The Wreck of the South Pole and Other Strange Tales — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

The Beacon Ship of Half Moon Bay. 221 ing story was told by the man in prison in that strange ship. “Ten years ago I came to this vessel, the Beacon Light of Half Moon Bay, as its captain. I brought with me my wife and my best friend. A year passed happily, and then I overheard a conversation between my wife and my friend. J heard that my wife loved him. Aye, worse, that he was her first lover, and that I had been duped into hiring him as my assistant. “The next day I met the guilty pair and charged them with their sin. They said not a word, but that night I was drugged and caged. “For a year I have been in this cage and they live as man and wife. Every six months the United States in- spector comes to visit the ship and bring provisions, but by some means they have always been able to hide me from him. “Go back to your berth, lock the door and appear ig- norant of everything. But escape when you can and bring me help.” Such was the substance of the story told my friend. He crept back and managed to leave his door as he found it. The next night he left his berth again, secured a small boat and left for the shore. With what success, you know. We stayed in Spanishtown the next day, and there was a terrible storm. An old greaser said it was the worst he had ever seen. The waves beat high and the wind (©) CORNICE OOOKS