Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1891-05-29
A DUEL UNDER WATER.

"A DUEL UNDEh w Allen.
''You didn't forget the widow, did you,
Tom, when you paid the lad off? We've
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."
"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, I think that Oh 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 to teach him the business.
81 guess you're right, mate" answered
Bill. eff Neddy has liking for the work,
and the widow don't object, the lad might
as well commence now as any time. Pll
take 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 Lor', Tom, amt
you and spent half our lives under water
and are none the worse for it now?"
sThat'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 go and see Nancy" con-
tinued Tom refectively, 'and have talk
with her. And say, mate, see if she wants
SO that we can get it for her afore
we go away again"
Gail right, old man. So long!" 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 q small wrecking schooner
which was lying alongside of one Of the
wharyes 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
sunken vessel that had been lost some
hundred and fifty miles to the nerthWard
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 econ
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; 'scount-
ing the stars, or thinking over your past
sins?"
's'No, 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, was
to think over that little. l
often think over it. Sometimes I'm pleased
with the recollection, and then again l
wish it had been somebody else that had
gone through what Bill and I have, and
not u.s."
"Why, man, what is it that you and
your mate have done that you dislike to
recall to mind. Pve known you both for
nearly twenty years, and, though 1 say it
to your face, l never saw two squarer men
on salt water in my whole life"
swell, 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 would 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
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, I beg that you will
make a confidant of me, and accept the
word of sailor that will never reveal
the secret"
At this Tom hesitated ere he began.
"Cap, although Bill and / 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 COMPOUNDED fools
we made of ourselves. Yes, capn, I'll tell
YOU. It was way back in '65, when Bill
and were working together on q wreck
just inside of Chesapeake bay, between
Cape Henry light and Hampton roads.
'sWe had come down from New York,
and were pretty spruceyoung chapsi 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 ola wrecking schooner, about
the size Of this one, for nearly two weeks,
when one Sunday was oyerhauling my
things in the forecas'le, and was just TAX
ing out picture of the little one that I'd
left up home. Bill came along, and, look
ing over my shoulder, says, "Hullo. chum.
Who have you gop there?"
s'Says I, as honest as could be, handing
him the picture, That's the woman hope
to be my wife some day.
"FYour Wifep says he, as he took the
photograph. My God That's Nancy
StewartP and glancing up, saw Bill star
ing at the picture with his face as white as
a new gaff-topsl Then thrusting the
likeness into his pocket, he Kissed through
his elenched teeth, No. Tom Baxterl She
will never be your wifep and, turning, he
sprang up the steps out of the forecas'le
before could stop him.
las you may imagine, was boiling mad,
and surprised as well. I followed Bill on
deck, and saw him sitting on water cask
with both hands up to his face. l ap-
preached him, and touching him on the
shoulder I asked as gently as I could for
the return of the picture.
Gas he looked up to me the expression OF
his countenance was that of a maniac; his
features were distorted with either anger
or anguish, know not which.
"'Cone, come said after pause, dur
ing which my chum glared vacantly at
me. Give me back the photograph
'The answer received was blow, and
down I went as though shot, with Bill on
top I 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 it 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 pos
sible.
''On Monday morning, as we were dress
ing ourselves side by side as usual, ready