The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1898-10-06

help her. She must have beel
drowned at once
And you left without finding out
Left her to drown or smother in tha
cabin? Don't you know your trade
he shifted his fingers to the throa
of the mate. shaking him vigorously y
don't you know that there's air enough
in that cabin to keep her alive TO
hourst Oh, you did know-you die
know. Only you haven't the nerve t.
risk your precious life. You're th'
same cur to day that you were a
school--who'd throw a stone and run
You took my place in that schooner
You were in charge-and you pulled
away and left that girl to die-th'
girl who threw me over for you. Oh
you hound. and she thought yor
were q man.
His voice ended in broken accents OF
grief and rage. Relenting his hold
be sank down on chest and coverec
his face with his hands, while convul
sive shudders ran through his frame
The mate, nearly black in the face
from his choking, stood up and drew
away from him, muttering, as soon a:
he could speak. I'm as much OF a
man as you are-any day
Think she may be alive yet, Ran
somp asked old Bill from his bunk.
Ransom lifted his head 'Wha,
cargo did you have, men7
he asked, addressing the awestruck
and rather shamefaced crew of the
Walkure
None, sir; we were fyin' light
from Havana, answered one, in the
tone of respect for an officer, which
Ransom, even ss a foremast hand,
could so easily enforce.
And when did you go over?'
AT noon, sir, said another; L was
the wheel, and she'd just stepped
down. Sne'd been asking me what
you'd shipped in, but l couldn't .ell
her.
Ransom slowly raised himself to
his feet, his face lighting with an
expression of hope. AT noon.' he
thirteen hours there's II
chance; there's chance yet He
bounded through the forecastle door
and ran aft, followed by the rest.
Mr.. Todd he said, as he reached
the poop, will You call the captaln2 2
What f0rP
There's a girl in the cabin Of that
schooner back yonder'
Great Scott Is that SOP Mr..
Todd tapped a second time at the
captains window. and again Capt
Davis appeared. somewhat ruflled at
being called twice on such fine
night.
Capt. Davis seid Ransom, excited
ly, Capt. Downs daughter is in the
cabin of the Walkure VIII you let
us take the boat back and try to get
her out? There's time yet.
what's that you say?' answered
the captain. In that cabin? |
thought she was drowned
No, SIR shouted Ransom, she was
below and was caught there; but
there's air in the hold, captain, and
Jessie can swim. Anyhow, she could
float on the table or chairs
Did pou know her, Ransom?'
i was mate of that craft five years,
captain
Where is the present mate of that
vessel?' asked the captain.
From the rear of the crowd of men
came Ackland Capt. Davis scanned
him closely, then, 10 a grave tone of
voice, asked:
Is it true. sir, that you left young
woman in that cabin?'
She's there, captain, dead or alive
Ackland i don't see how
we could have got her out at any
time. If we cut through the bottom
which we couldn't do without tools
the schooner'd sink fore we got to
her. I've been abused for not doing
the impossible; just the same, I'll
make one to go back, if any one goes
He gave Ransom look of hatred
Capt. Davis took turn along the
deck before speaking again.
hanson. be said, as he faced him.
it is hard thing to tell you in your
present frame of mind | understand
how you feel. But the hull is low in
the water and sinking all the time.
When we passed her, six hours ago,
the cabin floor must have been close
to the surface Of the water inside; by
this time it is over it, and Miss
Downs is dead
But there's a hatch in that floor
aswered Ransom vehemently, which
would fall off as the craft went over.
She could get through it into the
hold. Give me one man and the boat,
captain, and I'll get her.
No, you could not; it is folly. l
have no authority to prevent these
men from taking to their boat again.
but ] cannot permit you, or any mem
Der of my crew, to leave this vessel.
Go forward, men,
Take your wheel, RANSOM said
Mr.. Todd.
BY heaven, L won't!' cried Ransom,
and before any one knew what he
was about to do, he sprang to the taft
rail and mounted into the schooner's
one boat, hanging to the davits
Raising his foot, he brought the heel
of a heavy sea boot down on the bot
tom, A plank gave way, leaving a
gaping hole, Springing inboard, he
cast off the painter of the Walkure's
boat, and, dropping into it, showed of
and was a dozen feet away before the
astounded captain had grasped the
situation.
Ransom, come back here. This is
mutinous. Mr., Todd, examine our
boat and see what he's done to it
Come back-do you hearr spluttered
the captain. Ransom. master of the
situation, answered quietly:
III come back if l succeed, captain
and you wait for me- Dropping al
oar over the stern. he sculled The
boat alongside and called:
Where's that cowardly hound wht
thinks he's a mane Jump in her,
and prove your manhood, Tom Ack
land. | want help
Come Closer snarled Ackland