Evening star., 1898-06-11

saw haff-Sunk raft which seven men with
clumsy paddles were frantically laboring
toward him along the outer edge OF the
reefs
Without a second thought he rang of en-
gfnes, and the steamer lost her way and
fell Off into the trough and waited for
them. From the first he had a foreboding
as to who they were: but the men were OBJ
viously castaways. and by all the laws OF
rescue them.
Ponderously the raft padded UP and got
under the steamers lee. Kettle came down
on the bridge and threw them the end of
bled up the rusted plating. and ciambered
over the rail. They looked around them
with curiosity. but with an obvious famil-
iarity: Il left my pipe stuck behind that
there still. "Fo'c's'le doors stove in"
said another; Il wonder If they've scoffed
my chest
You Robinson Crusoes seem to be max
ing yourselves at home" said Kettle.
One of the men knuckled his shock of
hair. We was on her. sir. when she hap
pened her accident, We got off in the cap
tain's boat and she got smashed to bits
landing on Great Salvage. yonder. We've
been living there ever since on rabbits and
gulls and cookies, till We built that raft
and ferried over here. 1t was tough living.
but I guess we were better off than the
other poor beggars who got swamped in
the other boats"
The other two boats got picked up"
Dlu tney, tnOOEn. Ilen call II DeaStlN
hard luck on us
Captain Mulready was master, wasn't
he? Did he get drowned when your boat
went ashore?''
The sailor shrugged his shoulders. mo,
sir. Captain Mulready's on the raft down
ycnder. He feels all crumpled up TO find
the old ships afioat and you've got her out.
Shed list on when We left her that
would have scared Beresford but shes
chucked that straight again, and who's TO
believe 1t was ever there"
Kettle gritted his teeth. THANK you, my
lad he said. II quite see. Now get be-
low and find yourself something to eat,
and then go you forrari and turn to-
Then, leaning his head over the bulwark,
he called down, Jimmy"
The broken man on the raft looked up.
''Hullo, Kettle. that your"
Yes. Come aboard
No, thanks. I'm off to the island. I'll
start picnic there of my own, Good luck.
old man.
send and have you fetched. Quit fooling.'
"Oh. if you're set on it," said the other,
tiredly, and scrambled up the rope. He
looked around him with drawn face. ITO
think she should have lost that list and
righted herself like this. 1 thought she
might turn turtle any minute when we
quilted her, and I'm not a scary man.
either
Il know you aren't. Come into the
charthouse and have a drop of whisky.
There's your missis photo stuck up over
the bedfoot. How's she?"
Dead. hope. 1t will save her going to
the workhouse"
"Oh, rats. It's not bad as that"
IF you'll tell me- why not? 1 shall lose
my ticker over this job. sure. when it
comes before the board of trade, and what
owners likely to give me another ship"
We'll. Jimmy. you'll have to sail small
ard live on your insurance"
Il dropped that years ago and drew out
what there was. Had to-with eight kids
lxa a nj of
Eight kids? By James"
Yes. eight kids poor little beggars and
the missis and me all to go hungry from
now onwards. But they do say warehouses;
look in and see sometimes, won't you
kettle?" He lifted the glass which had
been handed him. Here's luck to you old
man. and you deserve it, | bought that
whisky from a chandler in Rio. It's a
drop of right, isn't il 90
Here, drop it, said Kettle
I'm sorry" said Captain Mulready, 'but
you shouldn't have had me on board /
should have been better pcnicking by my
self on Great Piton yonder. / can't make a
cheerful shipmate for you. old man."
Brace up" said Kettle.
BY the Lord, if I'd only been day ear
lier with that raft" said the other. musing-
~ Il could have taken her out. as you
nave done, and brought her home and /
Deileve the firm would have kept me on.
There need have been no inquiry only de
layed that's all. No one cares SO long as
a ship turns up some time"
1t wouldn't have made any difference" ;"
SAID Kettle, frowning. Some of those
lousy Portuguese have been on board and
scofed all the money"
What money!?
why. what she'd earned. What there
was here in the chart house drawer"
The disheveled man gave a tired chuckJo
20, that's all right. | put in at Las Palm
as and transferred it to the bank there
and sent home the receipt by the B. and A.
ennrsh l.ra,u boat Ito, to Liverpool No, I'm pleased
enough about the money. But it's this
other thing | made the bungIe of Just be-
ing day too late with that blasted raft"
Kettle heard a sound and sharply turned
n ms mead lie saw grimy man in the
doorway Mr.. McTodd," he said who
the mischief gave you leave to quit your
engine room? Am l to understand you've
been standing there in that doorway to lis
temp ~ i
Her own engineers come back 81 T
handed her over to him and came on decl,
for spell. AS for listening, I've heard
every word that's been said. Captain Mul-
ready, you have my very deepest condo
lences."
Mr.. McTodd,'' said Kettle with a sudden
blaze of fury. I'm captain of this shin
and you're intruding. Get to Hamlet out
Oh mere. lie got up and strode fur!ously
out of the door and McTodd retreated be-
fore him.
Now keep your hands off me- said the
engineer when he had been driven as far
90 NhO Siid VI tHt luuiey. I'm mad
about the thing yourself, and L don't
mind blowing off a few rounds of temper
! don't know Captain Mulready and YOU
90, but Ia hate to see any man all crun-
pied up like that If 1 could help it,
He could be helped by giving hin,
back his ship, and I'd do it If was by my
self. But I've got Scotch partner. and
l. m not going to try for the impossible"
Dinna abuse Scotland" said McTodd,
wagging grimy forefinger. Its your ain
wife and BARNS ye're thinking about"
Il ought to be, Mac, but, God help me,
I'm not
Vera weel." said McTodd, then if
that's the case, skipper. just set ye doom
here and Wen have palaver."
IN hear what you've got to say" said
Kettle more civily, and for the next half
hour the pair of them talked as earnestly
as only poor men can talk when they are
deliberately making up their minds to re-
sign solid fortune which is already with
In their reach. And at the end of that talk
Captain Kettle put out his hand and took
the engineers In a heavy grip. Mac" he
said. you're Scotch, but you're a gentle
man right through under your clothes"
L was born to that estate, skipper and
L no more wanted to see yon puir deevil
pulled down to our level than you do. Bet
ter go and give him the news, and 1 get