The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-08


fore the mast here. Answer me.
Yes. she must be. She couldn't get
out O the cabin, and we couldn't help
her. She must ha' been drowned at
once
And you left without finding out?
Left her to drown or smother in That
cabin2 Don't you know your trader
he shifted his fingers to the throat OF the
mate, shaking him vigorously" don't you
know that there's air enough an that
cabin TO keep her alive for hours? on,
but you did know-you did know. Only
you haven't the nerve to risk your prec-
ious life. You're the same cur today
that you were at school-who'd throw
stone and run. You took my pace in that
! schooner. You were in charge-and you
pulled away and left that girl TO die
the girl who threw me over for you Oh,
you hound. And she thought you were
man"
His voice ended in broken accents of
grief and rage. Releasing MS hold, he
sank down on chest and covered his
face with his hands, while convulslVe
shudders ran through his great frame.
The mate, nearly black in the face from
his choking, stood up and drew away
/ from him. muttering, as soon as he could
/ speak, I'm as much of a man as you
are-auy day"
THINK She may be alive yet, Ran
SOM asked old Bill from his bunk
Ransom lifted his head. What cargo
! did you have. men?' he asked, address
/ ing the awestruck and rather shame
( faced crew of the Walkure.
None sir, we were flynn light from
Havana answered one. in the tone OF
! respect for an officer, when Ransom,
even as q foremost hand, could so easily
enforce
And when did you go over?"
AT noon, sir said another; I was
at the wheel and she'd just stepped
down. Shed been asking me what you q
shipped in, but ] couldn't tell her
Ransom slowly raised himself TO his
feet, his face lighting with an express
ii n
( 'f3 hours.there's a chance; there's d
chance yet" He bounded through the
forecastle door and ran aft, followed by
''' MIR. Todd" he said as he reached the
poop, will you call the captain!
There's ere 81 a girl in the cabin of that
schooner back yonder.
Great Scott Is that SOP" Mr.. Todd
tapped second time at the captain
window and again Captain Davis APP
peared. somewhat ruffled at being called
twice on such fine night.
CAPTAIN Davis" said Ransom, excited
/ ", captain Downs daughter IS IN the
cabin of the Walkure. VIII you let US
take the boat back and try 10 get her
out? There's time yet.
Whats that you say?' answered the
captain In that cabin? L thought she
was drowned
below and was caught there: but there
air in the hold, captain, and Jessie can
1
table or chairs.
ibid you know her. Ransom
Il veas mate of that craft five years
Where is the present mate of that
/ Vessel?" asked the captain.
From the rear of the crowd OF men
! came Ackland Captain Davis scanned
J him. closely, then in grave tone OF voice
rs it true sir. that you left young
woman in that cabin?
rlfa
/ answered AclSland. Il don't see how we
could have got her out at any time. II
we cut through the bottom-which we
1 couldn't 90 without tools-the schooner
sink fore we got to her. I've been
abused for not doing the Impossible; JUST
= the same III make one to go back, II
any one goes He gave Ransom look
! Captain Davis took a turn along the
deck before speaking again. .r.
Ransom" he said as he faced him. IL
I is a hard thing to tell you in your pres
emf frame of mind understand how you
. feel. But the hull is low in the water
and sinking all the time: When we
I rassed her six hours ago, the caDln Moor
! must have been close TO the surface OF
the water inside, by this time IL is over
/ il. and Miss Downs is dead
But there's hatch IN that MOOT an
/ swered Ransom vehemently, which
would fall off as the craft went over
+ She could get through it into the hoid-
/ Give me one man and the boat, captain
NO. YOU could not; it is folly. I have
/ no authority to prevent these men from
/ taking TO their boat again. but L cannot
permit you. or any member OF my ere"
! 70 leave this vessel Go forward, men.
Take your wheel. Ransom, said Mr..
Todd
by heaven. 1 won't" Shouted Ran
/ SON, and before any one knew what ne
was about TO do. he had sprung 10 me
! taffrail and mounted into the schooner
/ one boat, hanging to the davis: RalSing
( his foot. he brought the heel Of OF heavy
/ sea-boat down on the bottom. A plank
/ gave way. leaving a gaping hole. Spring
/ mo iuooard, he cast off the painter OF
! WaIkuTe's boat, and dropping INTO II,
I showed off and was a dozen feet away
before the astounded captain had grasped
I the situation
Ransom. come PACK mere 1Ii-S Is
mutinous. MIR. Todd, examine our boat
md see what he's done to It come
| bacl-dO YOU he2r2" spluttered the cap
tain. Ransom. master of the SITUATION
@Tii come back if I succeed, captain,
/ a-.a YOU wait for me-" Dropping an oar
over the stern. ne sculled the boat along
..N-heres that cowardly hound who
1 thinks he's 4 MANI jump in here and
prove your manhood. Tom Ackland /
! want help"
Come closer" snarled Ackland, spring
ing on the rail. Ransom sheered the boat
in, and he ieaped lightly into her;
Jump in, the rest of YOU and hr1n%
some of the men followed Ackland to the
rail but no farther. for Ransom held has
| oar-longer than the jump would be
| poised aloft, and they knew his strength;
That was a brave jump, he SAeered
| TO Ackland: and he didn't even wet his
/ feet He pushed the boat away with the
Captain Davis he called, will you
give me the course through the first
! Watch?'
yes. you suicidal fool: due south .
! The captain had just learned of the
damage TO IDS boat. and unable TO pr
/ sue Ransom, was disposed 10 make the
| bexf Of it. iii come back and pick you
! up when the wind comes. Ransom, ne
/ added: but i shall punish you for TINS.
Thank you, captain. I'll make Tor the
! Pole star and allow that the wreck Is
about 20 miles back. Any one else want
to come and helD?"
There was no answer, and Ransom,
! turning 10 his motionlesS cOmD@nion
an oar there, and so 10 work. The other
obeyed. Ransom ranged the bright stan
Sirius over 70 the boats quarter so that
the Pole star hung over the bow, and
silently the two men pulled away. Ran
SOM the stronger a the stroke oar, and
! Ackland behind him. The latter might
have been unable if called upon, 20 ex-
plain his motives in joining in this ex-
petition. Smarting with humiliation, he
he'd but blndly thought of revenge OIL
justification. and on the reckless IMPULSE
OF the moment, and possessing enough OF
make light OF the danger in an open boat
at sea. he had volunteered. and ther
been goaded into following Ransom.
1 Ransom on the contrary felt, as the
CAPTAIN had termed him, suicidal in his
desperation. He had defed his sl:oe
~ !.