The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1889-08-09
CHAPTER K.

The fiddle ended in mid-tune. and the men
crowded aft with anxious faces.
The captain soundel the well, and found
three and II half feet of water in it. He or
dered oil h0nds to the pumps.
They turned to with good heart, and
pumped watch and watch. till daybreak.
Their exertions counteracted the leak, but
did no more; the water in the well was nei-
ther more nor less, perceptibly.
This was a relief to their minds SO far; but
the situation WIS q very serious one. Sup.
pose foul whether should come, and the Yea.
sci slip water from above us we'll!
Now oil those who were not on the pumps
set to work to find out the leak and stop it
II possible. With candles in their hands,
they crcpt about the ribs ofthe ship, narrow.
ly inspecting every corner, and applying their
ears to every suspected place. if hnply they
might hear the water coming in. The place
where Hazel had found Wylie Mt work WIS
examined, along with the rest; but neither
there nor anywhere else could the leak be
discovered. Yet the water was still coming
In, and required unremitting labor to keep it
under. 1t was then suggested BY Wyie, and
tho opinion gradually gained GROUND. that
some OF the seams had opened in the late
guile. and were letting in the water by small
hut numerous hpertures.
Faces began to look cloudy; and Hazel
throwing off his lethnrgy, took his spell ut
the main pump with the rest.
When his gang was relieved he went away,
bathed in Precipitation, and, leaning over the
we'll. sounded 1t.
While thus employed. the mate come DO.
"Sce what has come fus with your forbod.
ingsl 1t 10 the unluckiest thing In the world
to talk about losing ship whom she is ut
sea-
"You are more dangerous man on board
ship than am, was Hazel's prompt re-
ply e vel, now o.vs an ;nc,.,.. ., thru.
inches.
Mr. Hazel now showed excellent qualities.
he worked like u horse; and, finding the mate
skulling. he reproached him before the men.
and, stripping him naked to the waist, in.
vited him to do n mans duty. The mate,
thus challenged. complied with scowl.
They labored for their lives. and thequnn.
tity OF water they discharged from the shin
was astonishing; not less than a hundred
and ten tons every hour.
They gained upon the leal-on " two inches;
| but, in the struggle for life this was IN i'm.
mense victory. 1t was the turn OF the tide.
slight breeze sprung up from the south.
west. and the captain ordered the men from
the buckets to nuke all soil on the ship the
pumps still going.
When this was done. he altered the ship's
course, and put her right before the wind,
steering for the island of Juan Fernandez.
distant eleven hundred miles. or thereabouts.
Probably It was the best thing hecould do,
in that awful waste OF water. But its effect
ON the senmen was had. 1t was like giving
rind; and the cold, passionless water seized
the advantage. 1t Is possible, too, that the
motion Of the ship through the seq aidetl thu
leak.
The Proserpine glided through the water
all night, like some terror-stricken creature
and the incessant pumps seemed to be her
poor heart, beating loud with breathless
fear.
| At daybreak she had gone hundred and
twenty miles. But this was balanced by q
new and alarming feature. The water from
the pumps no longer came up pure, but mix
ed with what appeared to be blood.
This got redder and relder. and strucl
| crew.
Even Cooper, whose heart was stout. lean
ed over the bluwarks. and eyed the rec
stream, gushing into the sea from the le,
scuppers and said aloud, '.Ay, bleed to death
ye hitch. We nha'n't BE- long behind ye."
Hazel inquired, and found the ship had &
quantity OF dys:wood amonst her cargo; h,
hearts by his words and his example.
| He succeeded with some; but others shool
their heads. And by and by. even while b,
was working double tides for them as well al
for himself, ominOus murmurs met his ear
"Parson aboard" MAN aboard, will
ltothsr world in his face!" And there wer,
| sinister glances to match.
lie told this, with some alarm, to Welcf
and Cooper. They promised to stand By
him; and WEIGH told him it was oil the mate
doings he had gone amongst the men, ant
poisoned them.
The wounded vessel, with her ever.beatins
heart, had run three hundred miles on TIL
new track. She had almost ceased to bleed
but what was as bad, or worse, small frag
ments of her cargo and stores came vi
| with the wuter. and their miscellaneous char
actsr showed how deeply the sea had no,
penetrated.
This, and their great fatigue, began to de
moraliEe the sailors. The pumps and bucket
we're still piled, but it was no longer with tn
uniform manner Of brave and hopeful men
Some stuck doggedly to their work. but 9th
srs got Hurried, and ran from one thing t.
another Now and then man would stop
and burst out crying; then to work again Il
q desperate way. One or two lost heart al
together, and had to he driven. Finally, ON
or two succumbed under the unrsmitting Ia
Dor. DespairGrept over others; their featursi
began to change so much no that cavern