 The Bible, King James Version, Book 22, Song of Solomon, by Anonymous. This is a LibriVox recording, all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Chad Horner from Ballyclair in County under Northern Ireland, set gated in the north-east of the island of Ireland. Book 22, Song of Solomon. The Song of Songs, which is Solomon's, let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, because of the saber of thy good ointments, thy name is as ointment poured forth. Therefore do the versions love thee. Draw me, we will run after thee. The King hath brought me into his chambers. We will be glad and rejoice in thee. We will remember thy love more than wine. They upright love thee. I am black, but comely, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, as the tents of Peter, as the curtains of Solomon. Look not upon me because I am black, because the sun hath looked upon me. My mother's children were angry with me. They made me the keeper of the vineyards, but mine own vineyard have I not kept. Tell me, O thou, O my soul loveth, where thou fetest, where thou makest I flocked, who resteth then? For why should I be as one that turneth aside, but the flocks of thy companions? If thou, no not, O thou farest among women, go thou way forth by the footsteps of the flock, and feed thy kids beside the shepherd's tents. I have compared thee, O my love, to a company of horses and ferrows, chariots. Thy cheeks are comely with rows of jewels, thy neck with chains of gold. We will make thee borders of gold with studs of silver, while the King sitteth at his table. My spackner sandeth forth the smell thereof. A bundle of mirror is my well-beloved unto me. He shall lie all night betwixt my breasts. My beloved is unto me as a cluster of campfire in the vineyards of Angerai. Behold, thou art fair, my love. Behold, thou art fair, thou hast dove size. Behold, thou art fair, my beloved, yea, pleasant. Also our bed is green. The beams of our house are cedar, and our rafters are fair. I am the rows of Sharon and the lily of the valleys. As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters. As the apple-tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the suns. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste. He brought me to the banqueting house, and his banner over me was love. Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples, for I am sick of love. His left hand is under my head, and his right hand doth embrace me. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the rows and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till ye please. The voice of my beloved behold. He cometh, leaping upon the mountains, skipping upon the hills. My beloved is like a row or a young heart. Behold, he standeth behind our wall. He looketh forth at the windows, showing himself through the lattice. My beloved speak, and said unto me, Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away. For lo the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land. The fig tree puteth forth her green figs, and the vines with tender give a good smell. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away. O my dove, that art in the clefts of the rock. In the secret places of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice, forsweetest thy voice, and thy countenance is comely. Take us, the foxes, the little foxes, that spoil the vines, for our vines have tender grapes. My beloved is mine, and I am his. He feedeth among the lilies. Until the daybreak, and the shadows flee away, turn my beloved, and be thou, like a row or a young heart upon the mountains of Beether. By night on my bed I sought him, whom my soul loveth I sought him, but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth. I sought him, but I found him not. The watchmen that go about the city find me, to whom I said, saw ye him whom my soul loveth? It was but a little that I passed from them, but I found him whom my soul loveth. I held him, and would not let him go, until I had brought him into my mother's house, and into the chamber of her that conceived me. I charge ye, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the rose and by the hinds of the field, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love till he please. He is death that cometh out of the wilderness, like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all powders of the merchant. We hold his bed, which is Solomon's, three-score valiant men, are abided of the valiant up Israel. They all hold swords, being expert in war. Every man hath his sword upon his thigh, because of fear in the night. King Solomon made himself a chariot of the wood of Lebanon. He made the pillars thereof of silver, the bottom thereof of gold, the covering of it of purple, the midst thereof being paved with love, for the daughters of Jerusalem. Go forth, O ye daughters of Zion, and beholds King Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of the guzzles, and in the day of the gladness of his heart. Behold, thy outfair my love, behold thy outfair. Thou hast dove's eyes, within thy logs. Thy hair is as a flock of goats, that appear from Mount Gilead. Thy teeth are like a flock of sheep, that are even shorn, which came up from the washing, whereof every one bear twins, and none is barren among them. Thy lips are like a thread that have scarlet, and thy speech is comely. Thy temples are like a piece of a pomegranate within thy logs. Thy neck is like the tower of David, builded for an armory, whereon there hang a thousand bucklers, all shields of mighty man. Thy two breasts are like two young rows that are twins, which feed among the lilies. Until the daybreak and the shadows flee away, I will get me to the mountain of myrrh, and to the hill of Frecklesons. Thou art all fair, my love, there is no spot in thee. Come with me from Lebanon, my spouse, with me from Lebanon. Look from the top of Ammanah, from the top of Janir and Hermon, from the lion stands, from the mountains of the leopards. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse. Thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes, with one chain of thy neck. How fair is I love, my sister, my spouse. How much better is I love than wine and the smell of thine ointments than all spices? Thy lips of my spouse, drop us to honeycomb. Honey and milk are under thy tongue, and the smell of thy garments is like the smell of Lebanon, a garden enclosed as my sister, my spouse, a spring shut up, a fountain sealed. Thy plants are an orchard of pomegranates, with pleasant fruits, campfire and spiknered, spiknered in saffron, calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense, mirror and aloes, with all the chief spices, a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon. Awake, O North Wind, and come thou south, blow upon my garden, that the spices thereof may flow out. Let my beloved come into his garden, and eat his pleasant fruits. I am coming to my garden, my sister, my spouse. I have gathered my mirror and my spouse. I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey. I have drunk my wine with my milk. Eat, O friends, drink ye, drink abundantly, O beloved. I sleep at my heart waketh. It is the voice of my beloved, that knocketh, saying, open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled, for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night. I have put off my coat. How shall I put it on? I have washed my feet. How shall I deval them? My beloved put in his hand by the hole of the door, and my bowels were moved for him. I rose up to open to my beloved, and my hands dropped with mirror, and my fingers with sweet smelling mirror upon the handles of the log. I opened to my beloved, but my beloved had withdrawn himself, and was gone. My soul failed when he spake. I sought him, but I could not find him. I called him, but he gave me no answer. The watchmen that went about the city found me, they smoked me, they winded me. The keepers of the walls took away my veil from me. I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, that you tell him that I am sick of love. What is thy beloved more than another beloved, O thy fairest among women? What is thy beloved more than another beloved, that thou dost so charge us? My beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefest among ten thousand. His head is as the most spying gold, his locks are brishy and black as a raven, his eyes are as the eyes doves by the rivers of waters, washed with milk and fiddly set, his teeth are as a bed of spices, as sweet flowers, his lips like lilies, dropping sweet smelling mare. His hands are as gold rings, set with the barrel, his belly is as bright ivory overlaid with sapphires. His legs are as pillars of marble, set upon sockets of fine gold, his countenance is as Lebanon, excellent as the cedars. His mouth is more sweet, yea, he is altogether lovely. This is my beloved, and this is my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem. Whether is thy beloved gone, O thy fairest among women? Whether is thy beloved turned aside, that we may seek him with thee? My beloved is gone down into his garden, to the beds of spices, to feed in the gardens and to gather lilies. I am my beloved, and my beloved is mine. He feedeth among the lilies. Thy are beautiful, O my love, astersa, comely as Jerusalem, terrible as an army with banners. Turn away thine eyes from me, for they have overcome me. Thy hair is as a flock of goats that appear from Gilead. Thy teeth are as a flock of sheep which go up from the washing, whereof every one beareth twins, and there is not one barn among them. Thou art of a pomegranate, or thy temples within thy logs. There are three-score queens and four-score concubines, and virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled, is but one. She is the only one of her mother. She is the choice one of her that bear her. The daughters saw her and blessed her. Yea, the queens and the concubines, and they praised her. Who is she that looketh forth as the morning, fair as the moon? I went down into the garden of nuts to see the fruits of the valley and to see whether the vine flourished and the pomegranates budded. Or ever I was aware my soul made me, like the chariots of a minute do. Return, return, O Shillemite, return, return, that we may look upon thee. What will ye see in the Shillemite as it were the company of two armies? How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O Prince's daughter. The joints of thy thighs are like gills. The work of the hands of a cunning workman. Thy navel is like a round goblet which wandeth not liquor. Thy belly is like a heap of weight set about with lilies. Thy two breasts are like two young rows that are twins. Thy neck is as a tower of ivory. Thy eyes like the fish-pulls in Heshbon by the gate of Bathrabin. Thy nose is as the tower of Lebanon which looketh toward Damascus. Thy head upon thee is like carmel, and the hair of thine head like purple. The king is held in the galleries. How fair and how pleasant are thou, O love for the lights. This thy stature is like to a palm tree, and thy breasts do clusters of grapes. I said I will go up to the palm tree. I will take hold of the boys thereof. Now also thy breasts shall be as clusters of the vine, and the smell of thy nose thy gobbles. And the riff of thy mouth like the best wine for my beloved that goeth down sweetly, causing the lips of those that are asleep to speak. I am my beloveds, and his desire is toward me. Come, my beloved, let us go forth into the field. Let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards. Let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranate's bud forth. There will I give thee my louse. The mandrakes give a smell, and at our gates are all manner of pleasant frits, new and old, which I have led up thee, oh my beloved, O that thy word as my brother that suck the breast of my mother. When I should find thee without, I would kiss thee, yea, I should not despise thee. I would lead thee and bring thee into my mother's house, who would instruct me. I would cause thee to drink of spiced wine of the juice of my pomegranate. His left hand should be under my head, and his right hand should embrace me. I charge thee, oh ye daughters of Jerusalem, that ye stir not up, nor awake my love, until he please. Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raise thee up under the apple tree, there thy mother brought thee forth, there she brought thee forth that bear thee. Set me as a sail upon thine heart, as a sail upon thine arm, for love is strong as death. Jealousy is cruel as the grave. The coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love. Neither can the floods drown it. If a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be condemned. We have a little sister, and she hath no breasts. What shall we do for our sister in the day when she shall be spoken for? If she be a wall, we will build upon her a palace of silver, and if she be a door, we will enclose her with boards of cedar. I am a wall, and my breasts like tars. Then was I in his eyes as one that found favour. Solomon had a vineyard at Baal Hammon. He let out the vineyard unto keepers. Every one for the fruit thereof was to bring a thousand pieces of silver. My vineyard, which is mine, is before me. Thou, O Solomon, must have a thousand, and those that keep the fruit thereof, two hundred. Thou that dwellest in the gardens, the companions hurken to thy voice, cause me to hear it, make haste to my beloved, and be thou like to your row or to your young heart upon the mountains of spices. End of Book 22, Song of Solomon, by Anonymous. All aboard, said the captain. All aboard, sir, said the mate. Then stand by to let her go. It was nine o'clock on a Wednesday morning. The good ship's vartan was lying off Boston Key with her cargo under hatches. Her passengers shipped, and everything prepared for a start. The warning whistled as the ship was sailing. The ship was sailing. The ship was sailing. The ship was sailing. The warning whistle had been sounded twice. The final bell had been rung. Her boast writ was turned towards England, and the hiss of escaping steam showed that all was ready for her run of three thousand miles. She strained at the waltz that held her like a greyhound at its leash. I have the misfortune to be a very nervous man. A sedentary literary life had helped to increase the morbid love of solitude, which even in my boyhood was one of my distinguishing characteristics. As I stood upon the quarter-deck of the transatlantic steamer, I vitally cursed a necessity which drove me back to the land of my forefathers. The shouts of the sailors, the rattle of the cordage, the thunders, the rattle of the cordage, the farewells of my fellow passengers and the cheers of them of each and all jarred from my sensitive nature. I felt sad too, an indescribable feeling as if some infending calamity seemed to haunt me. The sea was calm and the breeze light. There was nothing to disturb the equanimity of the most confirmed of landsmen, yet I felt as if I stood upon the verge of a great though indefinable danger. I have noticed that such presentiments occur often in men of my peculiar temperament and that they are not uncommonly fulfilled. There is a theory that it arises from a species of second sight, a subtle spiritual communication with the future. I remember that here Romer, the eminent spiritualist, remarked on one occasion that I was the most sensitive subject as regards to supernatural phenomena that he had ever encountered in the whole of his wide experience. Be that as it may I certainly felt far from happy as I threaded my way among the weeping, cheering groups which dotted the white decks of the good Spartan. Had I known the experience which awaited me in the course of the next twelve hours I should even then at the last moment have sprung upon the shore and made my escape from the accursed vessel. Times up said the captain closing his chronometer with a snap and replacing it in his pocket. Times up said the mate there was a last wail from the whistle a rush of friends and relatives upon the land. One warp was loosened, the gangway was being pushed away when there was a shout from the bridge and two men appeared running rapidly down the key. They were waving their hands and making frantic gestures apparently with the intention of stopping the ship. Look sharp! shouted the crowd. Hold hard! cried the captain. Ease her! Stop her! Up with the gangway the two men sprang aboard just as the second warp parted and the convulsive throb with the engine shot us clear of the shore. There was a cheer from the deck another from the key a mighty fluttering of handkerchief and the great vessel ploughed its way out of the harbour and steamed grandly away across the placid bay. We were fairly started upon our fortnight's voyage. There was a general dive among the passengers in quest of burst and luggage while a popping of corks in the saloon proved that more than one bereaved traveller was adopting artificial means for drowning the pangs of separation. I glanced round the deck and took a running inventory of my companions to voyage. They presented the usual types met with upon these occasions. There was no striking face among them. I speak as a connoisseur for faces are a speciality of mine. I dance upon a characteristic feature as a botanist does on a flower and various away with me to analyse at my leisure and classify and label it in my little anthropological museum. There was nothing worthy of me here 20 types of young America going to Europe. A few respectable middle aged couples as an antidote a sprinkling of clergymen and professional men young ladies vagamon British exclusives and all the Ola Fodrida of an ocean going steamer. I turned away from them and gazed back at the receding shores of America and as a cloud of remembrances rose before me my heart warmed towards the land of my adoption. A pile of fortmantos and luggies chance to be lying on the side of the deck awaiting their turn to be taken below. With my usual love for solitude I walked behind these and sitting on a coil of rope between them and the vessel side I indulged in a melancholy reverie. I was aroused from this by a whisper behind me here's a quiet place said the voice sit down and we can talk it over in safety. Glancing through a chink between two colossal chests I saw that the passengers who had joined us at the last moment were standing at the other side of the pile they had evidently failed to see me as I crouch in the shadow of the boxes the one who had spoken was a tall and very thin man with a blue black beard and a colourless face his manner was nervous and excited his companion was a short plethoric little fellow with a brisk and resolute air he had a cigar in his mouth and a large ulster slung over his left arm they first glanced round uneasily as if to ascertain whether they were alone this is just a place I heard the other say they sat down on a bale of goods with their backs turned towards me and I found myself much against my will playing the unpleasant part of a knee-dropper to their conversation well, Muller said the taller of the two we've got it aboard, right enough yes, assented the man whom he had addressed as Muller it's safe aboard it was rather a near go it was that, Flanigan it wouldn't have done to have missed the ship no, it would have put our plans out ruined him entirely said the little man furiously at his cigar for some minutes I've got it here, he said at last let me see it is no one looking no, they are nearly all below we can't be too careful where so much is at stake, said Muller as the young called the ulster which hung over his arm and disclosed a dark object which he laid upon the deck one glance at it was enough to cause me to spring to my feet with an exclamation of horror luckily they were so engrossed in the matter on hand that neither of them observed me had they turned their heads they would have infallibly have seen my pale face glaring at them over the pile of boxes from the first moment of their conversation a horrible misgiving had come over me it seemed more than confirmed as I gazed at what lay before me it was a little square box made with some dark wood and ribbed with brass I suppose it was about the size of a cubic foot it reminded me of a pistol case only it was decidedly higher there was an appendage to it however on which my eyes were riveted and which suggested the pistol itself rather than its receptacle this was a trigger like arrangement upon the lid to which a coil of string was attached beside this trigger there was a small square aperture through the wood the tall man Flanigan as his companion called him applied his eye to this and peered in for several minutes with an expression of intense anxiety upon his face it seems right enough he said at last I tried not to shake it such delicate things need delicate treatment pushing some of the needful the shorter man fumbled in his pocket for some time and then produced a small paper packet he opened this and took out of it half a handful of whitish granules which he poured down through the hole a curious clicking noise followed from the inside of the box and both the men smiled in a satisfied way nothing much wrong there said Flanigan right as a trivet answered his companion look out, here's some one coming take it down to our birth it wouldn't do to have any one suspecting what our game is or worse still has them thumbling with it and letting it off by mistake well it would come to the same whoever let it off said Muller they'd be rather astonished if they pulled the trigger said the taller with a sinister laugh fancy their faces it's not a bad bit of workmanship I flatter myself no said Muller I hear it is your own design every bit of it isn't it yes the spring and the sliding shutter are my own we should take out a patent and the two men laughed again with a cold harsh laugh as they took out the little brass bound package and concealed it in Muller's voluminous overcoat come down and we'll stow it in our birth said Flanagan we won't need it until tonight and it will be safe there his companion assented and the two went arm in arm along the deck and disappeared down the hatchway bearing the mysterious little box away with them the last words I heard were a muttered injunction from Flanagan to carry it carefully and avoid knocking it against the books how long I remain sitting on that coil of rope I shall never know the horror of the conversation I had just overheard was aggravated by the first stinking qualms of seasickness the long roll with the Atlantic was beginning to assert itself over both ship and passengers I felt prostrated in mind and in body and fell into a state of collapse from which I was finally aroused by the hearty voice of our wordy quartermaster do you mind moving out of that sir? he said we want to get this lumber cleared off the deck his bluff manner and ruddy healthy face seemed to be a positive insult to me in my present condition had I been a courageous or a muscular man I could have struck him as it was I treated the honest sailor to a melodramatic scow which seemed to cause him no small astonishment and strove past him to the other side of the deck solitude was what I wanted solitude in which I could brood over the frightful crime which was being hatched before my very eyes one of the quarter boats was hanging rather low down upon the devils an idea struck me and climbing on the bullocks I stepped into the empty boat and lay down on the bottom of it stretched on my back with nothing but the blue sky above me and an occasional view of the mison as the vessel rolled I was at least alone with my sickness and my thoughts I tried to recall the words which had been spoken in the terrible dialogue I had overheard would they admit of any construction but the one which stared me in the face my reason forced me to confess that they would not I endeavoured to array the various facts to inform the chain of circumstantial evidence and to find a flaw in it but no, not a link was missing there was the strange way in which our passengers had come aboard enabling them to evade any examination of their luggage the very name of Flanagan smacked of Fenianism while Muller suggested nothing but socialism and murder then their mysterious manner they remarked that their plans would have been ruined as they missed a ship their fear of being observed last but not least the clenching evidence in the production of the little square box with the trigger and their grim joke about the face of the man who should let it off by mistake could these facts lead to any conclusion other than that they were the desperate emissaries of somebody political or otherwise who intended to sacrifice themselves their fellow passengers and the ship in one great holocaust the white ship granules which I had seen one of them pour into the box form no doubt a fuse or train for exploding it I had myself heard a sound come from it which might have emanated from some delicate piece of machinery but what did they mean by their illusion to tonight could it be that they contemplated putting their horrible design into execution on the very first evening of our voyage the mere thought of it sent a cold shudder over me and made me for a moment superior even to the agonies of seasickness I have remarked that I am a physical coward I am a moral one also it is seldom that the two defects are united to such a degree in the one character I have known many men who were most sensitive to bodily danger and yet were distinguished for their independence and strength of their minds in my own case however I regret to say that my quiet and retiring habits had fostered a nervous dread of doing anything remarkable or making myself conspicuous which exceeded if possible my fear of personal peril an ordinary mortal placed under the circumstances in which I now found myself would have gone at once to the captain confessed his fears and put the matter into his hands to me however constituted as I am the idea was most repugnant the thought of becoming the observed of all observers cross-questioned by a stranger and confronted with two desperate conspirators in the character of a denouncer was hateful to me might it not by some remote possibility prove that I was mistaken what would be my feelings if there should turn out to be no grounds for my accusation no I would procrastinate I would keep my eye on the two desperadoes and dog them at every turn anything was better than the possibility of being wrong then it struck me even at that moment some new phase of the conspiracy might be developing itself the nervous excitement seemed to have driven away my incipient attack of sickness for I was able to stand up and lower myself from the boat without experiencing any return of it I staggered along the deck with the intention of descending into the cabin and finding how my acquaintances of the morning were occupying themselves just as I had my hand on the companion rail I was astonished by receiving a hearty slap on the back which nearly shot me down the steps with more haste than dignity is that you Hammond said of voice which I seem to recognise God bless me I said as I turned round it can't be Dick Merton why how are you old man this was an unexpected piece of luck in the midst of my perplexities Dick was just a man I wanted kindly enshrued in his nature and I thought I should have no difficulty in telling him my suspicions and could rely upon his sound sense to point out the best course to pursue since I was a little lad in the second form at Harrow Dick had been my adviser and protector he saw at a glance that something had gone wrong with me hello he said in his kindly way what foot you about Hammond you look as white as a sheet Mow the mare eh no not that all together said I walk up and down with me Dick I want to speak to you give me your arm supporting myself on Dick's stalwart frame I tottered along by his side but it was some time before I could muster resolution to speak have a cigar said he breaking the silence no thanks said I Dick we shall be all corpses tonight that's no reason against your having a cigar now said Dick in his cool way but looking hard at me from under his shaggy eyebrows as he spoke he evidently thought that my intellect was a little gone now I continued it's no laughing matter and I speak in sober earnest I assure you I have discovered an infamous conspiracy Dick to destroy this ship and every soul that is in her and I then proceeded systematically and in order to lay before him the chain of evidence which I had collected there Dick I said as I concluded what do you think of that and above all what am I to do to my astonishment he burst into a hearty fit of laughter I'd be frightened he said if any fellow but you had told me as much you always had a way Hammond and I was discovering maresness I like to see the old traits breaking out again do you remember at school how you swore there was a ghost in the long room and how it turned out to be your own reflection in the mirror why man he continued what object would anyone have in destroying this ship we have no great political guns aboard on the contrary the majority of the passengers are Americans besides in this sober 19th century their most wholesome murderers stop at including themselves among their victims depend upon it you have misunderstood them and have mistaken a photographic camera or something equally innocent for an infernal machine nothing of the sort sir said I rather touchily you will learn to your cost I fear that I have neither exaggerated nor misinterpreted a word as to the box I certainly never before seen one like it it contained delicate machinery as that I am convinced on the way in which the men handled it and spoke of it you'd make out every packet of perishable goods to be a torpedo said dick if that is to be your only test the man's name was Flanagan I continued I don't think that would go very far in a court of law said dick but come I finished my cigar suppose we go down together and split a bottle of claret you can point out these two orcenies to me if they are still in the cabin all right I answered I am determined not to lose sight of them all day don't look hard at them though for I don't want them to think that they are being watched trust me said dick I'll look as unconscious and guileless as a lamb and with that we passed down and into the saloon a good many passengers were scattered about the great central table some wrestling with refractory carpet bags and rug straps some having their luncheon and a few reading and otherwise amusing themselves the objects of our quest were not there we passed down the room and peered into every birth but there was no sign of them heaven sought I perhaps at this very moment they would meet in the hold or engine room preparing their diabolical contrivance it was better to know the worst than to remain in such suspense steward said dick aren't there any other gentlemen about there's two in the smoking room sir answered the steward the smoking room was a little snugory luxuriously fitted up and adjoining the pantry we pushed the door open and entered a sigh of relief escaped from my bosom the very first thing on which my eye rested was the cadaverous face a flanigan with its hard set mouth and unwinking eye his companions sat opposite him they were both drinking and a pile of cards lay upon the table they were engaged in playing as we entered I nudged dick to show him that we had found our quarry and we sat down beside them with an unconcerned and air as possible the two conspirators seemed to take little notice of my presence I watched them both narrowly the game at which they were playing was Napoleon both were adepts at it and I could not help admiring the consummate nerve of men who, with such a secret at their hearts, could devote their minds to the manipulating of a long suit or the finessing of a queen money chains hands rapidly but the run of luck seemed to be all against the taller of the two players at last he threw down his cards on the table with an oath and refused to go on no unhanged if I do he said I hadn't had more than two of a suit for fine hands never mind set his comrade as he gathered up his winnings a few dollars one way or the other won't go very far after tonight's work I was astonished at the rascal's audacity but took care to keep my eyes fixed abstractedly upon the singing and drank my wine in an unconscious manner as possible I felt that Flanagan was looking towards me with his wolfish eyes to see if I'd noticed the illusion he wished for something to his companion which I failed to catch it was a caution I suppose for the other answered rather angrily nonsense why shouldn't I say what I like over caution is just what would ruin us I believe you want it not to come off said Flanagan you believe nothing of the sort said the other speaking rapidly and loudly you know as well as I do that when I play for a steak I like to win it but I won't have my words criticised and cut short by you or any other man I have as much interest in our success as you have more I hope he was quite hot about it and puffed furiously at his cigar for some minutes the eyes of the other ruffian wandered alternately from Dick Merton to myself I was in the presence of a desperate man that a quiver of my lip might be the signal for him to plunge a weapon into my heart but I betrayed more self command than I should have given myself credit for under such trying circumstances as to Dick he was as immovable and apparently as unconscious as the Egyptian Sphinx there was silence for some time in the smoking room broken only by the crisp rustle of the cards as the man Muller shuffled them up before replacing them in his pocket he still seemed to be somewhat flushed and irritable throwing the end of his cigar into the spittoon he glanced defiantly at his companion and turned towards me can you tell me sir when this ship will be heard of again they were both looking at me but though my face may have turned a trifle paler my voice was as steady as ever as I answered I presume sir it will be heard of first when it enters Queenstown Harbour ha ha ha laughtery angry little man I knew you would say that don't you kick me under the table Flanagan I won't stand for it I know what I am doing you are wrong sir he continued turning to me utterly wrong some passing ship perhaps suggested Dick no, nor that either why should we not be heard of at our destination I didn't say we shouldn't be heard of at our destination possibly we may not in any case that is not where we shall be heard of first where then asked Dick that you shall never know suffice it that a rapid and mysterious agency was signal our whereabouts and that before the day is out ha ha ha and he chuckled once again come on Dick grout his comrade you have drunk too much of that confounded brandy and water it has loosened your tongue come away and taking him by the army half led him half forced him out of the smoking room and we heard them stubbling up the companion together and onto the deck well what you think now I gasped as I turned towards Dick he was as imperturbable as ever think he said why I think that his companion thinks I've been listening to the ravings of a half drunken man the fellow stunk a branding nonsense Dick I saw how the other tried to stop his tongue of course he did he didn't want his friend to make a fool of himself before strangers maybe the short one is a lunatic and the other his private keeper it's quite possible oh Dick Dick I cried how can you be so blind don't you see that every word confirmed our previous suspicion humbug man said Dick you're working yourself into a state of nervous excitement why what the devil do you make of all that nonsense about a mysterious agent which would signal our whereabouts I'll tell you what he meant Dick I said bending forward and grasping my friend's arm he meant a sudden glare and a flash seen far out at sea by some lonely fisherman off the American coast that's what he meant I didn't think he was such a fool Hammond said Dick Merton testily if you try to fix the literal meaning on the twiddle that every drunken man talks you will come to some queer conclusions let us follow their example and go on deck you need fresh air I think defend our folly your liver is out of order a sea voyage would do you a world of good if I ever see the end of this one I'll promise never to venture on another they are laying the cloth so it's hardly worth while my going up I'll stay below and unpack my things I hope dinner will find you in a more pleasant state of mind said Dick and he went out leaving me to my thoughts until the clang of the great gong summoned us to the saloon my appetite I need hardly say had not been improved by the incidents which had occurred during the day I sat down however mechanically at the table and listened to the talk which was going on around me there were nearly a hundred first class passengers and as the wine began to circulate their voices combined with the clash of the dishes to form a perfect vable I found myself seated between a very stout and nervous old lady and a prim little clergyman and as neither made any advances I retired into my shell and spent my time in observing the appearance of my fellow voyagers I could see Dick in the dim distance dividing his attention between a jointless fowl in front of him and a self-possessed young lady at his side Captain Dowie was doing the honours at my end while the surgeon of the vessel was seated at the other I was glad to notice that Flannigan was placed almost opposite to me as long as I had him before my eyes I knew that for some time at least we were safe he was sitting with what was meant to be a sociable smile on his grim face it did not escape me that he drank largely of wine so largely that even before the dessert appeared his voice had become decidedly husky his friend Muller was seated a few places lower down he had little and appeared to be nervous and restless now ladies said our genial captain I trust that you will consider yourself at home aboard my vessel I have no fears for the gentlemen a bottle of champagne, Stuart here's to a fresh breeze and a quick passage I trust our friends in America will hear of our safe arrival in eight days or nine at the very latest I looked up quick as was the glance which passed between Flannigan and his Confederate I was able to intercept it there was an evil smile upon the form of thin lips the conversation rippled on politics, the sea amusements, religion each was in turn discussed I remained a silent though interested listener it struck me that no harm could be done by introducing the subject which was ever in my mind it could be managed in an offhand way and would at least have the effect of turning the captain's thoughts in that direction I could watch too what effect it would have upon the faces of the conspirators there was a sudden lull in the conversation the ordinary subjects of interest appeared to be exhausted the opportunity was a favourable one may I ask captain I said bending forward and speaking very distinctly what you think of fenian manifestos the captain's ruddy face became a shade darker from honest indignation they are poor cowardly things he said as silly as they are wicked the impotent threats of a set of anonymous scoundrels said a pompous looking old gentlemen beside him oh captain said the fact lady at my side you don't really think they would blow off a ship I have no doubt they would if they could but I'm very sure they should never blow up mine may I ask what precautions are taken against them after an elderly man at the end of the table all good cent of all this ship are strictly examined said captain do we but suppose a man brought explosives with him I suggest they are too cowardly to risk their own lives in that way during this conversation Flanigan had not betrayed the slightest interest in what was going on he raised his head now and looked at the captain don't you think you are rather underrating them he said every secret society is produced desperate men why shouldn't the Fenyans have them too many men think it a privilege to die in the service of a cause which seems right in their eyes the others may think it wrong indiscriminate murder cannot be right in anybody's eyes said the little clergyman the bombardment of Paris with nothing else said Flanigan yet the whole civilized world agreed to look on with folded arms and changed the ugly word murder into the more euphonious one of war it seemed right enough to Germanize why shouldn't dynamite seem to be so to the Fenyans at any rate their empty vaporings have led to nothing as yet said the captain excuse me return Flanigan but is there not some room for doubt yet as to the fate of the dotterel America have asserted from their own personal knowledge that there was a coral torpedo aboard that vessel then they lied said the captain it was proved conclusively at the court marshal to have arisen from an explosion of coal gas but we had better change the subject or we may cause the ladies to have a restless night and the conversation once more drifted back into its original channel during this little discussion Flanigan had argued his point with a gentlemanly deference and a quiet power for which I had not given him credit I could not help admiring a man who on the eve of a desperate enterprise could courtlessly argue upon a point which must touch him so nearly he had as I have already mentioned partaken of a considerable quantity of wine but though there was a slight flush upon his pale cheek his manner was as reserved as ever he did not join in the conversation again but seemed to be lost in thought a whirl of conflicting ideas was battling in my own mind what was I to do should I stand up now and denounce them before both passengers and captain should I demand a few minutes conversation with the latter in his own cabin and reveal it all for an instant I was half resolved to do it but then the old constitutional timidity came back with redoubled force after all there might be some mistake Dick had heard the evidence and had refused to believe in it I determined to let things go on their course a strange reckless feeling came over me why should I help men who were blind to their own danger sure it was the duty of the officers to protect us not ours to give warning to them I drank off a couple of glasses of wine and staggered upon deck with the determination of keeping my secret locked in my own bosom it was a glorious evening even in my excited state of mind I could not help leaning against the bullocks and enjoying the refreshing breeze away to the westward a solitary sail stood out as a dark speck against a great sheet of flame left by the setting sun I shuddered as I looked at it it was grand but of hauling a single star was twinkling faintly above our main mast but a thousand seemed to gleam in the water below with every stroke of our propeller the only blot in the fair scene was the great trail of smoke which stretched away behind us like a black slash upon a crimson curtain it was hard to believe that the great piece which hung over all nature could be marred by a poor miserable mortal after all I thought as I gazed into the blue depths beneath me if the worst comes to the worst it is better to die here than to linger in agony upon the sick bed on land a man's life seems a very paltry thing amid the great forces of nature all my philosophy could not prevent my shuddering however when I turned my head and saw two shadowy figures at the side of the deck which I had no difficulty in recognising they seemed to be conversing earnestly but I had no opportunity of overhearing what was said so I contented myself with the pacing up and down and keeping a vigilant watch upon their movements it was a relief to me when Dick came on deck the credulous confident is better than none at all well old man he said give me a facetious dig in the ribs we've not been blown up yet no not yet said I but that's no proof that we are not going to be nonsense man said Dick I can't conceive what has put this extraordinary idea into your head I've been talking to one of your supposed assassins and he seems a pleasant fellow enough quite a sporting character I should think from the way he speaks Dick I said I am a certain that those men have an infernal machine and that we are on the verge of eternity as if I saw them putting the match to the fuse well if you really think so said Dick half-walled for the moment by the earnestness of my manner it is your duty to let the captain know of your suspicions you are right I said I will my absurd timidity has prevented my doing so sooner I believe our lives can only be saved by laying the whole matter before him well go and do it now said Dick but for goodness sake don't mix me up in the matter I'll speak to him when he comes off the bridge I answered and in the meantime I don't mean to lose sight of them let me know of the result said my companion and with a nod he strolled away in search I fancy of his partner at the dinner table left to myself I be thought me of my treat of the morning and climbing into the book I mounted into the quarter boat and lay down there in it I could reconsider my course of action and by raising my head I was able at any time to get a view of my disagreeable neighbours an hour passed and the captain was still on the bridge he was talking to one of the passengers a retired naval officer and the two were deep in debate concerning some of truth point in navigation I could see the red tips of their cigars from where I lay it was dark now so dark that I could hardly make out the figures of Flanagan and his accomplice they were still standing in the position which they had taken up after dinner a few of the passengers were scattered about the deck but many had gone below a strange stillness seemed to pervade the air the voices of the watch and the rattle of the wheel were the only sounds which broke the silence another half hour passed the captain was still upon the bridge it seemed as if he would never come down my nerves were in a state of unnatural tension so much so that the sound of two steps upon the deck made me start up in a quiver of excitement I feared over the edge of the boat and saw that our suspicious passengers had crossed from the other side and were standing almost directly beneath me the light of the binnacle fell upon the ghastly face of the ruffian Flanagan even in that short glance I saw that Muller had the Ulster whose use I knew so well slung loosely over his arm I sank back with a groan it seemed that my fatal procrastination had sacrificed two hundred innocent lives as red as the fiendish vengeance which awaited a spy I knew that men with their lives in their hands would stick at nothing all I could do was to cower at the bottom of the boat and listen silently to the whispered talk below this place will do said the voice yes the leeward side is best I wonder if the trigger will act I'm sure it will we were to let it off at ten will we not yes at ten sharp we have eight minutes yet there was a pause then the voice began again down here's a drop of the trigger won't they it doesn't matter it will be too late for anyone to prevent it going off that's true it will be some excitement among those we have left behind won't there rather how long do you reckon it will be before they hear of us the first news we'll get in at about midnight at earliest that will be my doing no mine hahaha we'll settle that there was a pause here then I heard Muller's voice in a ghastly whisper there's only five minutes more how slowly the moment seemed to pass I could count them by the throbbing of my heart it'll make a sensation on land said the voice yes it will make a noise in the newspapers I raised my head and peered over the side of the boat there seemed no hope, no help death stared me in the face whether I did or did not give the alarm the captain had at last left the bridge the deck was deserted safe for those two dark figures crouching in the shadow of the boat Flanigan had a watch lying open in his hand three minutes more he said put it down upon the deck no put it here on the bulwarks it was the little square box the sound that had placed it near the daffod and all was exactly under my head I looked over again Flanigan was pouring something out of a paper into his hand it was white and granular the same that I had seen him use in the morning it was meant as a fuse no doubt for he shoveled it into the little box and I heard the strange noise which had previously arrested my attention a minute and a half more he said show you or I pull the string I will pull it said Muller he was kneeling down and holding the end in his hand Flanigan stood behind with his arms folded and an air of grim resolution upon his face I could stand it no longer my nervous system seemed to give way in a moment stop my screen spring into my feet stop misguided and unprincipled men they first staggered backwards I fancied they thought I was a spirit with the moonlight streaming down upon my pale face I was brave enough now I had gone too far to retreat Cain was damned I cried and he slew that one would you have the blood of two hundred upon your soul he's mad said Flanigan time's up let it off Muller I sprang down upon the deck you shan't do it I said by what right do you prevent us by every right human and divine it's no business of yours clear out of this never said I confound the fellow there's too much at stake to stand on ceremony I'll hold him Muller while you pull the trigger next moment I was struggling in the herculean grasp of the Irishman resistance was useless I was a child in his hands he pinned me against the side of the vessel and held me there now he said look sharp he can't prevent us I felt that I was standing on the verge of eternity half strangled in the arms of the taller Ruffian I saw the other approach to phasal box he stooped over it and seized the string I breathed one prayer when I saw his grasp tighten upon it then came a sharp snap a strange rasping noise the trigger had fallen the sight of the box flew out two grey carrier pigeons little more need be said it is not a subject on which I care to dwell the whole thing is too utterly disgusting and absurd perhaps the best thing I can do is to retire gracefully from the scene and let the sporting correspondence of the New York Herald fill my unworthy place here's an extract clipped from its column shortly after our departure from America pigeon flying extraordinary a novel match has been brought off last week between the birds of John H. Flanigan of Boston and Jeremiah Muller a well-known citizen of Lowell both men had devoted much time and attention to an improved breed of bird and a challenge is an old standing one the pigeons were backed to a large amount and there was considerable local interest in the result the start was from the deck of the transatlantic steamer Spartan 10 o'clock on the evening of the day of starting the vessel being then reckoned to be about 100 miles from the land the bird which reached home first was to be declared the winner considerable caution had we believed to be observed as some captains have a prejudice against the bringing off of sporting events aboard their vessels in spite of some little difficulty at the last moment the trap was sprung almost exactly at 10 o'clock Muller's bird arrived in Lowell in an extreme state of exhaustion on the following morning while Flanigan's has not been heard on the vacas of the latter have the satisfaction of knowing however that the whole affair has been characterised by extreme fairness the pigeons were confined in a specially invented trap we could only be open by the spring it was thus possible to feed them through an aperture in the top but any tampering with their wings was quite out of the question a few such matches would go far towards popularising pigeon flying in America and form an agreeable variety to the morbid exhibitions of human endurance which have assumed such proportions during the last few years end of that little square box by Arthur Conan Doyle recording by Peter Tomlinson