Griggs courier., 1898-03-18
DON M'DONALD'S OATH.
Copyright, 1898. By CHARLES B. LEWIS.
BY CHARLES 8. LEWIS.

had gone through had not affected his
health, but he had become tired of the
lonely situation, and wanted to strike
a bargain to be towed into port. When
a figure was named he declared he
would never pay half that sum, and,
some hot words following, he seized
pistol and drove the strangers into
their boat. Six or seven days later
the wreck was fallen in with during
a gale by French ship, but us the
sea was running too high and the
hulk seemed to be making good wealth
er of it nothing was done towards res
cuing the solitary man seen aboard. A
week later she was overhauled by the
English bark Endcavor, which had re-
ceived notice of the desire of the own
ers of the cargo. The captain of the
Endeavor made up his mind to seize
the wreck, rig jury masts and carry
her into port, and nice plum he would
have had in the way of salvage had
he succeeded. The Highland Chief was
! then below the latitude of the Cape
and drifting to the south. Capt. Nc.
Donald, placidly smoking cigar and
seeming to be clear of all anxiety, re-
ceived the mate of the Endeavor in a
hospitable manner, but soon let him
understand that he did not intend to
leave the wreck. If he could get spare
spars ut his own figure, and if three
or four men could be had without a
bonus, he would make shift to finish
his voyage, but otherwise he would let
the hulk drift where she would and
end his days with hers. This was no
more than he had said before, but the
mate of the Endeavor believed that
loneliness and anxiety had affected his
mind to considerable extent. While
he was obstinate minded and had a
pride in keeping his word, his whole
fortune was invested in that hulk, and
it was but natural that he should want
to save it. The captain of the En-.
deavor offered him fair terms in several
directions, and it was only after Nc
Donald had rejected them that move
was made to carry the wreck by force.
The mate returned with four men to
back him, and snspecting their inten-
tions Capt. Mcdonald armed himself
and ordered them off. When no atten-
ton was paid to his threats he opened
fire and killed the mate and a common
hand and wounded third man. That
ended any further attempt on the part
of the Endeavor to take possession.
Some 16 days after the tragedy ran
across the derelict for the second time,
I was now second mate of the English
brig Morning STAR" bound for Sydney
with a general cargo. After we had
made our sounding and were ready te
bear up for the Cape, we got n fierce
gale from the northwest which drove u.
far to the south of our proper course
The gale lasted for 40 hours, and during
most of this time we were hove to. Ter
hours before the gale broke we discov
cred the hulk of the "Highland Chief
about mile to the west of us. She was
drifting broadside to the seas, which
broke over her every moment and sen,
spray 30 feet high, and why she didn'1
capsize was something no sailor could
make out. It was bad enough with us
lying to under storm try-sail ant
taking the great seas head On. bu'
aboard of that hulk the pitching anG
tossing must have been something
fearful. We saw no signs of life ABOARD
of her until the storm abated. Ther
Capt. Nc Donald appeared on deck ant
took look at us through his spy
glass. It was the intention of til.
captain of the Morning Star" to max.
a prisoner of him, and seize the wrecl
in the interests of the cargo owners.
was sent away to board her as soo1
as the seas would permit, and the plan
was that the four men pulling the boa
should follow me on deck at the frs
opportunity and rush upon the cap
tain. The Highland Chief" presented
a most desolate appearance. Much o
her bulwarlss had been torn away b,
the seas, her paint had faded ant
peeled off and her sides We're covered
with mold and patches of grass.
was helped on board by Capt. Nc
Donald, who expressed no surprise a
my presence. He was unshaven ant
unkempt, and had wild look in hi
eyes, but his talk was rational enough
81 know what you and all of the 9th
ers are after--the salvage-but tel
you that unless I can sail this hull
into port no other man shall!
made oath to that months ago, and
will keep that oath though drift
! about for ten years!"
s"No one will take me off alive!" h
muttered, and he returned to the sub
| >e N1,s1 %o11