THE CHIEF OFFICER'S WARD

Otago Witness, Issue 2997, 23 August 1911, Page 90

THE CHIEF OFFICER'S WARD

By T. S. G.

Lyndhurst, the chief officer of the Khilat, stood leisurely smoking, watching with a humorous twinkle in his light blue eyes the passengers, battened down in a two-days' cyclone, slowly emerging on the deck. He was vaguely wondering which of the bevy of ladies comfortably seated amidships was the one a hastilyscrawled letter had committed to his charge. In the bustle preparatory to leaving their anchorage in the Hukli he had barely time to glance at the palefaced, timid girl who had handed him the letter, and three days had passed without giving him an opportunity of renewing the slight acquaintance. His brows knitted in a puzzled expression as he surveyed the line of faces still bearing trajces of the stormy voyage. Then he became conscious that he was being subjected to as close a scrutiny, and that the passengers exchanged words as face after face was turned in his direction. Lyndhurst's tall, athletic figure and kindly, bronzed features would have attracted "attention anywhere, had there not been a stronger stimulus to curiosity. Despite his modest demeanour, there was something about the man that singled him out from his fellows, and gave no surprise when it was said of him that he bore the proud record of saving more lives from the maws of the deep than any man)n<?aged in his hazardous profession. The 'Vj of "Man overboard !" seemed syn,hronous with the splash of Lyndhurst's 3ive to the rescue.

It suddenly dawned on him, almost unpleasantly, that he was being made the object of mild hero worship, and he tossed his cigar over the rail and commenced to stroll out of sight, when he notice cL a dark, over-groomed man step out of the companion way. His casual glance at the newcomer deepened to interest when he go,vr a girl seated a little distance away from the rest of the passengers, start suddenly with an expression of alarm on her pretty face, as she, too, saw him gain the deckj But in that nuick glance he recognised his ward, find as he turned away he determined to -a. more favourable opportunity to make himself

known. She had not moved when Tie crossed the deck an hour later, and the dark man was seated near her, leaning forward as ho conversed with great earnestness. She smiled as he approached, and held out her hand. "The pyplon« nrevented m* fmm seeing you earlier. Miss Jordan," Lyndhunst said with his encao-inc smile, "but I hope now von n.r° well that we will know each better."

"I hope <?o." Miss Jordan replied auioklv and with a -peculiar embarrassed look, turning her face from her dusky companion, who now stared at the officer with cool, haughty impudence as though he resented the intrusion. Lvndhurst returned the look with mingled amusement and contempt. That a mere Asiatic, painfullv poruice and nea.t when cormwed with the more comfortablv-sarbed European jounsrers. should display such overt hostility tickled him somewhat. _ The situation would have been decidedlv humorous to him had Miss Jordan's elransre manner escaped hf.m. When ho dissociated »t with her alarm at first see-

ing her companion lie began to «-o,vder when and how these two had m<*. "I think we will enjoy some fine weather now," said Lyndhurst, breaking a tense and awkward pause in their conversation, and deliberately ignoring the dark man, whose expression became insolence intensified. "I am forming an amusement committee, and I hope to -make your voyage to old England a pleasant one." the girl smiled for reply, and Lyndhurst with a quiet glance at her companion resumed his walk. Mrs Bathgate, an old voyageur, who boasted that tins was her twelfth trip Home, immediately bore down upon him, her pinsnez poised on the tip of her nose, her grey hair tucked under a light tweed cap. "I have met at least a dozen old shipmates already, Mr Lyndhurst," she exclaimed wjth characteristic gush. "The fine weather is bringing people up from below like bees. It is delightful to feel the deck steady beneath one's feet. Who is the pretty 'girl you have been talking to?" "A Miss Jordan, an orphan on her way to relations in Yorkshire. Her father was a tea planter in Assam, and she was introduced to me by letter. In fact," continued Lyndhurst, with his curious, whimsical look, "I have had the grave responsibility thrust upon me of looking after her during the voyage." "A pleasant enough duty for a goodlooking bachelor," Mrs Bathgate replied, studying Miss Jordan with her nose in the air. "And who is that horrid black man she is talking to?" "From his features I would judge him to be a Malay, and probably an Oxford graduate at that. A few years in England gives such a man an assurance which ill befits them.- I think this oneis oversensitive about the colour question, and evidently considers a haughty indifference to the white man. the hall-mark of his superiority." "Humph! They seemed to foe engrossed in each other,"'Mrs Bathgate observed, turning to Lyndhurst after being stared out of countenance by the Malay. "He is not a bad looking Mian, but his_ eyes are shifty and treacherous, and his _ mouth sensual and cruel. lam 'surprised at Miss Jordan permitting his attentions." Lyndhurst looked grave. "I do not wish to shirk my duty, Mrs Bathgate, but would you keep a motherly eye on her. You will have greater opportunities than I have." At dinner the Malay, who oddly enough appeared on the passenger list as Mr Richardson, sat next to Miss Jordan, conversing but little with her, and assuming a defiant attitude towards the rest of the passengers. It was apparent that he was no favourite, and many a scowl was directed towards him by the men, who regarded him >as an insolent nigger, to be kept in his right place. As the voyage proceeded his relations with everybody but Miss Jordan .remained unchanged. He dogged her footsteps with a pertinacity that became the common talk of the ship. While she remained on deck he never left her side; if she went below he paced about uneasily till she returned. They were an incongruous couple that interested the whole ship's company, because no one could exactly divine whether they were lovers or mere friends. Some held the opinion that Miss Jordan endeavoured to avoid him, and that he forced his attentions on her. Lyndhurst watched them closely, with a somewhat jealous eye. Had he been quite honest with himself he would have admitted that his interest in Miss Jordan was stronger" than that which usually exists between a guardian and his ward. Under ordinary circumstances he would have disdained a girl who hardly ever appeared without the Asiatic at her side, but close observation had strengthened his conviction that their apparent intimack was due to the Malay's dogged determination to monopolise her. He did not care to intrude or make himself ridiculous by an open rivalry with a coloured man. There was something about the whole affair that he felt needed an explanation.

The first clue came two days before the Khilat entered Aden. He was preparing to go on watch when he saw the passengers rush aft to see a large fish hauled in by the line which the bo'sun had hung over the stern. Miss Jordan, however, had not left her deck chair, although the Malay had joined the group. She quietly beckoned to him. "Take charge of this for me," she whispered, with a furtive glance. "It is worrying me. There," she added, slipping a small package into his hand, "hide it, and don't stop for explanations." Lvndhurst dropped the package into his pocket and resumed his walk. The Malay had turned and was Wiatehing him with his small eyes, screwed up., Lvndhurst was not certain whether he had noticed the interchange, but the expression on his face was insolentlv hostile.

Lyndhurat hurried into his cabin, drew the door curtain, and sat down. Curious and excited, he haetilv opened the trackage. A splendid necklace of magnificent Burmese rubies fell into his hand.

For a few seconds he examined them with breathless admiration, drawing the srems slowly along the palm of his left hand, amazed at the size, fire, and colour of the stones. Then, wrapping the necklace up in the .scrap of brown paper, he thrust it into his breast pocket. A dark hand slid back the curtain, and, without invitation or explanation of any sort, the Malay stenped alertly into the cabin and coolly sank on the settee.

"Miss Jordan a few minutes ago handed you a small package for safe keeping," he said calmly, gazing steadfastly info the officer's face. "She has since changed her mind, and would like you to return it to her."

"You are an impudent rascal," Lvndhurst returned with even voice, "to enter my cabin as you have done. Ido not understand the purport of your message, if Miss Jordan has entrusted you with one. Miss Jordan and I are sufficiently friendly not to need the services of an intermediary.

"Then you intend to deny your possession of her necklace, ?' ' the Malay rejoined, indolently leaning forward. "Miss' Jordan is any fiancee, and I am naturally concerned about her and her belongings. Fleana hand the package over at once to avoid any trouble." Lyndhurst rose exasperated, but yet with his temper well under control. "You are the first 'coloured! man who has even' dared to threaten me, and I'll (make it a mighty poor precedent if you don't quit as quickly as you entered. I know the Malay character too well to believe anything you say. If Miss Jordan honours me with the custody of anything she possesses, dejjend upon it, I shall not be answerable to you. Now go." The Malay edged near the door, and with a hand on the curtain turned. "I a.m a plain man, Mr Mate," he said aggravatingly, '"'and generally candid and outspoken. Don't mistake me. I will give you four days to hand me that package voluntarily. You will do it, I have no doubt. In fact," he added, as he stepped into the alleyway, "I am sure you will." Lyndhurst paced the bridge, striving to reason out Miss Jordan's strange act and the Malay's equally strange words. If she was as intimate with the Malay as he avowed, why had the necklace been handed to him in that mysterious way? Was the Malay endeavouring to obtain possession of it? He determined to seek Miss Jordan's confidence as as possible. The custody of a string of gems of such value troubled bin; not a little. At first he resolved to place them in the ship's mfe, but, not cairing to let the captain into hi 3 secret, thrust them into a leather pouch in his belt. The Malay did not even favour him with a glance at dinner that evening, and Miss Jordan seemed equally oblivious of his presence. Her apparent disregard for him somewhat nettled Lyndllrurst's pride. He studied her white, delicate face at odd moments with a quickened heart. Her beauty charmed him. The soft, dark eyes, rarely lifted from the table cloth, seamed troubled and uneasy. She answered the Malay in monosyllables, and as Lyndhurst watched the man's masterful face, the insolent haughtiness of its expression, and his superb indifference to everybody but the girl whom he addressed, his gorge' rose to the point of hatred. It was clear enough to him that the girl entertained a feeling not of affection but fear for her companion, and that it was his duty to inquire into the exact relationship between them. After dinner he sought the stewardess. and, learning from her that Miss Jordan had retired to her cabin, be sent her the fallowing note : Dear Mies Jordan,- —If after you retire to-night you will again return to the upper deck, I shall be waiting to have a few words with you.—J. Lyndhuhst. . ,

He waited patiently for the passengers to go below. Fortunately a heavy squall, accompanied by rain, drove the late fctra-ggilex'S into the cabins a good deal earlier than was their wont. The Malay and Miss Jordan were among the last to leave the deck, Bind Lyndhurst, lighting a cigar, commenced an impatient promenade. A quarter of an hour passed. He was almost beginning to think she had ignored his note, when he fe.lt a light hand laid on his arm. "Gome aft," he whispered, "near the break of the poop. I Avont to see you about the necklace,." "Is it safe?" she asked, peering up into his face. "I am afraid it is going to bring trouble. I wish I had kept it now." . ~

"It is here," he replied, touching his belt. "Did you send Mr Richardson for it a few minates after you handed it to me?"

The girl'started. "I have not discussed that necklace with him till to-night. He dees not know you have it." "He either knows or suspects it," said Lyndhurst. "He demanded. I should return it to him in four days. His manner was threatening. Of course, he got no satisfaction from me." She stood in the shadow, silent and trembling Lyndhurst waited for a reply, and spoke again. "Would you consider me presumptuous if I inquired how long you have known Mr—er —Richardson?" "About two years," the girl replied. "He was my uncle's nephew by marriage. My uncle had no children of his own. His wife -was a Malay. When he died about six months ago he left most of his estate to me.. I think his wife was bitterly disappointed with the will. She did not complain of her lot, for she is a woman of simple needs, and was provided for, but she expected that her nephew would be my uncle's heir. He had been educated in "England, and had regarded himself as the future owner of my uncle's large tea plantation." "Was the necklace left to you?"

"Yes. I refused it at first, knowing how my aunt valued it, but my friends insisted" that I should retain it. My aunt also thought it would be batter in my keeping. I would like you to place the necklace in some bank for me in London, Mr Lyndhurst. I am very inexperienced, and it worries me dreadfully to have it about me."

"We can arrange that later, Mies Jordan, Now, just one more question. Is Mr Richardson- "

Lyndhurst stopped.: a figure had advanced almost between them, and stood fterocly confronting hiim. The chief officer recognised the Malay before he spoke. "Has your catechism of Miss Jordan ceased, Mr Mate?" the Malay asked in a low, vibrating voice.

"So you are gentleman enough to play the eavesdropper, Mr Richardson. No, I have a few words yet to say to the lady. I shall be obliged if you will leave us." It is scarcely the duty of a ship's servant to induce a lady passenger to meet him at this hour, Mr Mate," returned the Malay. "I have the honour of protecting Miss Jordan on this voyage, .and I dlo not doubt that she will admit

that she has acted unwisely, and will re- ' turn, below at onoe. I will see the captain about this in the momma:. j Drawing Miss Jordan's arm through his ! he coolly walked away before Lyndhurst had time to reply. The chief officer watched the pair disappear below to- , gether, enraged that the girl had not das- i plaved more spirit. If he was right in his conjecture that the Malay's influence on the girl was the result of sheer intimi- i dation, surely she would have resented | his interference when he was near enough to offer his protection. Baffled, he re- ; turned to his cabin and prepared to retire ' for the night. i The Malay entered his cabin as gently '' and unceremoniously as he did before, ! and without invitation sat down. " I have come for the necklace, Mr Mate," be said in a quiet way. " Miss Jordan wishes you to return it at once." "I gave you your answer before, you damn nigger!" replied Lyndhurst hotly as he stepped up to the Malay. i "You might have spared that," said the Malay, wincing. '"Anyway, I do not suppose you will dare to force your attentions on Miss Jordan after to-night. I had feared that you would have taken advantage of her simplicity in requesting you to be custodian of her jewels. Do not, however, omit me in your calculations. Will you return the jewels now?" ! "I will kick you out of my cabin if you do not leave it at once," said Lyndhurst savagely. "Spare yourself that." \ "You refuse!" said the Malay, calmly lighting a cigarette. "Very well, tomorrow I shall denounce you before the whole ship's company as a thief, and, if j 1 make no mistake, the lady will corrobo- j rate my statement. Spare yourself that, ' Mr Mate." ' i

Lyndhurst replied with a crashing blow. The Malay rocked violently on his seat, and then plunged forward on' the floor. The blood oozed from a cut under the eye, and made a little pool on the strip of carpet before lh« washstand. He lay there for a minute, then, gaining his feet, staggered out without a word.

Lyndhurst saw him after breakfast next morning, seated next to Miss Jordan, conversing as unconcernedly as ever, with a strip of plaster over the wound. Miss Jordan avoided him as he walked past heir, but the Malay treated him to an insolent stare.

.The weather was squally that morning, and the sea a bit rough. The steamier expected to arrive at Aden at nightfall, and most of the passengers were discussing their projects in that dreary port. A few were congregated near the rati watching a shoal of flying fish, and Lyndhurst was chatting to Mrs Bathgate on the &tarboard side of the ship, when suddenly the ominous cry rang out from, the bridge, "Man overboard !" In an instant Lyndhurst rushed to the port side, claonbered on the rail, and dived. The engines stopped, and an officer hurriedly commenced to lower a boat. The excitement amongst the passengers was intense, and all eyes watched the gallant Lyndhurst swimming with powerful strokes towards the unfortunate man.

"It's Richardson, the Malay," shouted an army captain, his eyeglass out of its accustomed place. "I saw the whole thing. He deliberately leaped overboard. A case of attempted suicide. He'll sink before Lyndhurst reaches him." Miss Jordan, with ashen features and. wildly gleaming eyes, turned at his words. "Shou-£ out to Mr • Lyndhurst to leave him to the boat," she exclaimed agitatedly. 'For God's sake shout." The captain gazed at her in surprise. "Surely you wish him to be rescued, my dear madam. There, Lyndhurst is almost up him him now." The.girl clambered up on the rail, while a dozen hands clutched at her. "Mr Lyndhurst," she shotted frantically, "leave him to the boat's crew." She turned to the faces beneath her- in agonised appeal. He did not hear me! Won't some man shout?"

They dragged at her as she clung to the stanchion, hysterically shouting, and finally lifted her back to the deck. Even then she- fought to gain the rail again. "Take her below," said the skipper kindly, and willing hands carried her off. Lyndhurst had now reached his man and. attempted to grip him. The boat's crew, straining at their oars, rapidly gained on the two specks floating on the wind-lashed sea.

"He's struggling with his rescuer," exclaimed Mrs Bathgate, her field-glasses to her eyes. "Merciful heavens!" she added with a scream, "the Malay is using a knife. I think he has stabbed Mr Lvndhurat. See, the chief officer is drifting helplessly away, and that black fiend is swimming towards him. Oh, why don't the crew hurry? Oh, this is horrible, horrible!"

Her loud screams- brought her husband hastily to her side. Every glass in the ship was directed on tins terrible tragedy. Dark man and white man struggled in the water, now dropping below the surface and reappearing again. The Malay was a powerful swimahfir, and attacked his exhausted rescuer vigorously. The second officer, standing up in the stern, urged his men to pull, and shouted encouragingly to Lyndhurst. When the boat finally reached them both men sank together. The second officer immediately dived, and after an interval of agonising suspense came to the surface holding Lyndhurst. The lascars brought the boat round swiftly to the rescue, and a little later both officers were hauled into the boat. Thirty yards away the Malay again appeared, made an attempt to reach the boat, and sank exhausted to rise no more. A cheer went up from the deck of the Khilat, to be repeated again and again when the boat was picked up, Lyndhurst bleeding and insensible was taken to his cabin, and a croAvd thronged the alleyway for the doctor's verdict. "Six stabs; all bad; but none fatal," said the medico, as he emerged wiping his hands on a

towel. "I think Lyndhurst will pull through." There was one passenger on the Khilat who went ashore at Aden and refused to resume her voyage, and it was this passenger wham -Lyndhurst recognised when the fever had abated sufficiently for him to receive visitors. And there was something so tender and joyous in his greeting of her that it made the sallow-faced nurse rise noiselessly and leave the small whitewashed ward "for the open verandah. Cicel.v Jordan sank on her knees and took the sick man's hand in both her own. There was no need for words. As she sobbed softly, Lyndhurst understood. "Don't, my dear," he whispered softly. "There, I am better—almost well, —now I know you are near me, and the nurse has just told me the necklace is safe." "Don't speak of that horrid necklace. I wish I had let him steal it," she replied, burying her face again. "Oh, if I had only mustered courage enough to defy h™- He threatened to murder you as he had often sworn to murder me if I refused to marry Mm. You do not know how I had suffered.' He repeated his threat everv time I spoke to or looked at you. Didn't it occur to you why he plunged overboard, and didn't you bear me scream to you to leave him to. the boat to pick up?" . "No I did not," said Lyndhurst, smiling softly as he drew her lins to his. "I did not divine his intention till he grabbed at my belt with one hand and stabbed at me with the other. He fought for the necklace, and you, dear; but you see I won. «i£L Cely ' S * ace !i ? nte d with happiness. When you are mine for alwavs," she whispered with a blush, "you "will leave the sea and 'life-saving to some other hero." , the compact was made, and the chief officers guardianship extended. .