The Sully County watchman. (Clifton, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1894, 1888-11-24

| 1t was fairly clear now, for most of the
people were on deck and she found her
way TO the child's cabin with but little
difficulty. There was light in it, and the
first glance showed her that the nurse had
goue-gonc, and deserted the child-for
there It lay, asleep, with smile upon his
little round face. The shock had scarcely
wakened the boy, and, knowing nothing
of shipwrecks. he had just shut his eyes
and gone TO sleep again.
"Dick, Dick!' she said, shaking him.
He yawned and sat up. and then threw
himself down again saying "Dick sleepy"
Eyes, but Dick must wake up, and
auntie" Che called her "auntie'O will
take him up on deck 10 look for Mummy.
Won't it be nice to 80 on deck in the dark?"
"Yes," said Dick, with confidence; and
Augusta took him or her knee and hur.
ried him into such OF his clothes rs came
handy, as quickly as she could. On tho
cabin door was n warm little pea-iacket
which the child wore when it was cold.
| This she put on over his blouse and fan
mel shirt, and then, by au aftcr-thought,
took the two blankets of his bunk and
wrapped them round him. At the foot of
the nurses bed was box Of biscuits and
some milk The biscuits she empted into
the child as much of the milk as he would
drink, swallowed the rest herself Then,
pinning shawl which lay about round
her own shoulders, she took up the child
and made her way with him Oh TO the
deck. At the head of the companion she
met Lord Holmhurst himself, rushing
down to look nt the child.
II have got him, Lord Holmhurst," she
ri,.,, l,,a, ,s
your wife?"
BLESS you!" he said, fervently; lyon are
good girl Bessie is aft somewhere:
would not let her come. They are trying
TO keep the people OFF the boats-they are
all madr'
''Are we sinking%" she asked family.
GOD knows-ahl here is the Captain"
pointing to n man who was walking, OF
rather pushing his way, rapidly toward
them through the maddened, screeching
mob. Lord Holmhurst caught him by the
arm
''Let me Co." he said roughly, trying to
shake himself loose. "Oh! it is you, Lord
Holmhurst."
''Yes, step in here for one second and tell
us the worst; speak up, man, and let Us
know ALL"
We have run down q whaler of about five
hundred tons, which was cruising along
under reduced canvas and showing no
lights. Our fore compartment is stove
right in, bulging out the plates on each
side OF the cutwater and loosening the
fore bulkhead. The carpenter and his
mates are doing their best to shore it up
from the inside with balks OF timber, but
fha yynfnr 10 rprnip in lfl-a n r,,jllrnca onl
| fear that there are other injuries. All
the pumps are at work, but there's deal
of water. and if the bulkhead goes"
"We shall go, too" said Lord Holm
hurst, calmly. "Well, we must take to
the boats. Is that all?"
''In Heavens name, is not that enough"
said the Captain, looking up, so that the
light that was fixed in the companionway
threw his ghastly face in bold relief mo,
Lord Holmhurst, it is not all. The boats
will hold something over three hundred
people. There are about one thousand
souls aboard the Kangaroo of whom more
than three hundred are women and chill.
dren."
Therefore the men must drown" said
Lord Holmhurst, quietly. Gods will be
donen'
"your Lordship viii, of course. take
place in the boats" said the Captain, hur
riedly. Il have ordered them to be pre-
pared, and, fortunately, day is breaking
! rely upon you to explain matters to the
owners if you escape, and clear my char
acter. The boats must make for Kerguelen
Land. 1t is about seventy miles to the
eastward"
You must give your message to some
o hn .sr
shall stay and share the fate of the other
men"
There was no pomposity about Lord
Holmhurst now-all that had gone-and
nothing but the simple, gallant nature Of
the English gentleman remained.
"No, no." said the Captain, as they hur-
ried aft, pushing their way through the
fear-distracted crowd. Have you got
your revolver?"
''Yes"
.Wen, then, keep it handy; you may have
to use it presently; they will try and rush
the boats"
BY this time the gray dawn was slowly
breaking, throwing cold and CHASTITY
light upon the hideous scene of terror
Round about the boats were gathered the
officers and some of the crew, doing their
DeSt 10 prepare lnen Ior lowering. III
deed, one had already been got away. In
II was Lady Holmhurst, who had been
thrown there against her will, shrieking
for her child and husband, and about O
score of women and children, together
with half dozen sailors and an officer.
Augusta caught sight of her friends
face in the faint light Bessie! Bessie!
Lady Holmhurstp' she cried II have
got the boy. 1t is ali right have got the
boy"
She heard her. and waved her hand
wildly toward her; and then the men in
the boat gave way, and in second it was
out of earshot just then n tall form
seized Augusta by the arm. She looked
up; it was Mr.. Tombey, and she saw that
in his other hand he held revolver.
THANK God!' he shouted in her ear. 81
have found you! This way-this way
quick" And he dragged her aft to where
two sailors, standing by the dayits that
supported small boat, were los cring her
! to the level OF the bulwarks.
| "Now then, women" shouted an officer
who Was in charge of the operation. Some
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