The Argosy — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

P 272 | : THE ARGOSY, It was now my turn to blanch. What if that which I had regarded as an accident had really been premeditated? It was enough to make one Wish one’s self safe at home. I sprang up and foolishly declared that I would go at once to the captain and wring the truth from him, the wizened little wretch ; but level headed ~* Hayling said that I would do nothing of the kind, and he accordingly pushed me back on the settee and handed. me my grog. After all, we were only going on supposition, and the marlinespike might have fallen by accident. ‘’ But he cannot deny that the ship is not pointing towards Manila?” “ You forget that he is captain, and can sail his ship in his own way.”’ ‘Then what do you really think ?”’ “To be candid with you, Ravensford, I have so many thoughts that they bewilder me. But my advice to you is—be careful. Don’t stand too near an open hatch, or wander about the decks at night. I don’t say that you are positively in danger; but you must admit that Captain Macshiel did not want you, and you know from experience that accidents will happen. ’’ This is a pretty business, thought I ; and as an occasional shiver ran down my back, I seemed to realize the awful iniquity of man. Convinced that there was some devil’s project brewing aboard, I questioned Hayling con- cerning the cannon forward and the big coolie. But he knew no more than I. Like me, he had watched the preparations, and, like me, he had mar- veled at the sight ; but he had not been taken into the confidence of either the captain or the mate, and what he imagined concerned only himself, ~ But,’ said I, ‘“‘if you are not one of them, is not your danger as great as mine?’’ ‘“The mate has already sounded me,’’ he admitted ; ‘‘ but as I am not entirely without a certain amount of perception, and may, perhaps, possess a trifle of duplicity, he retired with little to his credit beyond a vague hope. Moreover, they find me useful.’’ Well,” I said, ‘‘I don’t know what’s in the air, but I feel there’s something dashed bad. Whatever happens, we stand together—eh?”’ ‘“ Yes,’’ said he, and stretched out his hand to mine. . Just then the handle of the door was twisted violently, and the door it- _ self shaken till I thought it would come in. ‘This demonstration was imime- diately followed by a fierce rat-tat. Hayling sprang across and unlocked the door, which, upon being opened) disclosed the distorted face of Murrell, the chief mate. With an oath he inquired why the door was locked. and then,’ seeing me, he blurted out : ‘‘ Hullo, what are you doing here ?’’ Not liking his tone, I fired up and asked him what the deuce it had to do with him. ‘“ Only that it’s the second mate’s watch below. You passengers seem to forget the men who keep watch while you are soundly snoring. I’H tell you what it is, Hayling, the old man doesn’t like this sort ef thing.’’ ‘““Well,’’ said Hayling, with a good natured smile, ‘‘ when I am found to be incapable of doing my duty, it will be time for the old man to talk.”’ i ~ comicbooks (E(0) > pee b