Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1898-10-07

names Of the crew he proposed 60 send
in her, sending first the sailors. so that
the mate might place each in his proper
station in the boat. before the fremen,
etc, who world be Of no use in the
critical man suvers Of getting her away
from the ships side, crowded her up.
But these same fremcn did not under
stand his reason and thought he was
showing undue preference to his own
men, and. a heavier sea than usual
striking the steamer, there wal q cry
Of, "She's going down, and he's send
ing the sailors first - and o rush for the
boat.
"Stand back Is cried tho skipper.
Crack. aud the leading fireman spread
n his hands and pitched ON to his
face, rolling in a limp bundle down on
TO the leo rail. Tho rest Of the men
stopped. They might as we'll be drown
cd as shot, they thought, and they hud-
died together, looking with Mortified
chances at their dead comrado. The
skipper paused, lowered his revolver
and then called tho next name. They
had learned their lesson and went quiet
ly to the boat. which was got safely
away and drifted out of sight in the
mist Of the gale.
The other boat was filled without any
mishap, and the skipper, the only man
left On the deck, lowered her. She also
got clear away and drifted out to the
full length Of her painter. The skipper
walked aft to wait for them to haul up
again. He had to pass the body Of the
dead man, and he did not look at it.
The boat was hauling up on the painter
and was getting close. The skipper got
ON the rail ready to jump. At that mo-
ment a fireman, the brother Of the man
he had shot. reached over the boats
bow, and with a cry OF BLAST you,
stop and drown with Billr' cut the
painter.
The distance between the ship and
the boat began TO widen instantly, ard
in spite Of the frantic efforts Of the sail
ors at the oars the deeply laden boat
was swept away and blotted ont in the
mist. The skipper got down from the
rails and made his way back to the
bridge deck. He bad just ten minutes
to live. Ten minutes to prepare for the
next world after 40 years at seal
He climbed up On the bridge again
and sat on the canvas wind screen to
think. His wife and children, who
would look after them nowi tiis wages
were GIG per mouth. On that he had
had but small Chance to save. Well, he
supposed the Shipmasters' society would
do something for her. but she would
have to give up her little house at For
est Gate and drop from the position of
a captains wife to letting lodgings.
Perhaps one of the children could be
got into an ~orphanage. If not, we'll, it
meant starvation or the w~orkhouse. He
thought of his own life, of his hard, i'll
used boyhood, cabin hoy in a Quebec
timber ship; CT his manhood, spent in
unremitting toll in all parts Of the
world; Of the various ships he had com
manded, in each of which he had been
expected to use less coal, less paint,
fewer provisions and to go with smaller
crews han in tho last. He thought Of
the blaokguards he had had to command
as crews. and the trouble he had haC
with them, and tho old sailor proverl
rose to his lips, ITO live hard, worl
hard, die hard and 90 to hell after al
would be too id hard" Well
he'd not had much fun out of life, ant
new he was going to find ont what i
all meant. Anyway be had always don,
mis- best Tor his ship.
His eyes fell on the dead body of thu
fireman. That tool If the man shout,
indict Kim at the bar Of the last judg
mont, he would answer there, as b
would have answered to an earthl,
court, "In my Judgment it was neces
sary for the safety of the men III m,
charge" A eudden CULVER warned hin
she was nearly gone, and no rose to hi
feet for one last look to windward. A
he looked into tho binding spray, h
saw a large wave come out OF the mist
and knew it would swamp her. III
gripped the rail with both hands, an,
his lips moved in a half forgotten pray
or. sour Father. which art and tn
wave swept on. But the Saraband hal
gone. The skipper had gone to meet hi
fireman where There shall be no NOR
sea. Temple Bar.