San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-01-24


dock and Mr.. Hardy gazed over the side.
The body, as the long, brass telescope
had before determined, was a females,
and very fine figure of woman, the
commander thought it looked, as it
slightly rose and fell with the light
azure wrinkles of the water, trembling
in sobs to it. The loose arms waved
with the motion of the water as though
that midocean sleeper appealed for peace
or help. The dark hair clouded off in a
soft, gloomy mass close under the blue
surface. A gag of some sort concealed
the mouth.
'"I don't know that she can be alive, !"
said the commander in his hoarse, deep,
demonstrating voice, with that thing
tied round her breathing apparatus. "
Maybe her nostrils ride clear" said
Mr.. Hardy, leering.
"Then go and bring her aboard,
said the commander. "She shall have a
chance for her life, and if she's dead
we will bury her decently.
The boat sank, the oars flashed, in
minute or two Mr.. Hardy was along
side the floating woman. They used ex-
IRENE caution, guessing that tap from
an oar or sea put i'll motion by the
boat might sink the body. Two sailors
leaned over and the lubberly tub of
boat leaned, too, with pretty sparkle
of her bilge to the sun as she raised it
with the brine.
Grasping the body with their fish
hooks of fingers, the Jacks tossed it
aboard, soaking and streaming like a
thunder shower. 1t was then laid in
the stern sheets, and the boat made for
the brig. While this was doing Mr..
Hardy pulled out sharp clasp knife
and cut away the gag. She had good
features, but she was CHASTITY to horrors
own degree in that searching light ow
ing to the eyeballs showing like slips of
china betwixt the lids, and to the lips
being almost pale as the cheeks through
compression of the ligature. The appar-
ell was very scanty, consisting, so far as
Mr.. Hardy could make out, of dress
ing gown over flannel petticoat and
woman's ordinary nightclothes Her
feet were naked--very pretty little feet
they were, Mr. Hardy thought. Doubt
less they had been slippered when the
poor creature for some murderous mo-
tive or other had been sent adrift.
''It looks to me-" exclaimed Mr..
Hardy, gazing up at the commander,
whose immense roasted face, oyerhang-
ing the rail, was reflected in the smooth
water as though it had been the moon,
''as if there had been some piratical
business on down here, sir. +"
Bring her aboard, bring her aboard, -
exclaimed the commander, stiffening
his figure and sending look round the
ocean with a man of-war's mans sniff.
In fact, the mere thought of it whipped
fifty new pulses into his sturdy shape.
They unshipped the gangway, and
sailors will exhibit toward the dead
and more particularly toward those of
the dead who might have been moth
ers, wives, sisters and sweethearts in
this world-a few of the Jacks of the
brig Wellesley handed the body aft and
with pains and patience down the mar
row companion ladder.
''Trim sail, Mr.. Hardy" said Com
mander Boldock "then come below and
let me have your opinion.
Two middle sized cabins were situated
under the wheel. The body of the wom-
an was carried into the port cabin, the
starboard berth being the commanders,
and very tenderly laid upon a locker.
The men who had brought her below
stood off, while Commander Boldock
drew close to peer into the face that
looked cold and hard as granite.
"Thts seems case of murder, said
the commander, apparently thinking
aloud.
beg pardon, your honor" said one
of the teamen, touching his forehead, a
homely middle aged, good natured sail
or, with Limehouse look and hand
of yellow oakum dangling at his chin,
"that body's not been long in the wa
ter. -
"How do you know?" said the COM
mander, whipping his great face round
upon him sharp and eager.
"I'll swear it by the color of the
skin, sir. :"
would you think she's alive, then,
Adams?' said the commander.
Eyes, sir. I"
"What should be done them" said
Boldock complainingly. eff you have
any knowledge of this sort of thing,
turn to. I'd not have her die upon our
hands after saving her life. F"
The shoes and bell shaped legs of Mr..
Hardy futtered in the companionway,
and down came the whole man.
adams thinks she may be alive"
said the commander.
"She's got to be dried and wrapped
in blankets first of all. )" said Mr.. Har-
dy, after taking a short but earnest
view of the face, ''and then artificial
respiration might be attempted. What
d'you say, AdamsF"
That's it, sir, And perhaps spoon