The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-07
A DUEL UNDER WATER.


been on pretty long cruise this time, and
like enough she'll be in. need of many
more things than the boys wages will buy
for her."
ooh, no, Bill, I didn't forget Nancy.
put two ten dollar bills in an envelope,
one from you, and one from me, and gave
them to the young chap for his mother
But say, Bill, 1 think that on the next
job we'd better dress the boy, and let
him make dip alongside of either one
of Us, while the other tends him My
word for it, he will make good diver
after little practice, with such men as
you and l to teach him the business.
II guess you're right, mate" answered
Bill. ''If Neddy has a liking for the work,
and the widow don't object, the lad might
as well commence now as any time. I'll
take walk up to the cottage tonight, and
see what Nancy has to say about it. She
may think it's most too dangerous bust
ness for her only boy, but Lor', Tom, amt
you and spent half our lives under water
and are none the worse for it now?"
That's so, Bill. Why, a diver in his
armor, with good tender at the surface,
is just as safe as parson in his pulpit.
Yes, you'd better go and see Nancy" con-
tinued Tom refiectively, "and have talk
with her. And say, mate, see if she wants
anything, 50 that we can get it for her afore
we go away again"
"All right, old man. So longp' and with
| that the one who had been addressed as
Bill turned and walked away, while his
companion, Tom, seated himself upon a
divers pumpbox and watched his friend
out of sight.
The foregoing conversation took place
on the deck of d small wrecking schooner
which was lying alongside Of one of the
wharves in San Francisco, having just ar
rived at that port from a trip down the
coast, where her crew had succeeded in Sc
curing all the valuable materials of a
| sunken vessel that had been lost some
hundred and fifty miles to the northward
of Cape st. Lucas.
The two characters introduced were the
divers, and firm friends they were, having
worked together continuously for years.
In fact, neither one would accept ''con-
tract" unless the other was included
within its terms.
Bill had just disappeared, when the cap
tain of the schooner emerged from the
cabin and approached the solitary figure
on deck.
''Ah, Tom" he began, loosely; count
ing the stars, or thinking over your past
sins?"
mo, cap; you're wrong about the stars,
for haven't cast an eye aloft for the last
half hour; but as for the past-yes, 1 was
beginning to think over that little. l
often think over it. Sometimes I'm pleased
with the recollection, and then again /
wish it had been somebody else that had
gone through what Bill and l have, and
not u.s."
'Why, man, what is it that you and
your mate have done that you dislike to
recall to mind. I've known you both for
nearly twenty years, and, though l say it
to your face, / never saw two squarer men
on salt water in my whole life"
"Well, cap'n, think we have done pretty
near what is right since you sailed in our
company; but shortly afore you fell in
with us there was something that happened
which both Bill and Iwould give all we are
worth if it hadn't. Although Pm begin
ming to feel that it might have been for the
best, as it brought forth what little there
was of good in the characters of two men,"
81 have always believed that there was a
page in your histories which would prove
of deep interest, but one which you have
hitherto carefully guarded. Now, if it is
not asking too much, / beg that you will
make a confidant of me, and accept the
word of a sailor that will never reveal
the secret"
At this Tom hesitated ere he began
Gap, although Bill and I never said
that what happened that day we wouldn't
talk about, yet we have mutually kept
silent on the subject, more because it
wasn't real pleasant for either of US to
think of than because we were ashamed to
let the world know what confounded fools
we made of ourselves Yes, cap'n, I'll tell
you. 1t was way back in '65, when Bill
and | were working together on wreck
lust inside of Chesapeake bay, between
Cape Henry light and Hampton roads.
eve had come down from New York.
and were pretty spruce young chaps in those
days. Now, it seemed, although neither
one of Us knew it, that We were both think
ing considerable of the same girl We had
been aboard of wreching schooner, about
the size Of this one, for nearly two weeks,
when one Sunday ! was oveThauling Inv
things in the forecaS'le, and was Just tax
ing out a picture of the little one that I'd
left up home. Bill came along. and, look
ing over my shoulder. says, "Rullo. chum.
Who have you got theref7
Says |, as honest as could be, handing
him the picture, That's the woman hope
20 be my wife some day
Your wifep says he, as ne took the
photograph. Ny Godl That's Nancy
Stewart and glancing up, saw Bill star
ing at the picture with his face as white as
a new gaff-tops'l Then thrusting the
likeness into MS pocket, he Kissed through
his e!enched teeth, No, Tom Baxter! She
Will never he your wifer ard, turning, he
spTang up the steps out of the fore AISLE
before | could stop him.
LAS you may imagine, was boiling mad |
and surprised As we'll. | followed Bill on
deck. and saw him sitting on water cask
with both hands up 10 his face. | sp-
preached him. and touching him on the
shoulder | asked rs gently as ! could for
the return OF the picture
AS be looked up TO me the expression CT
his coantenance was that OF maniac: his |
features were distorted with either anger
or anguish, l knoe not which
Come, come, ! said after pause. dur |
ing which my chum glared vacantly at
me Give me back the photograph
The answer ] received was blow. sn2
down went as though shot, with Bill On
top. was considerably stronger than he /
IN those days, and soon got the best OF the /
affair held Bill down on deck with one
hand at his throat, and with the other |
pulled the picture from his pocket; but in !
doing SO il was torn in two, and only Sc |
cured one half. AT this instant our ship |
mates separated US, and for the rest OF that |
day we avoided each other as much as Dos
sible.
ION Monday morning, as we were dress |
ing ourselves side by side as usual. ready /