owners more--was unfortunately down in the engine-room. Consequently
he failed to hear the shot, and when he came up on deck the victims of
the affray had been collected and taken thence, a seaman with a mop
had removed the profuse evidence which Mike Murphy's rich red blood
had furnished and Mr. Schultz, the first mate, was on the bridge,
while Mr. Henckel was up on the forecastle head with his gang, waiting
for the order to break out the anchor.

Presently a seaman came up on the bridge and reported that the light
in Mr. Reardon's state-room had been out fifteen minutes. So Mr.
Schultz waited an hour longer to make certain the chief engineer would
be asleep; whereupon commenced a harsh, discordant tune--the music of
the anchor chain paying in through the hawse pipe. When it ceased Mr.
Schultz stepped to the marine telegraph; a bell jingled in the bowels
of the _Narcissus_; an instant later all the lights aboard her went
out as the first assistant engineer threw off the switch, and silently
in the heavy velvet gloom the great vessel slipped out of Pernambuco
harbor and headed south.






CHAPTER VIII