THE MYSTERIOUS BOX.

Auckland Star, Volume XXI, Issue 4193, 24 November 1883, Page 11 (Supplement)

THE MYSTERIOUS BOX.

A Story of tho Atlantic.

W>: noticed him, I remember, from the very first; and we had three good reasons for doing so. In tho first place, ho was the very last passenger on board, arriving indeed just when the bell was ringing as a signal to clear the ship. In the second place, he was rather a re-markable-looking fellow altogether — tall, gaunt, sallow, and stern, with a long, lean face, and a cold, grey eye, and, as we all declared, a manifest air of mystery about him, even from the beginning. Last, but by no means least, of our grounds of suspicion was the fact that our mysterious fellow - passenger brought on board with him an oblong wooden box, very much like an overgrown pistol-case, of which he seemed far more careful than of the well-worn leather portmanteau which was the only other article of baggage that he seemed to possess.

It was evidently not very heavy, for one sailor shouldered it with ease. It could not be called inconvenientlylargo, for when its master begged to be allowed to keep it in his state-room instead of stowing it in the hold, neither captain or purser made tho slightest objection.

It was not labelled " Glass with Care,' or anything of that sort, as wo could all see for ourselves; and yet its master's nervous anxiety lest it should bo damaged or oven bumped against anything hard was so marked that everyone began to have dismal .suspicionsas to its possible contents. But just at first we had something else to think about, for the first three days of our voyago were a perfect chapter of accidents. To begin with, we were thrown lato at starting by having to wait more than an hour for tlio mail. Then, when wo were just outside, on came a fog, which forced us to lie-to till late in tho afternoon, keepup all tho whilo a chorus of bells and foghorns worthy of a Chineso wedding.

And as soon as tho fog cleared, it was •succeeded by a pour of rain which inspired a facetious saloon passenger to ask the captain, at dinner time, whether fishing was allowed on the aftor-deck.

But by tho morning of the fourth day the gale seemed to have spent its force, and wo were at liberty to turn our attention oneo more to tho mysterious passenger and his equally mysterious box.

Tho former seemed quite as anxious to preserve himself from contact with anything on board as ho had been to preserve his package, for ho never spoke, to anyoiio, and always answered as shortly as possible (when ho answered at all) whenever nnyono spoko to him.

As for tho box itself, it was a greater puzzle than over. The stewards reported that lie had warned them so earnestly against touching it, or even going near it, as to imply that tho contonts, whatever they might bo, were Komothing very dangerous indeed. But, ns if ho had his doubts whothor even tho fear of somo unknown peril would lie strong enough to keep them from meddling with tho precious package if they got the chance, lie spent most of his time below, and as lie had taken a whole state-room for himself (or, rathor, for himself and his box), there was no risk of anyono disturbing him thero.

"J think hen v Fenian carrying over ono of those dynamite torpodoos to Liverpool," said a young British olKoer, homeward bound from Canada.

" Moro likoly a bank clork absconding with .specie," f^runfcotl a big, rod-faced cotton-spinno!' from Lanoashiro.

"Box ain't heavy enough for that," objected a lanky Now Yorker.

" l'orhaps, after all, it's nothing more wonderful than a rare statue or picture for Homo museum."

Evoryono looked disappointed, for this last idea, which had somehow nevor occurred to us, now seemed natural ami likely enough, and it was a sad come-down after all our romantic imaginings. But just then a new turn was given tot ho discussion by a long, wiry, keen-eyed youth who had hitherto been perfectly silent. Taking his short pipe out of his. mouth, ho said, slowly and emphatically : " 'Taint that, boys ; but I reckon I could tell yer what it is I"

"What? What?" cried everyone, eagerly.

"A baby," answered tho Yankee youth, with tlio solemnity of perfect conviction.

At this there was a shout of laughter, so uproarious thnb a passing steward peored amazedly into the smtking-room to sec what all the fun could be about. Hut tho gentleman was not a whit abashed.

"Laugh as much as you like, boys ; but what i v\y i stick to. Every day, regular, at breakfast and at tea, I've .seen that critter after he'd had his share, start for his stateroom with n cup of milk and a hunk o bread, and if that don't mean a baby some whar roun', I'm a Moxikin ?" ,

There was a general start, for wo now; remembered to have scon the .stranger do this, and wondered that wo had not noticed it before.

For a. few momenta everyone was In high glee sit the apparant solution of tlio riddle ; but tlio romorsoloss Now Yorker speedily blighted our now-born happiness. " You're consid'nblo out there, stranger," objected ho-; "for tlio baby that could bo four days aboard ship, or anywhere olso cither, without raising ono squall, has got to bo discovered yet. I've got three of 'em myself, and I ougetto know." This unanswerable argument throw us all back to where wo were before, and a sullen silenco followed, broken at length by ono of tho briskest and boldest spirits of our company. " Baby or no baby," said ho firmly, " I'm bound to got at the ins and outs of this job, somehow. Either I'll know what's inside that box before it goes ashore, or I'll nover leave this ship again !" But this valiant pledge seemed likely to go unredocmed after all j Tor, us if tho man of mystery had known of tho plot hatching against him, ho seemed to bo, if possible, moro viligant than ever. Day followed day, until at length we came in sight of Queonstown, where tlio steamer was to land, and tho secret of tho box was a seerot still.

But the timo enmo n,t last. Breakfast was hardly over that morning, when a steward tapped at the door of the stranger —who had retired as usual with his milk and broad—announcing that the captain wanted him. Scarcely had ho disappeared whon the youth popped into his room. The next moment a torriblo cry startled us all, and, rushing to the .spot, we found tho mystic box opon, and the youth struggling in the coils of a. huge black and white snake!

For a moment all was confusion, but the stranger, who liaJ jnsfcrotnrued, sprang liko lightning to the breakfast table, filled a cup. with milk, and set it in front of the snake. Instantly the latter unwound itself from its captive, who reeled helplessly against the wall.

" You'romoro frightened than hurt, young fellor," said his resouer, coolly, " for this snake's quite a harmless sort, and as tame as a pet cat into the bargain. I kept him , dark whilo I could, for I didn't want him hurt, after stumpin1 all Louisiana to git him for the London Zoological ; but you'd best not touch him agin, for his breed's mighty fond of a fool, and I guess that's why he was so spry to git hold, of you!"— "Tit BitS " A