In Search of an Unknown Race — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

VAN. 17 tonale, of Para, for a thousand dollars, to be keptasa reserve fund for emergencies. The trunk itself con- tained the balance of the money in gold. Relocking the trunk, Captain Peterson turned to re- place it in his berth, when a slight noise at the open skylight overhead attracted the attention of both. Van sprang quickly up the aftercompanionway steps, but nobody was in sight. The schooner not being un- der steerage way, there was no oneatthe wheel, and by the dazzling light of the full-orbed moon he could see the men gathered about the windlass forward. From the long main boom, swayed sluggishly to and fro by the lazy swells, hung one of the ‘‘ stops,” which was dragged backward and forward across the cabin skylight. Satisfied that this was the origin of the sound they had heard Van was about to return to the cabin, when a faint puff of air fanned his cheek. ‘¢Come aft here whoever’s wheel it is,” he called. One of the crew came shuffling along the deck, Van gave him the course, the sails were trimmed, and the Rattler began to move slowly through the smooth ex- panse. Returning to the cabin, Van informed Captain Peterson of the probable cause of the noise at theskylight. Then, it being his watch below, he kicked off his shoes and lay down on the outside of the berth mattress for his ‘¢four hours in,” while Captain Peterson, after another glance at the coast chart, went on deck. Almost before he knew it, Van was sound asleep. A slight noise directly over his head, as of the sud- den shuffling of feet, partly roused him after he had EOmiGcdoo Ss) ((0) im