Delta chief., 1883-11-07
WHO IS TO DIE
A Story OF the Southern Seas.
BY DAVID KER

DN ~ lOweE Dodts
ed the captain; and then he muttered
gloomily, to himself. ''It's our only
chance
1t was, indeed. For three days the
French brig ST. Pierre, homeward bound
from the Isle de Bourbon, had fought
against as fierce gale as ever swept
around the stormy Cape of Good Hope.
Captain and crew had done all that
men could do to save the ship, but in
vain. Their only chance now was in
taking to the one boat that the storm
had left them.
As Captain Picard turned round from
giving his orders he found himself sud-
denly face to face with pale. delicate
looking lady in deep mourning. who
had Just come up the after hatchway
with her little boy in her arms.
Poor Madam Lachaux! she might we'll
look worn and sad. Her husband had
gone home, an invalid; her only daugh-
ter had died few weeks before; and
now. Just as there seemed chance of
her seeing home and friends once more,
Death in his worst form was lowering
over herself
Captain Picard broke to her as gently
as possible the fatal news that the ship
was sinking, and that their only hope
was to take to the sea in a small boat.
At this announcement the poor mother S
sickly face grew paler still, and she
pressed her child convulsively in her
arms.
MA 'amselle no fear said huge
Senegal negro, emerging from the
hatchway at that moment: ''old Achille
and Pierro, take care of her and Mons
ieur Henri. too. Monsieur Henri. come
to Achillc?'
He took the child in his arms as he
spoke. while u second negro came up 10
help the Captain in lowering Madam
LachauX into the boat, which was so
iicrccly tossed by the surging waves
that it was no easy matter TO reach il.
Al last the boat was full, and they
showed off. Hardly had they got clear
OF the ship when she gave violent
roll. plunged forward. rose again. and
then. with sound like distant thunder.
the in-rushing water blew up the decks,
and down went the doomed ship head
foremost.
But those in the overloaded boat soon
found that they had only exchanged one
danger for another. The huge waves
that broke over her every moment.
drenching them all to the skin. filled
the boat faster than they could bail her
out; and. crowded together as they were.
they had no room either to row or to
make sail. The sailors whispered to-
gcthcr and looked gloomily at the lady
and her party. and nj last one was
heard to muitcr:
Better get rid Of them that can't
work than OF them that can. anyhow.
''Our lives are n precious to us as
theirs are To them, growIed another.
..If the boats 20, to be lighiencd. they
are the ones To 20"
The Captain. who had heard and un-
dersiood. felt for his pistol. bu, IL WAS
gone. Several sailors were already on
their feet 10 ding the helpless mother
and child overheard. when the two gi-
gantic negroes stepped between.
Look. see. you men. cried Archille:
..you want Tighten boat. Black man
heavier than white lady. Suppose you
swear let madame and Monsieur Henri
live. and Picrrot jump ovcrboardr'
II was all over in n moment. Scarcely
had the savage crew. moved in spite of
themselves. given the required pledge.
than the brave fellows. kissing their
mistrcss's hand and embracing little
Henri with a quiet "Good-by little mas
ter. plunged hcadlong into the sea.
The heroic sacrifice was not made in
vain. The boat, thus ligh,cncd. could
be more easily managed. while the the
gale began nj length to show signs Of
abating. On the following afternoon
they were seen and picked up by an
English schooner, and Il few weeks more
saw Madame Lncha,iN safe in her hus-
band house ut Lyons.
Three months later madame and her
sick husband were on visit to Saint
Malo. the fresh sea air of which was
Thought better for little Henri nt that
season than hot, dusty Lyons. The
child and his mother (this time accom-
pan cd by Monsieur LachauN himsclD
were sitting on bench under the trees
of the boulevard facing the harbor.
when the lady attention was attracted
by few words that fell from n rough
looking man in wcll-worn pilot coat,
who was talking to friend n few yards
off.
"And now that they are here" said
he. rs If finishing a story. II don't know
what to do with them. for they don't
even know where their mistress -
where did you say you picked them
up9' asked his companion.
,"A bit to the sou west of the Cape.
hanging on TO some broken spars that
must have iloatcd on from their vessel
when she founderch. When | found
out that they were Senegal Negroes |