Ensign Merrill — page 44: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

e hee’ _ -ARRI VAL on. THE ; MUNITION or WAR, BG ie Serr sa = « a fo cult ak ae mn is.) deafening eclosion rent the: air, a ‘sheat of f flame he. -sho* up from the forward hatch, and, with a cry, Ned _ fell back insensible, his sampan drifting rapidly away with the tide. CHAPTER VIL. ARRIVAL OF THE MUNITION OF WAR. On reaching the cabin after leaving Patrick, the watchman, on the main deck of the Badger, as _ previ- ously mentioned, Mark looked carefully around in search of further evidences of the mysterious stranger’s visit. He hardly knew what to expect, but that no eood was boded to the ship could not be doubted. As far as his being sent by one of the firm, that was simply preposterous, as all arrangements were left in the ensign’s hands. In fact, Mark had engaged the workmen that very morning. Shaking his head dubiously, the youthful Konstan entered stateroom after stateroom, peering under the - berths, closely examining all lockers, and even scruti- nizing the open air-ports, but without success. There was one large room ait, extending clear across the beam of the ship, and about as long, which had been made for the captain’s exclusive use. It was handsomely furnished in hard wood, and thick tapestry - carpets, and. had been early selected by Mark as ‘his — quarters. _ Directing his steps thither, he passed through the partition door, and was just in the act of bending over a table in the center, when the explosion shook the ves- sel from stem to stern, sending him headlong to the floor. The strong steel frame of the Badger quivered as if torn asunder, a mighty wave, set in instant mo- — Ben or ) | comicbooks.com