Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1891-08-25
A DUEL UNDER WATER.


''You didn't forget the widow. did You,
Tom, when you paid the lad of? We've
been on a 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"
"Oh no, Bill 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, / 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 win make a good diver
after a little practice, with such men as
you and 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 a walk up to the cottage tonight, and
see what Nancy has to say about it. She
may think it's most too dangerous a bust.
ness for her only boy but Ior', Tom, amt
you and spent half our lives under water
and are none the worse for it nowr
"rhat's SO, Bill. Why, a diver in his
armor, with a good tender at the surface,
is just as safe as a parson in his pulpit
Yes, you'd better 90 and see Nancy" con
tinued Tom reiiectiyely, "and have a talk
with her. And say, mate, see II she wants
anything, so that we can get ii for her afort
we go away again"
IAN right, old man. So longl' and with
that the one who had been addressed as
4 n 4 IA IA
companion, Tom, seated himself upon
divers pumpbox and watched his friend
out Of sight.
The foregoing conversation took plact
on the deck OF q small wrecking schooner
which was lying alongside Of one Of the
wharves in San Francisco, having just ar
rived at that port from trip down tht
coast, where her crew had succeeded in Sc
curing all the valuable materials Of
sunken vessel that had been lost somt
hundred and fifty miles to the northward
Of Cape Sc. Lucas.
The two characters introduced were tht
divers, and firm friends they were, having
worked together continuously for years.
In fact, neither one would accept icon.
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 pas
I sinsy'
NO, cap; you're wrong about the stars
for haven't cast an eye alOft for the las
half hour; but as for the past--yes, l wa
beginning to think over that little.
often think over IL. Sometimes Pm please,
with the recollection, and then again
wish it had been somebody else that has
gone through what Bill and l have, an,
not u.s."
"Why, man, what is it that you an,
your mate have done that you dislike q
recall to mind. I've known you both 70
nearly twenty years, and, though | say
TO your face, / never saw two squarer me
on salt water ia my whole life.
"Well, cap'n, / think we have done prett
near what is right since You sailed in GU
company; but shortly afore you fell
with us there was something that happene
which both Bin and I would give all we al
worth If it hadn't. Although I'm begin
. ming to feel that it might have been for III
best, as it brought forth what little ther
, was of good in the characters Of two men.
MtANN ways ntAAtNNA AhttN AINNN WAS
/ page in your histories which would prov
OF deep interest, but one which you hay
hitherto carefully guarded. Now, If it
not asking too much, l beg that you wi
make a coniidant Of me, and accept Oh
word Of sailor that will never revei
the secret"
At this Tom hesitated ere he began.
cap, although Bill and | never sal
that what happened that day we wouldn
talk about, yet we have mutually kel
silent on the subject, more because
( wasn't real pleasant for either Of US {
I think OF than because we were ashamed
let the world know what COMPOUNDED foo
J. we made Of ourselves, Yes, cap'n, I'll te
j. you. It was way back in '05, when Bi
and were working together on wreC
just inside of Chesapeake bay, betwet
Il Cape Henry light and Hampton roads.
.. I'VE had come down from New Yor
/, and were pretty spruce young chaps in tho
I days. Now, it seemed, although neith
I. one Of us knew it, that we were both thin
ing considerable of the same girl We hi
been aboard ola wrecking schooner, abot
the size of this one, for nearly two week
Ia when one Sunday was oyerhauling n
e. things in the forecas'le, and was lust ia
b, ingout picture Of the little one that /
left up home. Bill came along. and, loo
ing over my shoulder, says, "Hullo. chui
Who have you got theresn
Says l, as honest as could be, handil
him the picture, That's the woman no
" TO be my wife some day
"'Your wifer says he, rs he took {
D. photograph Ny Godl That's Nan
ID Stewart and glancing up, saw Bill st,
1n ing at the picture with his face as white
n new gan-topsl. Then thrusting t
IN likeness into his pocket. he Missed throu
TO his clenched teeth, No, Tom Baxterl S
ne will never be your wifen and, turning,
st sprang up the steps out OF the forecas
d before / could stop him.
bic "As you may imagine, was boiling m,
nd and surprised as we'll. ! followed Bill
lty deck, and saw him sitting on water ca
Is, with both hands up to his face. /