The Argosy — page 87: what you’re looking at

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

THE VOYAGE OF THE PULO WAY. 279: I had just time to master so much, when the slip was snatched from my fingers. Looking up, I encountered the ugly face of Mr. Gupp. ‘Here, you,’’ he cried sharply, ‘‘ what the blazes do you mean by peep- ing into other people’s property ?”’ “ Why,’ said I, trying to look as though I had not noticed his tone, ‘it’s only a cutting from a newspaper.’’ ‘“What if itis? You saw whose it was, didn’t you ?’’ ‘Oh, go to the devil! I can’t talk to you.’’ ‘But Pil talk to you,’’ he spluttered, ‘‘ and in a way you won’t like.’’ I favored him with a look of some contempt ; but, truth to tell, I had no great liking for liis measure. I hold it imprudent in the extreme for a man wilfully to batter his brains against a wall, even though he may do the wall some little damage. Moreover, my position on board was not so secure that I could afford to give vent to my natural indignation. Hiding my wrath as best I could, I called in discretion, and beat an im- mediate retreat. The fellow went forward, muttering vaguely to himself. The fact is, the reading of that newspaper cutting had caused me intense agitation, and as I walked aft I saw the Pulo Way engaged in one of the most daring adventures of these or of any other times. So daring was it, so almost impossible, and so sure of awful punishment, that I declined to en- tertain the idea; though by an unbroken chain of reasoning and conjecture my inmost sense had made the matter absolutely convincing. I turned in early that night, having vainly sought a word or two with Hayling. I wanted to tell him what I had read, what were my suspicions, and hear him deliver judgment in his cool, clear way. But it seemed as though a guard had been set about his cabin, for whenever I approached it I was sure to encounter the very man I did not wish to meet. So feeling anything but secure about the deck after nightfall, I went below and turned in. 7 An hour or so after the captain and his officers congregated in the saloon, and what with laughing, singing, and joking they made a pretty hubbub. Whisky and cards I knew were going, and by the smell of things tobacco was likewise in evidence. I was just flattering myself that the rascals had forgotten all about me, when some one gave the handle of my door a.sudden twist. But after my first serious talk with Hayling I had taken the precaution of turning the lock. An oath proclaimed the disappointment of the would be intruder. I felt under the pillow for my revolver and lay still. The twisting was fol- lowed by a loud rat tat, then another oath, and then a savage kick which nearly broke in the panels. Still I thought it better not to answer, which so enraged the besieger that three or four kicks came in quick succession, and the mate’s voice was heard crying: “Hullo! you in there?”? “Hullo !’’ said I. ‘“ Are you asleep or dead ?’”’ ‘“ Neither.’”’ “Then why the deuce don’t you speak when you’re spoken to?”? CoOpmclaool< (S@)