Argosy All-Story Weekly — page 34: what you’re looking at

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824 the cabin again about the time he had finished, and remarked, “‘ You have a good appetite, I see. Good—good! You are all right, sir!”? And going to the locker, the Portuguese brought out a bottle of port wine. Filling a large glass in which he put a white powder, he said: ‘ Take this and get back to your berth. Go to sleep. You will feel better in the morning.” The next morning when Hunt awoke he felt ravenous. He crawled out of his berth only to find himself lying flat on the deck, and with scarcely strength enough to pick himself up again. He staggered to a seat in the cabin. Captain Reed came out of his room just then and exclaimed: “‘ Damn it, Hunt—I was never so glad in my life as when De Castro told me you were all right!” “ But what is the matter with you, sir?” asked Hunt, noticing that the captain looked feeble, hollow-eyed and emaciated. “You have changed some, it appears to me, since I saw you last.” “Ves: I’ve been pretty sick, but I have managed to keep about. I am an old hand at this, you know. You must eat some- thing now,” and the captain rang the bell. ‘“ Pedro,” fe said to the same man Hunt had noticed before, “‘ Mr. Hunt must have something solid to stay on his stomach. Broil a of those chickens for him right away.’ While waiting for the chicken, Captain Reed got some crackers and some port wine, which Hunt took and felt much bet- ter. “Ves,” went on the captain, “ we have had a pretty tough time so far, but Pll not spoil your appetite with the story.’ “ No fear of that,” said Hunt. “I can eat the chicken and the cook, too. I'll take another glass of the wine. There seems to be life in that stuff.” “Tt is De Castro’s liquor, and is first class. I wish he was as good,” said the captain. Hunt ate the chicken, drank some more wine, smoothed his bedclothes, and crawled back into his berth, and soon fell asleep again. He awoke about five o’clock in the afternoon, feeling much better; and then he began to recall things. ARGOSY-ALLSTORY WEEKLY. He could recollect coming down the river, but from that time on all was a blank to him. The captain and Sherman had told him what a hard time they had, and he wondered what it was all about. He had noticed two strangers—the cook and a man lying in one of the cabin berths, who seemed to be sick—and, looking out of his windows, he could see four men more who were strangers to him, and a big negro talking to De Castro. A nice breeze was blowing abeam, and the schooner was bowling off eight knots and going as easy as a rocking chair. With his returning strength came an insatiable curiosity. ““T must learn all about this,” he told himself, and got out of his berth. He was pleased to find that he. had gained strength enough to stand alone, and he made his way out of the cabin and on deck. The captain met him at the cabin door, held out his hand to assist him, and said that he was glad to see him once more on deck; that he needed him very much. De Castro came up with a smile and the re- mark: “ Mr. Hunt, glad te see you about again. You have a good constitution, or you would never have been on deck again.”’ Thanking them, Hunt began to look around the vessel and, with an inquiring glance at the captain, said: ‘“‘I see none of our old crew. How is this?” “No,” replied Captain Reed—“ three of them are gone, poor fellows, and the cook will die to-night; and I fear that Mr. Sherman won’t last much loriger. The boys had a relapse as soon as we got out of the river, and those alive are very low now; but I hope that Frank and Joe may pull through.” The situation so suddenly imparted flashed upon Hunt like a stroke of light- ning, and, sick at heart and weak in body, he staggered back into the cabin to lie down, meditate, and recover himself. He was dejected and gloomy indeed when soon afterward Captain Reed came to him. “Tell me more about this business,” Hunt requested. ‘‘ Who are these strange men and negroes that I see about deck?” oO COMICOOOKS.CO