The Forrest City times., 1889-11-09
A DOOMED SHIP.

Out on the broad blue ocean. not fal from the equator, thousands of mile: from any land, lying motionless on { calm sea, was . dismasted ship. Moth ing remained of her taunt masts ant spars but the mizzenmast, the bow spirit, and jib and flying jib-booms From the mizzen topsail and cross jack yards hung few ragged strips ol canvas, and out at the far ends of the flying jib-booms depended part of tn, stay and some fragments of Il sail, torn and rent, just as it had been left after the fierce gale which had render ed this gallant ship so helpless { wrecK. Not breath of wind was stirring in the heavens, not cloud was in the deep-blue sky, not ripple or flaw disturbed the far-stretch ing ocean. It was high noon, and the sun was almost vertical. All was si. lent The sun was pouring down Its fierce tropical rays on the blistered deck and on the vast, calm sea. There she lay, spectral ship upon silent ocean. There was not sign of life on board; not a sound could be heard, except now and again when a swirl o water made the rudder-chains rattle and crack. as the wheel moved a few sposes backward and forward; or when an albatross Tapped up from the sen, lowered over the ship, and then flew away in the distance.
 The day passes slowly. as many days had passed. As the stars appeared. suddenly there came from the cuddy window a stream of light, and man. gaunt and emaciated, peered out on tc the deserted deck A few minutes afterward another geam Of light shot from n small aperture in the door oI the forecastle deck house, and two eyes cruel, reddish-hrown eyes also peered cautiously out These two mon had been for days waiting and watch. ing for each others death. They were the captain and mate of the ves- sel. who, when the crew had taken to the boats, had refused to desert her. For days and weeks how many they had no idea, for they had lost all coun, of me-they had been alone on the painless deep. To the torture of hunger was now added the agony ol raging thirst-a thirst which neither wine nor brandy would quench, but rather intensity.
 Anything more more horrible than their situation can not be imagined. and the dreadful conviction was being forced upon them that they must die.
 This was the state of affairs three days previous to the opening of thi. story. The captain was sitting with his eyes apparently closed, and the mate was watching him with eager, hungry eyes. Up to this point the mate had been the most hopeful of the two; but now he had abandoned himself to despair
 No succor could reach them, he nbNNt oAAlS tlAc tstANiI ldSttl. hIl lukS was not the thought that was haunting his mind, "One Of them must die-the . death of the one would be the preser- yatiou of the other This was thc mental refrain which. as it were formed the chorus 10 every other thought The death of one would be the preservation Of the other
 He sat there eyeiug the captain wiil Il diabolical leer. He was no longer a man; ho was a demon. Suddenly he started up. By a revulsion of feeline which is not uncommon in such cases, he had passed from helpless de- spoudency into furious delirium With hoarse cry he sprang at Capt, Dunnett, brandishing long knife in his hand. A fierce struggle ensued; il was short and sharp. and the mate after being disarmed, was pushed for. ward, and fell violently upon tho deck Capt Dunuett was the younger and stronger of the two, and. had he been so inclined, could have dispatched the mate with ease; but he contented him. self with disarming him, threw the knife into the sea, retreated to the cabin and shut and locked the door
 The mate after this grew more furi- ous, and after vainly attempting to en- ter the cabin withdrew to the fore. castle and took up his abode there; and now for three days he had been waiting and watching for the captain 5 death
 To be buried alive has been thought to be beyond question the most pain ful of all deaths; but it is doubtful if the long-urawn agouies which were being endured by these two men were not more painful o' the two.
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