which was bitter. There could be no doubt, however I may have saved my face, that command had been taken from mo by that rascal, Ilandy Solomon. F was in two mind& as to whether or not I should attempt to warn barrow or the doctor. Yet what could I say and against whom should I warn thein? The men had grumbled, as men always do grumble in idleness, and had perhaps talked a little wildly, but that was nothing. The only indisputable fact I could adduce was that I had allowed my authority to slip through my fingers. And adequately to excuse that I should have to confess that I Was a writer and no handier of men. I abandoned the unpleasant train of thought with a snort of disgust, but It had led axe to another, Iii the joy and nneertaiuty of living I had practically 'lost Sight of the reason far My owning. , With me it bad nlways been mote the ads-entnre then the ators', Ma Wtitiva (TO be Continuzed), 7 uvunmawaumnuu'11i1n1+1+"+'1nounlxui an13,111,d1o, ..AVege table Preparationi'orAs- similating theFocd andRegula- tlllg the Stomachs anliBowels of UTZVEIMIEMS Promotes Diges do n,Cfieerful- nessandRest.Contains neither Opluni,Morphine nor Mineral, NOT 'Mein COTIC. ,F'lunpkin Secd- tG.Suna "Wells 474 - smite ,reset s ldyyerramt - Lh Cartariet adore. Fvvm.reed f'odhad .sugar . ain4ryreen Arm: A perfect Remedy for Constipa- tion, Sour Stomdch,Diarrhoea, Worms Convutsions,Feverisit- uess and Loss CIF SLEEP. LacSimile Signature of 'NEW YORLC, : y t� a{pTiyy��7 C 1 ^. EXACT COPY CIF WRAPPER, 7NC C�NTAu11 COM1,11 a1 V. NCM, V011K V-IT11. STORM For Infants and Children. The ind You Have Always Bought Bears the Signature of In Use For Over Thirty Years WARM WEATHER CREED. Don't keep remarking tnoessantly what a hot day it is, The obvious is a scoping. Don't get yourself overheated by en ereetiaaIly fanning yourself, Don't stop eating all solid foods and make your diet consist exclusively of ice oream and ioed tea. Don't fume and declare that you are not able to work in such weather; keep at your job and forget the heat. Drees as simply as possible; dispense with some of the trifles of dress, which are merely ornamental, and add so run. tarially to weight and heat. Seif•oontrol and self poise aid greatly is keeping cool; practice them both, Seep your house shut by day and open ty night. Never forget the screens, for the annoyance of flies is maddening. Remember that there are people crowd- ed in a room in a tenement section or the city, and be grateful that you are not one of them. A cold douche, when one is overheated is as unhealthy and non cooling as any- thing possible, The decided shook to the system is very weakening, and IS tepid bath is far more cooling and less severe. Doan's Kidney Pills act on the kid- neys, bladder and urinary organs only: They onre backaches, weak back, rheum- atism, diabetes, congestion, infir matfoo, gravel, Bright's disease and all other diseases arising from wrong action of the Mdneys and bladder a .A- i6i'z" C3 R. X .A_ . Bears the The Kind You Rave Always B Signature of GRAND TRUNK RAILWAY SYSTEM I.O.O. F. UGURSION ON Saturday, Aug. 14 Minerva Encampment, No. 47, I. O. O. P., Wingham, have completed arrangements with the Grand Trunk Railway System to run a big Excursion to analefolateteiznbillinb*tat ouob4atlethr tinaMilahl/kbab******thvu aklbsnrdeWatetk141'reag- SARNIA ,chipp m Vwwwwavmui Numwmpug,,comQ"• mmiNt-'`!i'4e weck'R'om0.tmgvumte Via HYDE PARK From the following places, on Saturday', August Kith, 1000, returning Monday, Aug. 10, at the following low fares : Kincardine 5.40 :tan. $2,30 Ripley... .... 5.55 2.2(1 Lucknow . 6,10 2.05 Whitechurch .., 6.2:3 2.00 Winghani 6.4(1 1.00 I3elgrave 6.54 min. .i(1.65 Blyth 7.08 1.60 Londesboro 7.18 100 Clinton 7.50 160 Brucefield ., 8.12 l,:i:i Kippeu $.21 1;35 Children over 5 and under 1.2 years - Half Fare. Returning, special train will leave Sarnia Monday, Aug. 16„ at 11) p.m. Arrangements have also been made with the White Star Steamship Line to eoxivey passengers front SARNIA to DETROIT per inagixifieent Steamer "Tashluoo," ssu Saturday, leaving Sarnia at 4.50 p.ux,, at the low return fare of ,,re. Tickets good returning crux WIN White Star Line boat up to And including 2.I3t) ls,tu„ Motatlay, August 16. This will afford an excellent mating and axe ttppot=- Utility for excursionists to spend Sunday in Detroit. Everyone Come and Enjoy a Pleasant Outing I COivl tIT"TER • * w 11. ]3. F.LLIorr, J. W. D(I11).