The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-29


the wreckage, "Will some one fling me
q line?"
A rope went whistling out, and the
mate swore viciously beneath his
breath as the end swung slacky back
against the side, while the captain,
leaning over the rail, sent down a
cheering cry, Hold ON, were coming
back. and Wen have you yet" as the
steamer forged ahead into the dark
ness. Then a shadowy figure leaped
VI on the side-light screen. balanced
itself for moment. and, just as the
mate stepped forward to lay his hands
upon it, flung both arms aloft and
launched out into mid-air. THE crazy
fool-there's another to be fished out
now" gasped the mate. Wen stop
her and back her down" said the cap
tain. "Stand by the gangway with a
lantern, and lower the Jacobs ladder"
Again the propeller churned and rat
tied, and presently great wreaths of
white, spangled by luminous green and
geld, seethed forward as the Olivet
slowly went astern, until Watkins
voice came from somewhere beneath
the poop. way enough! Stop her, or
! the screw will cut us up" The vibra
tiOn died away; the steamer came slow
ly to a standstll; and the mate leaned
down to the lowest step of the ladder,
while wiry seamen. clinging like cats
tn trailing lines, and jamming their
toes against the landings of the plates,
climbed down her side. BY the yellow
glow Of tha mates lantern the over
turned and crushed-in barge became
family visible a short distance from
| the quarter. Shadowy objects loosed
their hold upon it, and came splashing
| toward the ladder. Black hands caught
| at the rungs and lines, and with a
shout of "Up you CO." a dripping negro
was helped aloft. and dragged over the
! rail with a vigorous Kindness that al
most dislocated his arm. Another and
another followed, and then some one
| cried in English: Throw me the end
| of line. I've got him here, but he's
| hurt or faint" y seaman flung a rope,
| and raising his lantern the mate saw
| an indistinct figure crawl out of the
| water and make the end fast to some
| thing which lay upon the wreCkage,
| half i'm and half out of the sea. Then,
| with a cry of "Heave a little" the
! man slid down into the water, and,
aided by the tightening line, seized his
comrade by the arm, and struggled
| with him toward the vessel. Leaning
! down, the mate stretched out his hand
! thin, sinewy fingers grasped it, and
| when he hailed the deck above, ready
| hands hauled upon the rope; the half
| conscious man, for such he seemed to
! be, swung rapidly aloft, and a hoarse
| hurrah! rang out as he was lifted over
/ the rail-
Watkins and two Cubans dragged
| themselves out upon the ladder and,
as the mate slipped aside with his toes
upon the landing of a plate to let them
pass, another head came into the
| circle of light, and he fanced he caught
| a simmer of uniform buttons, and
| saw braid about the wrist as the swim
7 mer thrust forward his hand. Send
one of the negroes back to make a
| stout hawser fast" shouted the cap
| tain from the bridge. BE handy
| there's no time to lose" AS the mate
| raised his head he fancied he heard
| a soft thud, and a smothered gurGle
| behind him. When ne looked down
J again the Spanish soldier had disap-
| peared. In answer to his challenging
| glance, a Cuban said: He sank sud-
| denly, and there was another hurt by
| your bows. But ii is no matter there
| are too many Of the kind in Cuba"
| The mate shuddercd a little and said
| no more. Whether murder had been
| done or not he never knew. In any
case, he thought it was no business OF
| his if the inSurgent had avenged some
| butchered COmrade and he had seen
things in the plaza Of AruCas which had
| set his own blood on fire. \ negro
swan out with a hawser and when he
| came back the mate hailed the bridge
I Got them all now, sir and the tow
! lines fast"
| Meantime, as the steamer went ahead
agall, group of seamen stood in the
| twinkling glow of a lamp about the
| after-hatch, glancing Compassionately
at the soaked and haggard wretch who
! lay gasping on the tarpaulins, with
| his head upon Watkins knee. Both
| We're worn and wasted by sickness and
! hunger, and there was something pa.
! thetic in the sight of the hollow
| checked man Chafing his comrades thin
| wrists, and bending over him with
| anxiety and pity in his face. Pres.
| entity the sufferer moved a little, and
| made an effort to rise, but Watkins
! checked it gently. Not hurt, thank
| the Lord" he said. THE shock mas
been too much for him, half-starved
! as he was, and broken down with sick.
ness. You're in good hands at last
JIM" he added softly; "and it would
! need all the Armada of Spain to take
| you from us now"
The mate, looking on silently, fell
! something tickling in his throat, anL
| a grOwl in which pity and fierce wrath
| We're strangely mingled went up from
| the hard-handed, weather. beaten mer
| about him. The steward held out q
flask of wine. and Watkins stretched
| forward his hand; but a StalWart hg.
| ure i'm greasy dungarees thrust it rude.
ly aside, and knelt upon the deck
| wine, that's nae drink for a siCI
| Christian-Only fit for garIicky Span,
iards. Here lift his head, this will pit
| fresh life Until him." said a voice with
| the accent of the Clyde-side ship-yards
| and this time a laugh went round, as
| Gordon, the engineer, attempted tC
| thrust the neck of a Whiskey bottle
forcibly between the sufferers teeth.
"You'll choke him out of hand; gent.
ly with it," said Watins. Presently the
spirit did its work, for the man sal
up, leaning against his comrade'.
shoulder. THAT did him good" OBJ
/ served the latter. IT'S a long time
since | saw a civilized drink either, and
I'm somewhat played out myself
When he, handed the bottle back there
was very little left inside.
That's not bad for a start" was
| Gordon's comment, IAN there's plenty
mair, When I've raised anither ter
| pound upon the starbJard boiler Wen
| try the rest"
Il think YOU can move him now