The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 103: 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. 487 ‘“What has happened now ?’’ ‘* Don’t you know ?”’ I was not certain whether the fellow’s grin was one of anger or delight. ‘“T know nothing.’’ ‘“’Then, of course, you haven’t heard ?’’ ‘* Heard what? ”’ “That the second mate can’t be found.”’ ‘““Can’t be found ?’’ I echoed. ‘‘Can’t be found anywhere,’’ said the man, with an exasperating smile. ‘He was called to take his watch as usual. The man at the wheel says the second mate walked up and down for about an hour, and then went below. He did not come back, so we can only suppose that he fell overboard or com- mitted suicide. Any way, it’s beastly rough on me, and I only wish the brute had been more considerate.”’ : I turned away with the sickest feeling upon me that I had ever expe- rienced. In this I seemed to see the beginning of the end, and in my impo- tence I did nothing but anathematize the Pulo Way and all her abominable crew. ‘That Hayling had either fallen overboard or committed suicide was a belief I did not-entertain for a moment. I knew it could not be. He was not stupid enough for the one, nor cowardly enough for the other. That he had gone might be true; but if so, some one had given him a helping hand. . The rest of that morning I hung about the decks a prey to some distress- ing emotions. ‘That Hayling had been done away with I did not doubt, and I wondered when my turn would come. Miss Waltham did not appear on deck till well on in the afternoon, and then to my chagrin I found that Macshiel was her attendant cavalier. Several turns they took up and down together, I watching them eagerly ; for I had begun to think some strange things concerning the captain. But as soon as the girl made for the bench aft and seated herself, I went round to them and began to chat away as though oblivious of the fact that Captain Macshiel twisted his scraggy neck whiskers with an exaggerated motion. ‘By the way, captain,’’ said I, ‘‘ this is awful news about the second mate.’’ The old man scowled ; but the girl started forward, an anxious look in her face. ‘*’The second mate—that is Mr. Hayling ?’”’ OV 65a" ‘““ What has become of him?’’ She grew perceptibly whiter as she put the question. ‘“ Have you not heard ?”’ ‘* Nothing.’’ I looked at the captain, and a curious shade played up and down his cadaverous jaws ; but whether it was annoyance at my blundering, or a cer- tain indefinable shamefacedness, I could not say. : ‘‘ Very sad,’’ said he, in his most unctuous manner—‘“‘ very sad, indeed, and singularly unaccountable.”’ Eomichook (S@)