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About Lincoln County leader. (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 30, 1906)
The Trail of the Dead: ffi., THE STRANGE EXPERIENCE OF DR. ROBERT HARLAND By B. FLETCHER ROBINSON and J. MALCOLM FRASER (Cepyrlght. I90S. by Joseph B. Bowles) CHAPTER XVIII. (Continued.) I do not know how we lived through that first furious hour. Isaac Treherne made no second mistake, but crouched t the tiller, tricking the succession of great seas that swung upon us out of the throbbing blackness. Stung by passing hailstorms, drenched to the skin, and ach ing with cold, 1 toiled with a tin panni kin, baling, baling until my back creaked with stiffness and my hands could scarce ly feel the handle. Graden and the sail or worked beside me, so that we man aged to keep the water under. Now and again a slit in the rushing dark above us howed me Marnac lying by the steers man's side. Was he alive or dead? I did not know, nor did I stay my labor to make inquiry. The daylight came at last, the God given light for which all poor mariners must pray in their hours of danger. With it came a lessening of the wind and a falling sea. Yet there had been an anry menace in the brilliant colors that lit the eastern sky, and I stared eagerly over the muddy green of the hur rying surges. Indeed, I was the first to see a steamer's smudge of smoke on tud Wcbielll bkjliue. "Her be making for we, gentlemen," remarked our steersman, after a long atare at the distant vessel. "Happen her would take 'e aboard, if you be so minded. The weather be blowing up again, and it's a long reach back to Polleven." "I don't like deserting the shin, Isaac," aid Graden; "though, to tell the truth, I don't relish another day in the chops of the Channel." "Bain't no desartion, sir. Me and Jake can take her whoam; and, to tell e the truth, her'll ride the lighter for the want of him!" He pointed to where Marnac sat crouching under an oilskin coat. Save for occasional shivers, the old man seemed to be no worse for his handshake with Death. He received the sailor's remark with a benevolent smile. "Doan't 'e go grinning at me, you wicked-minded old toad!" cried Isaac. "Twas only through special mercies that Providence forgot jou was on board. We'd ha' been sunk for zarten, else." Within half an hour we could see the steamer clearly, an ancient tramp of the seas, bluff in the bows, square in the flank, with a coloring of soot and rusty iron. She answered our signals with a melancholy toot and stood towards us. Graden, who had been watching her ap proach at my side, turned and walked aft. "I have already dropped your revolver overboard, Professor Marnac," he said, "but I must trouble you to hand me youi pocket-book. Money, you kuow, is ofteu the most valuable of weapons." The professor obeyed with a gentle cluck of amusement. "I trust. Sir Henry, that the notes are not damaged," be said in the low. musical tones with which I was so fa miliar. "Indeed, I was assured that the case was waterproof." "Now, your loose gold, if you please." "Here it is, Sir Henry, with my watch and chain. Observe that my pockets are now completely empty. Ah, Mr. Har land, forgive me if I did not notice you before. I fear that these nautical adven tures will Interrupt your course of studies. Did you hear whom the uni Tersity have appointed In my stead? I should be sorry if my students, amongst whom I always held you to be the most tudious, if not the most able, should be long without a lecturer like sheep that lave lost their shepherd, Mr. Harland." I turned from him with a feeling of nausea. Mad or sane, he had done such deeds as placed him beyond the Inter course of humanity. The steamer was close upon ns now, and as she came rolling down the heave of the swell we were hailed from the bridge In a tongue that was strange to me. Before we could reply, a seaman bad sprung to the bulwarks and sent the colls of a line spinning over us. This Isaac made fast, allowing a fair space to Intervene between his little craft and the rusty metal fabric that towered above us. ' "Good-bye, Isaac," said Graden, shak ing the little Cornishman warmly by the hand. "I will see to your check the moment I get to London." "Doan't 'e mention it, sur. I was right proud to take 'e. Nor do 'e trouble about we uns. Jake and I will be mak ing Polleven by midnight at latest please be." CHAPTER XIX. It was an anxious scramble they had to swing out a chair for Marnac but the trawler was as handy as a row-boat, and at last the three of us stood on the deck of the stranger. A mora ill-assorted trio of bedraggled voyagers never ranged in line. But If we were strange to look npon, ao were the group of men who confronted fls. They were of the degenerate Latin ' breed, dark, small, uncertain in temper, and dirty by nature and training. Their eafaring dress seemed as 111-sulted to them as a sash and a colored cloak would be to a British shellback. "EenglesheJ" asked one whom I took to be the mate. "Eengleshel What ay?" "We are Englishmen who war driven at to aea by last night's storm. If I aney aea the captain, I will explain," aid my coos la. The man grinned his lack of eomnrs- hension. Plainly his vocabulary vai of the smallest "These men are Portugese, Sir Hen ry, said Marnac, stepping quickly for ward. "I know their tongue. Allow me to explain the situation." But he got no further. My cousin's long arm shot out, gripping his collar firmly from behind. With a gentle heave, he swung the professor from his feet and dropped him behind us. Please to keep silence, Professor Marnac. Your explanations might be somewhat biased.V said he, with a grim smile. And then Vuruing to the sailors, who had been watching the little seen with evident surprise "Do none of you speak English?" he asked. They seemed to understand the ques tion, for some talk, eked out by much gesticulation, ended in one of their num ber trotting up the ladder to the bridge, where be disappeared into the wheel house. An instant later a long, red-headed man emerged and came running to wards us. "And shure wud 01 not have greeted yer honors before now," lie exclaimed in the most strenuous of brogues: "but 'twas me trick at the wheel, and niver a wan of these spalpeens wud relieve me. An' what can Oi do fer ye now at all?" "What boat Is this?" "The Portugaise ship, San Joseph, fr'm, Buenos Ayres to Hamburg, wid a mixed cargo, and a very mixed crew, sorr. If it hadn't been fer a back an swer whin the wine was in me, faith! it's not in this greasy flat-ir-ron that Tim Blake wud be after serving." "Do you speak the language, my man?" "Indade an' 01 do, soor; an' good ral son, seeing that 'tis fower years come Christmas that Oi've been steward on th' yacht iv wan iv tha' Portugaise no bility." "That's good news. And now where is the captain?" "Faith! bnt 'twas a Jool iv a time we were after havln' in the Bay last night, sorr, an' the old man's turned in. The second mate has gone aft, gatherin' his courage in both hands fer to wake him. Indade, sorr, 'tis a r-resolution that wud nut the fear iv the Lord into a better man than hi in." "Rather a Tartar, eh?" "A strong man, sorr, an' a good sea man fer a greaser, though his temper is nost pro-digious. But see, here he comes, ike a dook out iv a theater." He was indeed a fine figure of a man, fully six feet in height and proportion itely broad. His skin was very dark, nd his eyes of the deep blackness that I have since observed in Indian races, but very soft and glowing. His hair, which lie wore at a greater length than is cus tomary amongst sailors, showed under his cap in glossy curls; and his mus tache was twisted back almost to his ears. He bowed to us with a deliberate cour tesy, muttering a greeting in his own tongue. He spoke no English, and it was through the medium of Tim Blake that he offered us hospitality. It was no time for explanations, so, guarding Mar nac between us, we hurried down to a large cabin where warm garments and steaming cups of hot coffee and sugar were brought by the worthy Irish- water were brought by the worthy lntn man, to whose care we bad been as signed. As far as could be judged, I had not contracted so much as a cold in the head, despite my long exposure. When we had completed our change of clothes, my cousin beckoned me outside the cabin, closing the door on our pris oner. "I have asked Blake to take me to the captain, for it Is right that he should know the true position of affairs," he whispered. "While I am gone, you must sit with Marnac. Remember, do not let him out of your sight for a moment." "Very well," I said, and he strode off down the dark alley of the passageway. When I re-entered the cabin I found Marnac muffled to the chin, under the blankets of a bunk. He gave me one of his quick, evil glances, that was un pleasantly reminiscent of an aged rat surprised in an iron gin. I had so great a horror and detestation of the man that bis mere presence was a source of phys ical discomfort to me; and when, sitting up amongst his wraps, he commenced to pester me with questions. I could endure it no longer. I retired outside the cabin, seating myself with my back to the door. I was as well there, I argued, as In the interior, and In a position infinitely more satisfactory to myself. The garments they had lent me were thick and warm; the dose of brandy had been considerable. I was weary from the toil of a sleepless night Those are my excuses for the fact that in the course of the next five minutes I fell soundly asleep. It was Graden who woke me, a very angry and exasperated Graden who shook my senses Into with with unnec essary violence. I started up, protest ing against his treatment "I thought better of you than this," be said,' with his hand, still fixed In my collar. "My back was against tha door. He could not pass without waking ma. What does it matter?" I grumbled, with every sign of irritation. "I told you to watch him, to stay In side the cabin, and I find yon snoring here. No more excuses, please. You know the ability of the man. Let us hope he has not taken advantage of any chances you gave him." He opened the door cautiously, peeped In, and then flung it wide with a great oath. The cabin was empty! Yet there was no doubt as to his man ner of escape.. In. the middle of the flooring there gaped a little hole, with a heavy square of wood lying beside it On examination we found that this en trance had also been barred by a grat ing, which now swung downwards on its hinges, disclosing a wooden ladder, the foot of which was indistinguishable in the gloom below. "He is in the hold!" I cried, "ne is hiding somewhere amongst the cargo! We shall never find him without the help of the crew." Amongst the excellent points In my cousin's character was that of perfect self-control. There was no anger in his voice to remind me of my blunder when he spoke again. "It's not the hold, Cousin Robert," he said. "This is the ship's lazarette, where the food is stored. There are usu ally two entrances, each similar to this. If he has escaped by the second, It's a bad business. It will mean he has found a friend, for these gratings should be secured. But it may be that he is lurk ing amongst the pork and biscuits. If so, we ought to find him easily enough. I don't want to bring the crew into this affair If I can help it It will be enough if the captain knows." "That's the blackest part of the luck. The ship caught it pretty badly last night; they were right in the thick of it I found the captain on uecic super intending three or four sailors who were clearing away the wreckage of one of the boats. He was In an amnrlng temppr, I nn1 Rlaba aAvaai ma thnt if T hnH A favor to ask him, I had best let him cool off a bit. So I dismissed the Irishman and climbed up to the bridge. I should think I'd been there about twenty miw utes watching the work, when I saw a sharp-looking lad pop out from the com panion and go over to where the captain was standing. They had a fine pow-wow together, looking up at me from time to time. It rather puzzled me, and pre. ently I dropped down the stairs and walked over to where they were. The captain seemed decidedly chilly, and I soon saw by his manner that he was not wanting a talk Just then. Whereupon I came below. So kindly light the lamp I see in the bracket yonder, Cousin Rob ert and we'll go hunting again." CHAPTER XX. We descended die ladder, Graden go ing first, and I following with the lamp, the light of which I endeavored to throw over his shoulder. It seems a cowardly thing to confess, writing as I am in the broad daylight, with the bees amongst the flower-beds singing their song through the open win dow, but though we were two to one, and our quarry an old man, my cousin had twice to rate me for the deliberation of my movements. We peered about amongst the lurking shadows, with the thunder of the seas hammering on the iron sides without Now and again heave of the ship would send us stag' gering opart, to bring up amongst un- expected barrels. Perhaps it was the want of sleep that had jangled my nerves, but I knew in my heart that if I were suddenly to catch a sight of those wicked eyes staring out from the gloom before us, I should shriek and run like a hysterical schoolgirl. But Marnac was not there. The grate of the second stairway was closed and locked, and yet he had disappeared, Someone had helped him that was plain enough. We stood disconsolate amongst the details of the ship's larder. "Well, he's gone right enough," said my cousin. "Hallo! what the deuce is this?" He took the light from my hand and stooped to examine something at his feet. It was a steel cylinder, about eight feet In length; a second lay beside it "Ammonia! So they run a cold stor age on board. "How do you know that?" I asked "My dear cousin, if you can't remera ber the part that ammonia plays in the manufacture of ice, I shall not attempt to hallo! stop that stop that, say!" He sprang forward, caught his foot in an empty sack, and fell heavily, ex tinguiBhing the lamp. As he did so, saw an arm reach down and draw up the grating through which we had descended A key clicked in the padlock. Graden was on his feet in an instant, and to gether we rushed to the foot of the lad der. In the patch of grey daylight above us we could see the face of the captain looking through the bars, and peeping down beside him, with the sweetest dim pie of an old man's smile upon his lips, was Professor Marnac! There was a pause, filled with much whispered talk from above. Then the red head of our friend Tim Blake came thrusting into the picture. He seemed much distressed at the situation. "Faith; but 'tis not Oi that knows fwhat to belaive," said he; "but the skep per here will have it that yer're a pair iv desprite and revolting characters. Oi am also to tell ye, gintlemen, that ye've the very mischief's own choice of ut. Eyther ye will let me r-run through yere pock uts wid me practiced hand, upon which ye may come up an' make us acquainted wid yere gineal defence, or, if ye re fuse, be jabbers! but they'll clap on the hatches an lave ye In the dark." "Tell the skipper, make, said my cousin, "that he has been grossly de ceived, for we are law-abiding English gentlemen. Nevertheless, if he will keep to his term am- hear our case out, we consent to being searched." (To be continued.) AH good thought and good action dalm a natural alliance with good cteen WELL. HERE IS "Five hundred English, school teachers will come to America to In spect the higher branches of Yankee schools." News Item. MW:f:tKtt(l!)1i))1))Mt m Marvelous, jk ji Quaint and Curious. Martin Luther's Tankard. This Interesting relic of tbe great Re former Is of ivory, very richly carved, and mounted In silver gilt There are six medallions nn its surface, which consist, however, of a renetltlon of two 8m subjeeta. The upper one represents tne agony in the garden, and the Savior pray ing that tbe cup might pass from Him ; the base repre s e n t s the Lord's Supper, the center dish being the Incar nation of the bread. On the lid, In old characters, Is the following Inscription : "C. M. L., MDXXIIII." This drinking vesfsel, which, Independent of Its ar tistic merit, -was no doubt highly valued as a mere household possession, brings to mind many recollections of the life of him who raised himself from a very lowly position to one of great power and usefulness. Martin Luther, who was the son of John Lotter or Lnutlier (which nnme our Reformer afterwards changed to Luther) and Mnrgnret Llndenen, wns born In the little town of Islebern, In Saxony, on November 10th, 1483. Ills father was a miner. Luther died In 1540, and princes, earls, nobles, and students without number, attended the funeral of the miner's son In the church of Islebern. On this occasion, Mnlanc thon delivered the funeral oration. Tomb of Caecllla Metella. Of the tombs of Consular Rome noth ing remains except perhaps the sarco phagus of Sclplo; and It Is only on tbe eve of the Empire that 'we meet with the well-known one of Csecllla Metella, the wife of Crnssus, which Is not only the best specimen of a Roman tomb now remaining to us, but the oldest building of the Imperial cty of which we have an nutheutlc date. It con sists of a bold square basement about TOMB OF CAECILIA METELLA. 100 feet square, which was originally ornamented in some manner not now Intelligible. From this rose a circular tower about 94 feet In diameter, of very bold masonry, surmounted by a brace of ox-skulls with wreaths Joining them, and a well-proflled cornice; two or three courses of masonry above this seem to have belonged to the original work; and above this, almost certain ly, In the original design rose a conical roof, which has perished. , The tower having been used as a fortress In tbe middle ages, battlements bare been m rivf55'6 inwmt mm "EXHIBIT A." added to supply the place of the roof, and It has been otherwise disfigured, so as to detract much from Its beauty as now seen. Still we have no tomb of the snme Importance bo perfect, nor one which enables us to connect the Roman tombs so nearly with the Etrus can. The only addition In this Instance Is that of tbe square basement or podium, though even this was not un known at a much earlier period, as for Instance In the tomb of Aruns. The exaggerated height of tbe circular base U also remarkable. Here It rises to be a tower Instead of a mere circular base of stones for the earthen cone of the original sepulchre. The stone roof which probably surmounted tbe tower was a mere reproduction of the orig inal earthen cone. A P0CAH0NTA8 MEMORIAL. Monument to Bo Erected Boon to Flrat Great American Woman. The first great American woman is soon to have a bandsome monument erected, in ber honor. Pocahontas, daughter of the mighty Indian chlef- POCAHONTAS. tain, Powhnttan, she who saved the life of John Smith, surely deserves the title of first of the ne world's women to achieve for the good of humnnlty and to take a place in history as tbe earliest example of the aborigine who mastered the ways ot civilization. The story of early Virgln.a Is one of the world's classics. Artists have pictured that dramatic scene when the 12-year-old daughter of Powbattun placed her own body between that of Smith and the war club that hung over him ready to deal the death blow. That was only a little short of 300 years ago, and Po cahontas, who did much for the set tlers of the new world, has waited long for her memorial of stone, but justice will finally be done her In a superb art work. The Pocahontas Memorial Associa tion, of Washington, has the movement In charge, and the distinguished Amer ican sculptor, William Ordway Part ridge who has to his credit a number of superb pieces, hag been selected to make the monument Most of the women who are promi nent In the movement are descendants of Pocahontas, for tbe Indian princess became the ancestor of some of the best families In the South. But Poca hontas' descendants are not confined to Virginia. Pennsylvania has one la the person of Miss Harrlette de Bonne ville Kelm, of Reading. She Is on of the, vice presidents for the Pennsylva nia division of the Pocahontas Society, and is lending effective aid toward the memorial. If you can't have your way, be sat isfied with the next best thins.