The Opelousas courier., 1890-11-01

keep together to throw him overheard
but the miserable life did not seem worti
| taking. The once PROSPEROUS young
fellow was sick, hopeless. and forlorn
and one night, as Ralph paated over {
hard task, to which he was not equal
| Dick, yielding to some queer influence
that came upon him, asked the Captain
to let him take his place, change viii
him
my work is easier done by a man
| short of breath, " he said.
ssDo as you please" the Captain re-
Piled, grufiy. tsThat's a stupid lubber.
ANYHOW. Sick fellows should stay a
| shore"
Dick said: "Thank ye." And per-
formed Ralph's task.
The poor fellow was grateful, and told
the story of Dicks kind deed to every
one.
aWhen that asthma m on me I'm
no good" he said. SHE saved my life
that night"
sim q foollo Dick said to himself, but
he continued to be one. Instead of max
| ing the poor, sick fellows lot harder, he
helped him in a thousand ways; and the
example being set, it got to be the fash
| ion to spare Ralph, to speak of him as
"That poor chap!" and favor him in
| every way.
.sHere's a fool for you" said Dick, as
he looked in his queer little round glass
| of a morning. GAS big a fool as sails. y
The voyage was not a lucky ne. The
| Captains ventures were not successful.
He solaced himself with drink, and lay
| tipsy in his berth on the night when a
| storm, such as few live to tell of, broke
over them.
For two awful days the wind and
water did what they choose with the
Betsy Belle. Then, in the worst of the
tempest, they took to the boats. AS
Dick, having helped to drag the tipsy
Captain into one, was about to take his
own place, a forlorn figure stretched out
its arms to him. In dumb show, for
| words could not be heard, it indicated it
| had hurt itself, and needed help to gain
the boat.
.Don't leave me-" its hollow eyes said:
ttgive me a chance"
The miserable thing was Ralph Hollo-
way, covered with blood, faint with pain
and horror.
Revenge, why, here it was offered to
Dick. He could cast away those cling
ing hands, jump into the boat, and leave
| the man who had stolen his sweetheart
to his wretched death. He could look
back as he left the ship, and see E1lm in
his misery stretching out imploringSaa lands
toward him. Yes, he could. What he
lodid was to take the miserable being on
his back, and risk his life to tumble him
into the boat.
She's too full already" yelled one
man--s'too full by a hanged sightl"
sits the sick one, matesl" roare1
Dick. Aud when there was calm enough
he ore his own garments to bind Hollo-
ways wounds.
Storms do not last forever, but when
ssne gale subsidized and the scorching sun
shone down, and they tossed about,
knowing that the time must come when
biscuit-bag and water-keg and brandy
flask must be empty-then came the
worst horror OF all. They doled the bis
cult out by crumbs, the water by drops,
but even SO it would not last forever.
sDlck, good friend, said Ralph one
day, s.ali I pray for IS to live and see
Efffie. and ask her pardon for anything
I've done wrong, She liked me, though
she was toachy. She'll grieVe If | leaSe
her q widow, poor grill"
For awhile Dick sat silent and said
nothing. 1t was the day on which they
| divided the last Of the food.
Two days after a man arose in the
boat with a knife in his hand.
81 won't staTve fer one he said.
lone Of us has got to go to ave the
rest ; you're the one.o
He pointed straight at Ralph; there
Was frenzy in his eye.
The others hauled him down. AS vet
they were not mad enough to join in q
eannibM feast. But starvation was,do-
ing its work.
Dick k~eptstronger and clearer in mind
than the rest. He watched the man who
had welded the knife. In the night he
saw him creeping toward Ralph. A
blow sent him sprawiing; his comrades
were aroused.
.Why notan they began to whisper.
.tIhcy will kill me YETI moaned
Ralph. sEaie will go crazy if she hears
the story
Revengel Why, it was offered to
Dick in overlooking measure. Aud he
put his strong, stout body between the
miserable Ralph and those Others and
| cried out:
aMates, we won't starve yet, I've kept
something to the last. I've got a flask
Of whisky and six biscuits N my pocket.
{ kept them for the last msspent, share
and share alike
The eager eyes turned on him-they
allowed Dick to portion out the food. It
was very little, but it meant that they
would moi starve that day. And each
time they drank from the flash, Dick for
hade himself half his portion and
gave b larger allowance TO Ralph; 90
with the biscuit also.
Alasl when these were gone there was
aothing more.
Again tiends eyes glared at Ralph. At
last " cast back from their attack on
am BY Dick, ciutched each other, and
IN q mad struggle went overheard. An
other, quite insane, fancied he saw a feast
spread near him, sprang toward it, and
was gone.
Others slept and awakened no more.
And nov Dick and Ralph we're alone in
the boat.