Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-12-15

rule of the day in dealing out the scant
supply Of broken biscuits and red wine
which the steward had brought along
with him.
$50 put the question to the men
whether they were willing that i
should net Us captain, and CHEEKY:
'Ay, ny. SIR was the answer got
from all of them excepting Hal Wes-
colt, n huge mulatto OF tremendous
strength and not extra good temper.
Hal was splcndid-loo!;ing fellow phys
ically, and put ne in mind Of one of the
bronze statoots that I've seen en- dig
out of the sand in the eastern coun-
chest were something fearful to look at
especially when he was out Of humor
ut some trick played upon him. Then
these muscles world knot and twist
and his great round chest would hcave
like an ocean swell. Hal and had al.
ways 90. along pretty well together. n
fact which attribute to my pair of
keen black eyes which. rs you used 10
say, were bright enough to be seen in
the dark like Il eats eyes. Then. again.
Hal knew that w;lAn't afraid of him
as the other men were. and 80 he never
attempted to browbcat or bully me: in
fact. he was ever ready to do me Il good
turn. always made il /; point to keep
eyes fixed hard and full upon Hail., face
VIXEN falling 10 him. and the consc-
gucucc WAS that | finally succeeded IN
grttin. the same sort of control over
the huge animal, for such lac WIS in
plain words. that the trainer gets over
lion or II TIGER. lnstinctvcly he felt
that was different from the usual run
OF men. which I'm. as you know.
never was known to lose NY head even
when youngster 1T school, aud so !
was always the chosen ringleader in
times OF mischief or danger.
well. that's neither here nor there;
all that need tell You Is that the big
black fellow was afraid cf ma: but. sir.
would you believe it. when the other
men sent NJ their chccrr: 'Ar. ny.
SIR Wcscott never opened his raCr;h.
never drew muscle. saw it. and it
made deep impression upon me. 1t
was just US ii lion tanner uron enter
ing the cage had caught Il glimpse Of
Que of his animals crouching and sulli-
inc in the corner and refusing To obey
his call. II is hardly necessary for me
to tell you how cctcd under the cir
cumstanccs. My mind was made M
in an instant. ! heard voice ringing
In my ears above the scream OF that
nasty sea which was tossing our boat
about like u cork in a mill race. 1t
said: Whip him up to the scratch or
you're lost SD letting fly my leg gave
the big swarthy giant a sharp kick ON
the shin ind fixed my keenest glance
upon him, full in the face.
"'lal Wcscott,' said l, If you're agin
me for captain Of this boat, say so,
man.
That glance was too much for him.
lie WINGED like dog under the lash,
and, turning his bloodshot eyes away,
he muttered out:
That's all right, messmate, I'm for
You. votes ny, ny, SIR
1.-THE men seemed to draw long
breath rs they heard these words.
GOOD enough replied. Now,
men, listen TO me. We're in
bad way, a very bad way. We
haven't any water ct all, and only
about half-a-doscn biscuits, half of
which are soaked with sea water, but
I'll dry them us soon Us the sun comes
out. It's more than likely that we're
in for long fast before we're picked
up; but I've been in just such fix be-
fore this and II you'll be patient and
follow my instructions TO the letter, ]
may he able TO save You all. Now II
you don't know, | must tell you one
thing and that's this: A man can go
without food or, better said. with an I'M
common small allowance, for several
days II he lets sea water alone. Mind
what sey. If he lets sea water alone.
When thirst comes on you you must
grin and bear II, for once you begin to
drink sea water you're doomed! tn
transform you into rqving, screeching
lunatics, and in your madness you'll rs
likely as not fall foul of some one OF
your mcssmates as famished beast
would of a fat sheep. But bark We,
men, | continued. laying my hand on
my revolver, I'm determined to see fair
play in this business, and ns the car
tridges Of my revolver are waterproof,