Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1893-05-25


to the bitter cold was the chill OF fear.
We drew close together to diagnosti.
cate our case. Naturally we looked
to the captain for advice, and when
asked what we should do, he said,
tersely:
stick here till morning Then we
can get our bearings, and shape our
course accordingly"
Now, when the brig stuck, we had
had n close call, and so had a chance to
save nothing but what we stood In.
The captains advice was excellent as
far as II went; but to stay where we
were, huddled together like so many
frightened sheep, meant certain death,
and the dawn, as IL broke, would fall
UNDECIDED on fifteen frozen corpses
that. n few hours before, had been tho
crew OF the little gallant Jenny Lind.
Jim now came 10 the front, and, In his
rough, surly way, said; "As how I've
made an observation OF these here
parts, and calculate there Ia room
enough 70 move round in, provided you
fellcrs have brains enough 10 do IT,"
We accordingly acted on his sugges.
ton. and Jim at our head as pilot, we
commenced 10 wnlk around In circle.
thrashing our hands and endoavoring
TO force the blood into greater activity
through our stiffening bodies Almost
| from the minute we landed on tho ice
Jim had an eye always on Walter, the
ships hoy, and now, us we commenced
our dreary rounds, he had him close be-
hind. oh, how cold and dcsolate IL
was, going round and round and round
in that contracted space, moving like a
chain gang, with one hand ON the
shoulder OF the man In front, so rs not
10 lose one another; for, small as that
space was, the night was black and
and the edge OF the foe was we knew
not how near Ono by one the men
| grew weary, aud Jim--nlmost over
looked aboard ship, our leader now
slackened his pace, 90 ease rs up a lit.
tie.
Walter was the first one TO give out
We heard him drop, the line stopped,
and we closed around him. jim got
down on his knees beside him and
spoke. not 10 gruilly as usual;
aye amt tucterod yet, are ye, lad2"
Half drowsily and YEARLY came tho
answer;
I'm dead beat, Jim, and sleepy.
Don't mind me; let me sleep, and I'll
catch on 10 the line again, soon"
We heard jim mutter TO himself:
"lle'l freeze, lying here" and then
a movement on his part, and he snid:
"lIerc, Walter lad, here's my pea
jacket, III wrap this and my com
forter round yc, and yen feel more
comfortable like"
lie was putting them on TO the al
ready sound asleep boy, when I laid
my hand on his shoulder and told him
he'd freeze TO death without any pro-
lection. lie ross quickly, aud, In u
savage tone, said;
whats that 10 We, doctor? Yer
never took any notice of me aboard
ship, and n-gctting mighty tender o.
me now"
spoke 10 him again, telling him be-
tween rs we could keep Walter NOV
ing round, aud thus keep him alive,
and that hc himself needed some pro-
lection. His mates Joined me In my
cntrcaty and tried to raise Walter to
his feet; but he shook their hands of
and, facing us, spoke:
"Mr. Doctor and mates, l amt no.
body, and II don't make no difference
whether die or not All OF ye have
mothers or sweethearts waitln' for ye
TO come home. amt got nobody; no
home. a yngabond mates, be, with
nothing but the ship whose articles /
sign for home, and the sea'll be my
grave sooner or later; so. ye see, IL
don't make no difference whether
freeze ter death here or go 10 the bot
tom across the line. Walters got u
mother, lads, ms Is waitin' ter see him
soon; and II Jim can help her do II, he's
a-goiug ter ! thank ye all, mates and
Mr., Doctor, fer speaking ter me; and
II ugly jim freezes ter death, don't
think too hard OF him"
Again the line moves on, but tie men
IRE getting disheartened and overcome,
and gradually, one by one, they lie
down on the ice, and, crawling closer
together, u sleep, sweet but deadly,
holds them In It's grasp. Jim and are
the only ones left now, and we walk,
walk, walk round and round the pros
tratc forms like dcathwatch.
ITS no use, jim; I've got to Join the
circle"
And ! step toward IT, lie stops me
and says;
Cant yo stick II out, doctor9"
mo-" say, despondently; ~ am too
weak and numb TO keep 1t up. Here,
Jim, give mo your hand"
"Good-by, DOCTOR" he says, and
moves on again, u lonely sentinel,
fighting death inch by inch, and by his
pluck and logged determination shalt.
ing of It's icy clutch
II was blank for me for know not
how long, and then partly awoke Us
Jim, tired out and exhausted, dropped
beside me. was in q dreamy state,
Int l hoard these wordA- the last he