Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-03-01


swimming in the wake of the ship. /
looked at them for awhile as II fascinated,
and then with a shudder turned away. /
never went near the taffrail that did not
look, and they were always close under the
stern.
AS for Peyton, | thought he was going
mad He attended to his duties as dill
gently as ever, looked after the sick as well
as he could, and kept the survivors OF his
crew to their duties, took the days re exon
ing, and recorded the days run; but he
hardly ever spoke, except to give necessary
orders.
For hours together he would pace about
the quarterback, muttering-'It's my do
ing! it's all my doingi We shall all diei
we shall all die! but my time has not come
yetr'
Once, when | ventured to suggest that
he should cast the Lady Jane" off lat the
instance of some of the men. who had got
it into their heads that so long as we had
the fever ship in tow the fever would never
leave us) he turned on me almost fiercely.
"No'' he exclaimed; 81 shall not cast her
off Why should ~ What harm has she
done3 / am doomed-we are all doomed
and the salvage will be provision for my
wife and family. Don't you understand
4 provision for my wife and family, that's
why. But it's useless to discuss the sub
ject or give my reasons. I absolutely re-
fuse to cast the ship Off; let that suffice"
He was doomed, but not to die of yellow
fever.
The very next morning, when | went on
deck, BucklOw told me, with a significant
look, that the captain had been taken i'll
in the night, and seemed in very bad way.
went to him at once. BuCklOw spoke
truly. The captain was, in truth, in very
bad way. He had all the symptoms which
| now knew so well. Although the tenn
perature of his cabin was nearly eighty,
and his skin hot and dry, he shivered con
tinually. He had a terrible headache, too,
and, albeit still sensible, rambled at times
in his talk, and | doubted not would soon
become quite deliTiOus.
yellow Jack has got hold of me now"
he said, trying to smile. ~ thought he
would; but not 50 soon, not so soon. Twas
quite well last night. What think you
nOw-is a man safer at sea or ashOre2 Are
these adventures to your taste, Erle2 You
will have more, more, and pleasanter ones,
! hope. Sorry | asked you to come with
me. Turned out badly, hasn't it? If had
known what would happen, you may be
sure | would have given that brig a wide
berth. But now it is too late! and the sal
wage, you know, will be provision for the
wife and children. Poor wifel poor chill
drenl | shall never see them again, Erie
never again! Give them my love when
you get home, and say / thought about
them to the last. | knew your father; he
was a very good friend; yes, a very good
friend / was second officer of the Or
ontes' when he and your mother were pas
sengers; you were passenger, tOO-a little
chap about two years old. | remember
You well; used to trot you about on my
shoulder How did they get to St Thomas'S
That is where they came on board Oh, |
~ p7KuId pun 'a0gId 7Vl LaAo IU uRI G7QL
isp9IpunH islpHr 'punOL AUnJIg5J ~!
-HOoI pun '9oloA SUI u!L9MoI-.S4Q5!u 7Ql
III Mgs | TulVl nOG OPP lgVM 'Gus 'oqm0B
-IHN WOIJ UP5uIWJ III! sBM lRQl 's9E
:oq!BoBlnIV UuoU UQonpJ u!-L7qm9m5I
leap-frog on my bed-they did-playeu 49,
Ieap-frog on my bed. And could neither
touch them nor call out. My arms were
fastened To my sides, and my tongue re-
fused to move And what do you thinkf
But don't tell anybody. A great yellow
one-twicp as big MS any Of the others-a
great yellow one, with black whiskers, and
white teeth, and fierce red eyes, came aud
sat on my chest and spat at me. 1t gave
me the fever curse i'll Get dogs and cats;
set traps; lay poison. Kill It'll kill it! Kill
that cursed yellow rat, or you will all die.
A little more of that CGu-dC- Cologne,
please; on my eyeballs this time. Thanks.
And now will drink again. This thirst
IS terrible. | am very ill., Erie"
remained with him al hour or more,
LAYING his head with cGU-dC Cologne and
giving him some drink, and then, leaving
him with his boy for awhile, went outside
to get n breath Of fresh air, the cabin be-
! ing both close and hot
BucklOw was still on deck
How long will he last, do you Think"
he asked
Perhaps until tomorrow" ! answered,
glOOmily. "They have all gone on the
second day, or sooner, so far; and Peyton
has it very badly. | am afraid he will be
wildly delirious. Somebody should be
with him continually"
You have left the boy, suppose?"
Eyes; and shall go back in a few min
utes."
"How long will this last, 7 wonder? It's
helll I'll tell you what, Erie. l have a
great mind to cast that cursed brig Off on
my own authority. We have had no luck
since we saw her. am in command now
Do you think | might?"
Certainly. Cast her Off, by all means,
and let us make all the haste we can for
MOnteyidco, while there's somebody to
navigate and sail the ship; and if"
"Ratsi RatsI Ratsl There's that great
yellow one with the red eyesl I'll catch
him, If die for i'll Ali he is making for
the Lady Jane is hc-F'
my GodI what is that" exclaimed
BuCklow, as we both turned from the taft
rail, over which we had been leaning.
1t was the captain running across the
deck in his shirt, and at the same instant,
and before either of us could raise a hand
TO stop him, he sprung on the bulwark and
jumped into the sea.
The mate, with ready presence of mind,
threw n buoy after him, at the same time
ordering the ship to be brought to and a
boat to be lowered.
My first impulse was to follow Peyton
and try to save him
"Don't" said Bucllow. laying his hand
on my shoulder. He can swim better
than you can. Aud, see, It would be GER
tain death"
The captain was swimming with power
full strokes toward the Lady Jane" in
the very midst Of n shoal of sharks. They
were all round him, and even before he
reached the brig one OF the creatures turn
ed on its back for the fatal bite. An ago
nized scream, pitcous look from fever
stricken face, a swirl Of the waters as the
wild beasts of the sea fought with each
other for their prey, and all was over
1t seemed too terrible to be real Ny
brain was in a whirl; felt sick and giddy:
and had not Bucklow put his arm around
me, should have fallen on the deck.
Don't give way" he said. kindly. "Hor-
rid sight as it was, it is perhaps better so.
Poor Peyton has been spared a long agony.
1t was not three minutes from the time Of
his jumping overheard to his death I'd
rather die like that than rs some OF our
poor fellows have died just one crunch.
and it's over Comet l lam going to cast
the brig OF cannot bear the sight of
Eer"
Sink her, and so prevent the disasters
that have befallcn us from Detailing 9TH
ers"
I'VE cannot She is timber laden"
"Burn her, then"
Il did not think OF that. Yes, we will
burn her; and those cursed rats with her,
if there are any left. VIII YOU come with
me- and we will set her on fire, and bring
those two fellows off. How they have es-
capped, Heaven only knows"
with all my heart"
The dingey was lowered at once. and
"a with rs .xas q,