The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-04-12

Jim had an eye always on Walter. tho
ships boy. and now. rs we Commenced
our drcary rounds. he had him cloeo boz
hind oh, how cold and dtsulntt Il
was, going round and round and round
IN that contracted space. moving like n
chain gang. with one hand on tho
shoulder Of the man Ia front, 20 a. not
70 lose one another; for, small ns that
space was the night was black and
and the edge 81 the foo was wo knew
not how near Ono BY ono the men
I grow weary. aud Jim almost over
looked aboard shin, our loader now
slaelsened his pace 70 case us upa ne.
\ tle.
Walter was the flrat ono 10 give ont
We heard him drop. tho line stopped,
and we closed around him Jim rot
down on his knccs bcsido him and
spoke. not SO grnfiy as usnal
'Ye amt tuckercd yet ARE yc. ladfr
Half drowsily md wearily came tho
answer
I'm dead beat iim. and sleepy.
Don't mind me, let me sleep. and I'll
catch on TO the line again, soon
= We heard Jim muttcr 10 himself:
"lic'il ffeoxc, lying horc," and then
a movement on his part, and ne said;
Here, Walter. lad. hcrc's my poa-
jackets I'll wrap this and my COM
fortor round ye, and yen feel more
comfortable like. Z
He WINS putting them on 20 the al.
rcndy sound asleep boy. when laid
my hand on his shoulder md told him
he'd frreze 70 death without any pro-
lection. Ilo roao quiclsly and. IN
| savage tone. said:
whats TINT 10 yc. DOCTOR Yer
mover took any notice ~ me aboard
ship. and n-gctting mighty tender o
me now.
spoke to him again, telling him be-
tween ms wo could keep Walter NOV
Ding round. md thus keep him alive.
and that he himself needed some pro-
tectinn His mates joined mo Ii my
cntrcaty and tried % raise Walter TO
his feet; but he shook their hands on
md, facing uE. spoke;
.'Mr Doctor and mates. amt mo-
body, and IL don't make no difference
whether die or not All Of 70 have
mothers or sweethcarts wnitin' for ye
10 como homo. ! nin't got nobody, no
home. A vngnbond. mates, be, with
nothing but the ship whose articles
sign for home. and the sea,ll be my
grave sooner or later; 80, We see, IL
don't make no difference whether
frcezc ter denth hero or 20 to the bot
tom ncross the line. Walters got
mothcr, lnds, rs y waitin' ter see him
soon; and II Jim can help her do Il, he's
a-going ter, thank " NIL, mateh and
Mr. Doctor. fer sponlsing ter me; and
n -. 49,. -.
think too hard Of him.
Again the line moves on, but the men
are getting dishenrtcned and overcome,
and gradually, one BY one. they lie
down on the ice, and. crawling closer
together, a sleep. sweet bnt deadly.
holds them In Its grasp Jim and arc
the only ones left now, and We walk.
walk, walk round and round tho pros
trato forms like deathwntch.
TITS no use, Jim; Two got 70 Join the
circle "
And | step toward II no stops me
and says:
Can't yc stick It out. doctor2r
"No," shy. despondently; II am too
weak and numb 10 keep IL up Here.
Jim. give me your hand
"Good-by, DOCTOR he says, and
moves on again, lonely sentinel,
fighting death inch by inch, and By bis
pluck and logged determination shnlx-
Ing on Its ley clutch.
IL was q blank for me for Isknow not
how long. and then partly nwolxc MS
Jim, tired out and exhausted. dropped
beside me. was In dreamy state.
but hoard these words, the last he
ever spoke. He was wandering. knew.
and his voice was so gentle and soft /
hardly knew IL was his:
'sMotheri'' no murmurcd several
times, and then: .ssOur Father which
art and ugly Jim's lips had moved
for the last time on this earth. ley
fingers closed them here. but where his
Noble decd and last prayer reached.
warm, loving fingers shall bid the
dumb to speak, and his first words
shall be his thanks for the Masters
plaudit: .sSgell doneI''
Peace and oblivion reign over all.
That was exactly my state; and on
awakening from my stupor, found IL
hard to realize II was but dream.
Was it possible | was once more safe
aboard vessel, not frozen stiff on the
desolate drift-ice. but tendcrIy cared
for by rough but kind hands2 Yes, IL
was true; for we all that were left OF
us, aye, and the poor fellows whose
nwaixing was Of another sort were be-
ing carefully looked after ON board tho
American ship Yankee Tar, whose
lookout had sighted on the 1eld-ico
black specks which, through the glass,
he had made out to be human beings.
A boat was put out, and all hands