The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-08

bear his Ignorance of the apparent mys-

bear his ignorance of the apparent mys-
terry any longer.
Il will tell you in a few minutes. after we
have done what VIC can for the unfortunate
man below replied the chief.
BY this time the airship had described a
huge circle. and was making back for tho
scene of starvation and despair.
But il you are not going to descend,
how on earth can you do anything?" in
quired Royal, wonderinRly.
Hand me your keys to the provision
Closet was all that the sergeant deiRned
TO answer.
The quiet tutor oaught the idea.
"AhN' he exclaimed, pointing to the open
window at the bottom of the car. The
commander nodded.
1--WE will drop two montha' provisions
| and some furs,'' said the sergeant laooni-
cally.
Already he was throwing boxes of penn
miean, canned meats, vegetables nd fruits
madly into the main room.
"There he is!' cried Jack, posrinR ahead
and below. "Ill bet you q dollar he hasn't
a fire!'
ITS his own fault. them" answered
Sergeant Willtwig. HE has plenty of
fuel. There is the whole ship"
But perhaps he hasn't q match!"
THAT is probably SO; then of what use
are the proviaions?' suggested the tutor.
bar1 a. sa ,se ~ in 81. .s s Ssat T sime. ee frozen as
- no Al ~ hVuA . AAaAC
This thought. which was probably the
truth of the dismal matter, affected the
company aboard the Aeropole according to
their t~emperanants.
Tile ought to have devised some means
of lighting up" said Prof. Wilder.
softly.
'I'll bet he'd give 81, 600 for a luoifer?"
replied Jack Hardy, dryly.
why not drop him down a few?" sug-
Rested Royal. 49,
"That Is what humanity calls for, and
| expedition with a hollow voice.
"Ahv" whistled Royal to himself. He had
| forgotten. He now understood.
I The sergeant took from his breast pocket
the precious tin hox that contained all the
matches they possessed. He counted them
would increase their humble But no!
There remained exactly thirty-one. and no
more.
How many shall we give him, gentle
menW he asked. "lt is for you to say"
There was a silence, for none dared an
swer.
shall we give him moro than onep" de-
manded the sergeant. in an expressisuless
| tone.
The four men nodded eagerly.
"ThreeT' continued theit leader.
The travellers looked ut each other doubt
fully. jack half shook his head.
"Yes!' said the tutor bravely. Professor
| Wilder encouraged this decision with Il Wig
orous and generous assent of the head.
-Four" continued Sergeant Willtwig,
pitilessly. No one could tell by his voice
| whether ho was inclined to give four or not.
Faces dark with doubt mot the inquirine
| glance Of the sergeant. There was no AN
swer this timo. That extra match might
rave their own lives, ID might slso do "a
much for the outoast below. The hazard
WAS too great for an expression of liber-
slity.
II say, cap'n," breke in the tutor at this
point. Give him his share, and DO
lone with il. There are ELECTROMAGNETIC
the fellow five. My conscience won't be
clean unless you do"
This muni6oent suggestion created a SEN
sation. but the leaders, face lost memo of it's
stolidity, His eyes softensd for n moment,
az the young man spoke, and then roEained
their SGT expression.