Ching Ching's Novelettes No. 1: Snapson of the 'Snake' — page 11: what you’re looking at

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

( 11 }) He sprang up livid and trembling and groped his way back to the deck. It was very dark now, so dark that it was difficult to see a third way across the vessel’s deck. The wind rising high carried the “Snake” along as fast as she could be made to go, and the watch—save Dopper, who was at the wheel—were lying forward under the lee of a pile of canvas and ropes at the foot of the fore- mast Grip crept to the wheel, and took Dopper by the arm. “ He's done ut!” These were the words he whispered in his ear, and, owing to his strained eager attention, Dopper heard him. “Stand by, don’t move !” he said, “ and we may see something.” Presently they saw, like some dim shadow ina mist, the form of Job Snap- son rise slowly up to the deck. He had something big and heavy on his back, and they judged, by his slowly moving to and fro, that he was looking around to see if he were observed. Apparently he could not see the two men at the wheel. A few minutes later they saw him creeping with his burden to the vesscl’s side. Grip, after a meaning clasp of his friend’s arm, got near enough to see Snapson heave something big and heavy over the ship’s side into the sea. With a heart that beat like the trot of a horse on a sandy road he stole back to his companion, and by motions indicated what he had seen. A few minutes afterwards Snapson came up to them and asked, in a loud voice, where he could get a dark lantern. ‘‘There’s one in your cabin,” replied Dopper in the same tone. “Go and get it,” roared Snapson. ‘Let Grip take the wheel.” But Dopper held back. Somehow he did not want, after what he had heard, to descend to that cabin, and Snapson yelled out— ‘“Come down and show me where it is, confound you!” Grip took the wheel, and tha other two men went down together. There was a light in the cabin dimly burning, and the whole place was in confusion. Strange to say, one of the first things they saw was the dark lantern required. Snapson had closed the door as soon as they came in, and the men could hear each other plainly and easily. ‘“‘ Dopper,” said Snapson, “ J think something has happened !” “ Do you?” said Dopper, curtly. “Yes! I sent that little devil, Fearon, up to the lower cross-trees just now, and he hasn’t come back.” Did you?” returned Dopper. To train him to his work.” “Wasn't that rather rough on him ?” “Well! perhaps it was. But I did it for the best, I wish you could take this light and see if anything’s happened to him.” ‘What was that for?” LOA@O@ @ COIN S (SO)