The herald., 1897-09-19

mouth was full. He munched with
ardor. Jimmy seemed to doze with open
eyes. Donkin finished his hard bread
and got up.
Dyer think yer will hever get
ashore?" he asked angrily.
Wait came back with q start. Ten
days." he said promptly.
Ten days. Strike me blind Il hever!
You will be dead by this time to-mor-
row p'r'aps. Ten days" He waited for
while. "D'ye ear me? Blamme II yer
don't look dead halready."
Jimmy must have been collecting his
strength, for he said almost aloud;
You're a cadgipg liar. Every one
knows you" And sitting up, against
all probability, he startled his visitor
horribly. But very soon Donkin recov-
cred himself. He clustered.
What? What? Who's a liar3 You
hare-tha crowd hare-the skipper
heverybody. / hain'ti Putting on hairsi
Who's yer to put hon hairs" he repeat
ed trembling. "'Ave one-'ave one.
says 'ee-an' cawn't heat 'em 'isself.
Now TIL have both. Yer nobodyl"
He plunged into the lower bunk. root
ed in there and brought to light an
other dusty biscuit. He held 1t up be-
fore Jimmy-then took bite defiantly.
Eyer won't? Yer can't! What did
say7' went on Donkin fiercely. He
swallowed another dry mouthful with a
hasty effort. The others silent helpless
ness. his weakness, his shrinking atti-
tude exasperated him. "Ye're done!"
he cried. who's yer to be lied to; ter
be waited hon and an foot like
bloomin' hymperor. Yer nobody. Yer
!, 1.o
a strength of unerring conviction that
it shook him from head to foot in COM
ing OUT, and left him vibrating like
released string.
Jimmy lifted his head and turned
bravely at Donkin, who saw a strange
face an unknown face. fantastic and
grimacing mask Of despair and fury. Its
lips moved rapidly; and hollow. moan
ing, whistling sounds filled the cabin
with a vague mutter full of menace.
complaint and desolation, like the far
off murmur Of a rising wind. Wait
shook his head. rolled his eyes: he de-
MED, cursed, menaced-and not word
had the strength to pass beyond the
sorrowful pout of those black lips. 1t
was imcomprehensible and disturbing.
gibberish of emotions, frantic dumb
show of speech pleading for Impossible
things. threatening shadowy ven
geance. 1t sobered Donkin into scru-
tinizing watchfulness.
Yer can't holler. See? What did 1
tell yer?" he said slowly after moment
of attentive examination. Hive been
treated worser'n dorg by your bloom
ing back-lickers. They as set me hon,
honly to turn aginst me. HI ham the
honly man ere. They clouted me, kick
ed mean yer laffed-yer black, rotten
hincumbrance you. You will pay fur
hit. They Civ yer their grub, their wa
ter, yer will pay fur hit ter me, by
Gawd. Who haxed me ter ave drink
Of water? They put their bloomin' rags
on yer that night, an what did they
CIV ter me, a clout on the bloomin'
mouth-blast their S'elp me Yer will
pay fur hit with yer money. Him goin'
ter ave hit in a minute; has soon has
ye're dead, yer bloomin' useless fraud.
That's the man I ham. Yah-you
corpsei''
He flung at Jimmy's head the biscuit
he had been all the time clutching hard.
but 1t only grazed, and striking with
loud crack the bullzhead beyond, burst
like a d-grenade into flying pieces,
James Wait, as though wounded NOR
tally, fell back on the pillow. His lips
ceased to move and the rolling eyes be-
came quiet and stared upwards with
an intense and steady persistence.
Donkin was surprised; he sat suddenly
on the chest, and looked down, exhaust
ed and gloomy.
Jimmy's head moved slightly and he
turned his eyes to Donkins face: gaze
unbelieving, desolated and appealing,
of child frightened by the menace OF
being shut up alone in the dark. Don
kin observed him from the chest with
hopeful eyes; then without raising he
tried the lid. Locked. Il wish I was
drunk" he muttered and getting up
listened anxiously to the distant sound
of footsteps on the deck. They ap-
proached-ceased.
Donkin sat down again patient and
purposeful Every half hour the bells
spoke to one another. ringing along the
whole length Of the ship. Jimmy's
respiration was so rapid that 1t
couldn't be counted, so faint that it
couldn't be heard. His two long bony
hands smoothed the blanket upward,
as though he had wished to gather it
all up under his chin. A tear, big
solitary tear. escaped from the corner
OIL MS eye anu, WllIOut lOuCAiu6 Tie
hollow cheek, fell on the pillow. His
throat ratified family; and Donkin,
watching the end of the hateful man,
felt the anguishing grasp Of a great
sorrow on his heart at the thought that
he himself, some day. would have to
go through 1t ADJUST like this-per-
haps! His eyes became moist. Poor
bsggar," he murmured. The night
seemed to go by in flash; 1t seemed
to him he could hear the irremediable
rush of precious minutes. How long
would this blooming affair last? Too
long, surely. No luck. He could not
contain himself. He got up and ap-
preached the bunk. Wait did not stir.
Only his eyes appeared alive and his
hands continued their smoothing
movement with a horrible and tireless
industry. Donkin bent over.
Jimmy" he called low. There was
no answer, but the rattle stopped.
Oyer see me?" he asked trembling.
Jimmy's chest heaved. Donkin, look
ing away, bent his ear to Jimmy's lips,
and heard a sound like the rustic of
single dry leaf driven along the smooth
sand of a beach. 1t shaped ITSELF
Jimmy was speaking.
"Light-the lamp-and-go,' he said
Donkin instinctively glanced over his
l. ~1ar. .t,.r