Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-11-16

ming water. His face became as white az
Der own, for he knew the ship had sprung
a-leak. Without word he went to the
berth in which he had laid the child
hours previous, and. taking the little form
IN his arms, turned to his wife, saying
briefly:
Come, Grace"
Where, on deck? Then you think there
Is danger? Reuben, Reuben. save me!
Don't think Of the child first now; prom
Use to save me-"
Hush" he commanded. There will
be q way provided for MS all to be saved;
don't be q coward, Grace!"
But I am SO afraid. SO afraid" she
painted. He half dragged, half carried
her on deck, without waiting to hear more,
for he knew from her slow, peculiar mo.
tion that the ship was sinking.
AZ he raised his head above the cabin,
a scene OF the widest confusion met his
view.
She is q goner," said q rough voice
that sounded to Mrs. Verina like David
Gregg. We may just as we'll put the
lady, the baby, aud few of the men in q
boat, as to wait till it's too late to save
even them. Lots to work, Waltheron."
You forget-we threw away the boat
that leaked, Davy!" came the answer.
No, don't. But there is another
Twas washed away during your
watch below" came the reply. Reuben
grosned.
MY God! have mercy upon us. We
are, indeed, in the hands of Providence"
The hoarse voice bellowed:
DO you mean to say there amt NO way
to save women and children az have
trusted to us? That am bad manage
ment. messmates, bad management.
thatll float"
There is the raft We made to 60 fishin'
on up the river" said some one.
Better than nothin'. Bring her
along. Make haste. That will hold six
o you. and the rest of us must wait and
meet the pale face" shouted Davy.
"Oh, Reubeni will they leave us here,
do you Think" moaned Mrs. Verina.
No, no, lady. You and the little one
NO" said Reuben. 1T is coxsrdiy for
| me to leave you here to die. Take my
place. We all can not go, and will be
one OF those who stay"
am VERY much obliged to you for
q offerin' of me my life, but faint likely
separate husband and wife, in this world
or the next; 'twouldn't be sailor-like,
you see, my covey; SO just you step right
| down on that there craft, and don't think
another thing about q poor, miserable
glitter like myself. Make haste, and get
down, for the ship is a-cleavin', a-cleavin',
and stay with my Capting. shouted the
| sailor.
So, almost against his will, Reuben was
pushed on the raft, and half dozen sail
| ors clambered over the vessels side be-
side him.
Slowly they foated away on the sullen
water, and presently the ship was lost in
the darkness.
All was as solemn as the last rites Of
| <ho A..A e..Ol e
hand Reuben Verina held in his, and full
of hope was the baby voice that kept say
ing; -,
| Don't c'y, mamma; zey ont hurt us;
and if zey do papa'll beat them, ont 'ou,
papa?"
Who can imagine what this innocent,
trusting little soul was to the ship
wrecked sailors for the first two days?
1t was she who saved them from de-
spair when her mothers complaint Of
hunger and thirst and heat dlove the
starving men almost mad, and they loved
her as q ray of light in their darkness.
Then the third day came.
Hungry, wild with thirst. the men were
almost crazed. They knew not where
they were; they drifted aimlessly over q
blazing sea, and Reuben saw red, hungry
he would, he saw some one regarding his
baby with an expression that seemed to
say; .
He dared not let her play with the sailors
longer; he dared not let her move from
his side, and she could not understand
why; and he could not explain, lest his
wife should hear and weep with horror as
she now wept in anger. because the men
| did not row continually.
Another night passed; hunger became
intolerable. 1t commenced to rain, and
the electricity in the air seemed to drive
the men insane.
Two of the sailors had leaped overheard
in frenzy of despair the night previous;
ben could see them talking; suddenly
they advanced toward him.
| Give us the child, or We will take her, :"
said one of them to Reuben I'VE must
have food"
Reuben placed himself before the baby,
and his wife, Mrs. Verina, was seized
with new horror.
"Oh, Reuben, Reuben! what if they
should want to kill me?" she moaned.
He did not hear or heed her.
| You will only have the child over my
dead body" he cried; and scarcely were
the words uttered ere the men darted
forward and struck at him.
Calmly defending himself, the father
| almost instantly laid two of his frenzied
assailants on the bottom of the raft.
Half blinded, writhing, crazed. they
commenced fighting each other, and
presently rolled of the logs and were
left struggling in the water.
While the rude craft floated away from
them Reuben vainly exerted himself to
| gain the mastery Of the remaining couple.
They met blow for blow, and at last all
! three men fell into the water, and still
struck blindly at each other. while the
rain dashed in their faces.
His wife's mad shrieks reached Reu-
ben's ears. He raised himself and
| shouted above the roar of the waves:
use the oars, Grace, and pull away
while there is time; and-and in after
years tell my baby died for her!"
That was all she could hear for the
roar of the wind and the dash of the rain,
as, with the strength Of desperation.
she piled the oars.
She never thought it was selfish to
4