Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1897-04-30

did not appear to me that any or m.
bones were broken. But was in thi
miserable posltion-I was lying Will
my face to the deck, and l could no
see yard around me. A faint ligh
betokened that the sun was rising, ant
was making its way even into the dis
NAL cave in which our ship was shared
otherwise I should have been in tota
darkness. sighed in bitterness O
spirit; the cup Of happiness was dashed
from my lips; all hope was gone.
should die without q word Of love from
my wife; for no power in the world
could, at that moment, have convinced
mo that she. with my boy, was not
passenger in The Rising Sun. Had
not seen the likeness in little Bob's
beautiful face? Had I not heard my
wife's voice in the dark terror Of the
night? All my efforts to raise the
weight which held me to the deck were
vain, and I groaned aloud.
Are you alive, then, mate?" voice
asked.
managed to stretch forth my hand,
and 1t reached the hand Of man who
was pinned to the deck by the mast, as
j was
Can you see?" I asked.
Yes, and that is all can do"
Have you been conscious all the
uight%
"All the night, worse luck. have
been envying YOU"
you need not do so. In what posi-
ton are WEI"
''The ship is sinking; in few min
utes We shall reach the waterline."
And them"
He laughed bitterly. You're no SAIL
Or. or you would not ask. And then?
Why. then, Death-and shall be glad
to meet 1t. My two legs are broken"
II pity you, I pity your I sighed.
Are you strong enough to talk to
; me?"
Talking does me good. shan't do
much more Of it in this world. What
Is it you want to know"
Where are the passengers?"
I'm the sea, half of them-out of their
! trouble. 1 wish was out of mine.
I've seen them washed away by twos
: and threes and half dozens all through
the night. The sea would have taken
me- too but this cursed mast wouldn't
bulge an inch. Ais well for them.
Goodnight"
In his daredevil, defiant mood, the
man, whoever he was-for never saw
his face-actually sung these words.
For heavens sake" l implored, do
not answer me in that reckless way.
You have been conscious all the night
you say. Has anything been done with
the boats?"
Eyes. One Quarter-boat was
launched, and got safely out OF this
hole, think. The other quarter boat
was also launched, and it isn't known
what has become of it."
amy passengers in the first?"
"a few"
women and children"
mot likely. Men. Those who could
scramble in first"
Mate, do you understand the posi-
ton am in. can't see yard around
me. I have a wife and child on board
The brutes! the brutes! not to save
the women and children first! There
are women and children still on deck,
are there not?"
Eyes You want to know if your wife
is among them. What sort of a wom-
am"
Fair, with light auburn hair, and
blue eyes,"
Yes. yes-I knew one Bah!
what's the use of thinking, now that
everything has come to an end?"
Look, mattel" cried, for l felt that
we were sinking fast. Look, for Gods
sake! Do you see such woman among
those still left? And has she not a
child with herr"
What business is it of mine?" he re-
piled, grooming with pain. my eyes
are getting too dim to see. Stay,
though, can just make out woman
with fair hair But the worlds full
OF them"
His pain must have been very great,
from the way he dragged out his
words.
"If l could relieve you, would do
SO. Go on. Tell me what the woman
is doing?"
"She has a child in her arms"
"a boy?"
81 should say So"
"My boy-my son! Thank God!
There may be still a chance for them.
All, II could but speak one word to
them. Go on-go on"
"She is leaning over the bulwarks-
ali, see what for. There is a spar in
the water and a man, with one arm
over it, has dashed little girl to 1t.
I see-I see He intends to try and
save the lot of them. He is calling
out to the women can not hear what
he says-ah, suppose he is telling her
to throw the boy to him, She bends