The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-03-18

qua, terdeck in his handouts. with a
face blacker than a thunder cloud, and
mutsering threats of vengeance which
certainly seemed to me an idle waste
of breath.
The fires had been going night and
day for seventytxo hours, and we
were drawing toward the last of the
rich "fare," phen l had occasion to
come on deck in the middle watch of
the night and tempted by the oool
breeze, which felt so grateful after the
heat below. stretched myself out on
the BOBBY hatch to enjoy it for while.
The officer of the deck, with all the
men of which, were forward of the try
works, all plainly visible to me in the
glare OF the fire; but everything was
still elsewhere, ti.ere being no man On
deck abaft the maipmast except the
helmsman, who could not be seen by
reason of the intervening house. As
l lay there, / thought observed q
figure moving in the dark smoke, close
up to the try works. st the lee side,
where the black pail was thickest as
it rolled away in volumes off our lee
quarter. Presently the figure emerg-
ed from the smoke, creeping aft on all
tours As he reached the quarter
dech=be Strengthened up to his full
height,and I had no longer any doubt;
that gigantic form could be no other
than that of Absalom Hussey. With
a quick jerk of his arm, be threw
something-I knew not what-over
the lee rail; and then, turning his
face for the first time, caught sight of
me. With a single bound he was at
my side, one hand upon my throat,
the other covering my mouth.
"Hush!" he whispered "Don't speak
as you value pour life, whatever may
happen during the next hour, don't
speak; don't dare even to remember
you have seen anything"
All this was said under his breath,
but with the utmost eagerness and in.
tensity of feeling. l signifed by nod
that l heard and understood. His
grasp at once relaxed, and he was
gone-had vanished into the cabin.
l lay for moment as if stupefed;
then the whole thing was clear to my
mind. and l knew we'll enough what
he had been doing I looked out off
the weather bow, There was Chatam
Island looming not many miles off,
and l said to myself
''All right! There's no danger of
life or long suffering in open boats.
Anything for a change"
But 1 could not go below again,
knowing what l did. 1t was not many
minutes before / could smell smoke,
when l put my head down to the
scuttle of the booby-hatch; and soon
my messmates, who were sleeping
down there, awoke and turned out,
talking and wondering about it. Then
l saw a wreath of smoke starting up
the main hatchway, which was stand
ing open; then some Of the men leap
ing, half choked, up out of the fore
castle. The cry of "Fire! tirep' was
raised. The flames burst forth through
the deck on Goth sides of the try work.
Everybody was on deck, and all was
confusion and terror.
There was some talking for min
ule or two of efforts to put out the fire
but this was quickly abandoned as
hopeless, and no thought was given to
anything but saving our lives by get
thug clear of the burnin ship To get
the boats down, and collect a small
stock of provisions and water, was all
that we could do, for tongues of flame
were shooting up the hatchways, and
the good ship Allahabad was fated.
Absalom rushed up to Captain Sin
clair with the handouts on. Here"
said he, ''set me free! You wouldn't
keep any human being in irons now,
would you?"
800, no; of course notl Take your
own boat and crew, and save your
selves. You shall have the same chance
as the rest
The mate turned to me with know
ing look and wink. While 1 was
fumbling with the key of the hand
cuffs he gave them a peculiar shake,
and they dropped to the deck. OF
course l knew we'll enough that he
was not IN irons when his grasp was
on ny throat and mouth.
As we were pushing of from her
sides there was crash and rumblinR
and then solid body Of flame shot
way up, lighting up the ocean for
miles around ut. The English boats
got clear of the ship as fast as they
could. As the man at the helm loft
the ship to her own guidance. she was
speedily brought up to the wind, SO
that in moment more the whole ship
became roaring mass Of fire below
and aloft- After pulling to a safe
distance,we isy on our oars, looking at
the awful sublime sight, five boats OF
Us, within easy talking distance OF