The Devil's Admiral

ray which swept the head of the vessel every time she lurched forward into the seas. Above me I could make out the dim shape of the bridge and superstructure, and I could hear the

ich took shape only when they were within reach. The green starboard-light threw a sickly glare over the surges wh

othing seemed stable-there were times when I mistook the bulkhead for t

ress. Everything seemed to be making as much of a clatter as possible between decks, and I seemed to be directly over the engines. Fire-doors were clanging close at hand, and the Chinese fire

should be caught stalking Captain Riggs on his mysterious expedition to the storeroom. My silk pajamas, now thoroughly wet, clung to me, and the salt water began

t for the bulkhead of the forward part of the superstructure. As I was in some

door, but it was fast. Just as I was about to turn away I detected the sound of voices behind it, and kn

ey protruding beneath the knob, and drew it out so I could hear better and even get a glimpse of the interior. All was dark inside,

ut hooked inside, so I took the key out again and put it down on the deck, and took another survey of the limited portion of the room visible to me. I could hear Harris talking in a low tone,

said Harris,

Harris, and let me have a good, square look at it. I don't believe ther

r's two chists here, to tell the truth about it. One is heavier than t'other and bound with iron strip

! Just enough so I can see and have no d

r as this, blow me if I did! But when I started this side so's I could get my thumb in, I was Jer

I can get a look at it-no, let him keep it, Mr. Harris-you hold the

was Captain Riggs as he bent low between me and the object o

Riggs exclaim, and then he whistled. "

e game to a T. I thought he was a mighty shady customer from the first look I got at him, when he come alongside and bossed things

going to do with it? We ca

at's what. Maybe the parson; maybe that Mr. Trenhum; maybe Petrak knowed about it; maybe Buckrow and Long Jim kn

an keep the door locked, and bury this under a mess o

if ye do, I don't! Broach cargo! Think a man that would kill Trego, or

aid Riggs. "It's bad bu

y in the ship knows abou

d I'm too old to have t

e enough this n

can't avoid it. We got some pretty fancy passengers aboard, and I'll bet my shirt the parson and Mr. Trenhum knows; and what's more, that parson ain't no m

k queer," ad

the both of 'em. When ye come to look this thing over in yer mind, a little at a time, it gits plain to me. Ye see, the

n turnin' that over in my mind, too. Somebody cut the boatswain, didn't they? The police got

d the lampman, who they took for the murder, blamed it on a little red-headed sailor. I just told 'em I guessed the lampman was their man, and they sa

idn't want to be monkeyin' around with no courts nor judges, and I let the police have their own say, and agreed with 'em w

all that has got to do

gg

arson tells the police our lampman done it, and thar goes another of our hands. Who do we git in their place

t I need is a mate, not a detective. But go on, Mr. H

e to think it over, the lampman didn't leave the ship's side until after the G

Mr. Harris? Ye ain'

ed sailor that's too handy by far with a knife? Ain't I got brains in my head? He had to

l mean? You suppose th

dship sake, do ye? If ye want to know what my personal, private fee

e sea-lawyer full of gin, and the newspapers took it up for fun. Th

e can't tell me thar ain't no Flying Dutchman, and ye can't make me believe thar ain't no Devil's Admiral-I've

il's Admiral abo

par

! You been bothered lat

rr

ter, and the log says ten knots and a shade, he ain't no landsman. He spits to

een readin' too many

r was all pretty thick when no one was lookin' at 'em. And they don't let on to know each other, neither. Askin' one another thei

ks Long Jim from Buckrow,

r,' says Buckrow, speakin'

d of drinks in the Flagship Bar before the cuttin'. Don't that sound funny? Then when Petrak takes the

two and two together, and I'm here, Ezra Harris, your mate, to tell ye that they make four, and ye can't git away from it-

nd the other two know a

know, and that Trego might tell ye; so they ups and lets a knife into him before he can tell, and then we're up in the a

ncil. This Trenjum and the parson is in together for all of their lettin' on they don't like one another. What business has a writin' chap with his breeches

I'm hanged if I know what it's all going to come to! I've half a mi

suspect nothin'. If ye go after the whole gang at once I'll bet ye have a fight on yer hands. Grab one and then the other s

in irons, Mr. Harris. They would make

do it, and Trenjum told ye Meeker had a hand in it. Just say one accused the other, and when ye come to find this aboard ye had to put 'em in irons 'caus

d make him fast below when we have the others, and see what sort of a talk he puts up. If we git 'em to tellin' on one anothe

way out of it," said Ri

and take the parson. H

em will know what's goin

ake Buckrow

e watches and take the wheel myself, and, with the Dutchman doin'

Captain Riggs, and I heard

stinking lanter

conviction that I was in league with Meeker, and offering my services in capturing the others. But I knew Harris could not be convinced tha

course would be for me to get back to my stateroom and let them find me there. Then I might

ly stepped on me as he stumbled into the dark passage. I crawled out of his path so that w

whispered Harris. "I thoug

to move his feet along the deck. "Sure you

ad. I was about to surrender myself and explain my presence below when I heard the patter of fe

bet my hat!" said Harris. "I'v

gs telling Rajah to "go get him," and then I heard them r

tepped upon something which slipped from under me, and I went down sprawling, sure that I had gashed my foot, for I had felt a sharp edge as I

upon a large s