The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-01-26
A RESOLUTE ACTION.

A RESOLUTE ACTION.
Some men seem formed by nature for
the OF '-of-the-way modes of making
money. Such q one was John Dudley,
who chose the calling Of diver, where
rerilous situations are barely faced for
the sake OF higher remuneration.
A bright, honest, and brave young
man, his sense of fear seemed entirely
blupted by constant c~ompanionship
with dam er, and in any undertaking OF
unusual importance one was sure to
find that he led the van.
The adventure l am about to narrate
took place some years ago, when a large
vessel, laden with a valuable cargo
from a South American polt, struck on
a sunken rect off the dangerous coast OF
Florida, and was completely wrecked,
although her passengers and crew were
fortunate enough to escape in the
boats. ,
The owner: lived in New York, and
wishing to secure any part t her cargo
that the salt water had not damaged
much of it being in specie-they fitted
out a large yacht, and engaging the
services OF two divers, n being John
Dudley, to whom they promised gain
only on condition Of success, they set
sail for the scene Of the wreck.
Dudley, with his usual adventurous
disposition, was pl ompted to hazard the
speculation, but another man equally
brave-or equally reckless was not
soon found.
At last, however, Dick Turner, 4
diver, whose bad character was fully
borne out by his v~illainous person, was
induced to take the risk, sign the arti'
cles and ship himself.
He was q coarse, brutal. drunken
rascal, as great q contrast as could be
found to Dudley's frank, clean, honest
nature and cool determination, and from
the moment they saw each other an
antipathy seemed to spring up between
them, causing the younger man, Dud-
ley, to shrink from the others society
aS stssssssa.ggtn- Il -sssas-loat9soDe-
reptile. w.,
This antipathy was shared by all the
Yachts crew, and seemed justihable n
view of the physical as well as moral
responsiveness of the subject.
This Turner had the jaw and profile
of a balloon; his eyes, peering from
under his heavy brows, seemed to look
all WAYS at once and twinkle with
satanic wickedness, and when he
laughed his satanic majesty himself
might have envied his ugly and cunning
grin.
The voyage was fine, and the part off
the coast OF Florida where the wreck
Law was soon reached. There it could
be dimly seen, tar down in the depths Of
the Blue sea, over which troops o.
sharks and strengthening monster
fishes pursued each other in lack OF bet
ter urey. No Pleasant sight for the
divers.
Duoley faced it with his calm strength
and resolute will, that knew no hlnch-
ing in face OF duty, while the other,
uttering fearful curses, took many a
long pull at his brandy flask, mutterlng
that he had been swindled and would
"pay off that other land.shark when he
caught him alone"
This threat certainly did not tend to
increase the young mans confidence IN
his companion; but, knowing there was
no help for it, he encouraged himself by
linking "the more danger the more
money" and busted himself in prepar-
ing his things for the attack on the
sunken vessel.
After about two days. cruising, the
spot was chosen and the yacht anchored.
Tie bell was swung for the plunge, and
the two divers went below to dress for
their descent.
Turner was in his usual evil mood,
swearing and drinking and lunging
about with q huge knife that he stuck
in his bet for water sharks or land
ones either, as the case might be-" said
he, with an evil leer at his companion.
This conduct caused Dudley some
suspicious that all was not right; so,
providing himself with a sharp knife,
he stuck it unobserved down his long
leathern booi, a. the same time resolv-
ing never for q Moment to be OF his
guard.
With such reflections he took lis
place in the bell, and, amidst the hur-
rshs of the crew and tie general excite
ment, they dipped into the sea.
Common life had passed away, and
beaeath the blue wave a new life and
fresh scene, ever-changing and novel,
opened to the two men. The coral
reefs, like grand architectural structures,
covered with beautiful weeds, and va
rious and gorgeous shells of every pos
sible variety of color clinging to them,
rose on every side, while fish, great and
small, Of curious shapes, flew at the APP
proach of the bell as before the sweep
OF the sharks-those monsters OF the
deep, who seemed to grin with t cir
long Jaws at the prospect of g feast on
man.
Down, down, down, till the light was
dim and uncertain, and then they struck
the wreck. Armed with crowbars,
sharp at one end to repulse the sharks,
the two men quilted the bell and sepa-
rated.
Turner burst open the cabin door,
while Dudley went in another direction,
though never losing sight of his COM
. panion for q moment. And so they
spent their first journey, and, after
lading the bell, gave the signal and were
hauled on deck.
The sailors crowded around n va
rious things were discussed and gloated
over; many having been attached to
ropes were hauled up afterward, and
the success was so good that all were
exultart over the possible money-prize
to each. the master dreaming OF q
princely independence.
Several days passed over, and the
greater part of the cargo, uninjured by
salt water, had been hauled On deck,
till the schooner was pretty heavily
laden. The last day of working arrived,
and the two divers were down in the
wreck for the last time. Turner again
wendell his way toward the cabin. and
Dudley-although by this time his sus-
picions regarding the evil intentions of
his companion were ~quieted-still kept
him in view. About halt ar hours gro.
ping about and then Dudley plain saw
the other shufling something beneath
his divers clothes, which he guessed to
be a bag of money. He quietly asked
Turner what it was.
"Whatis itp Why, nothin'! What
in The deuce have We to do with it, any
way p gr0wled the thief.
WELL" rem .rked Dudley, keepi- g
himself as quiet IS p0ss BILE. "You
must tell me what it is "
The deuel. will ! shouted Turn r,
~savagely.
"Ihsnyou shall he forced to when
W. get IN deck" replied tae otser, res
olutely. .
"Ha! ha! Forced. dil you say P'
snee-cd the villain. as. with a cunning,
--1-.l loo1- h. lxn-, bic 1o,~ half,