The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1899-01-04

there was splinter or wood SUCK.
ing to his axe, and he was painting.
Rotten, mattel A three foot leak
in the outer hold, was what he
shouted. 'Hatches blocked, I'm
afraid. We'll have to come down
again and blow hole in her side to
get at the silk. Got your line? Say
when.
(" Half minute, shouted back.
Per haps he thought I'd had enough
of it, and reckored l should be glad
to take his word for everything. AS
it was, being afraid to go too neal
the rigging, walked round by the
forepeak as smart as l could, swung
myself up to the keelboard and
crawled along there, feeling and
looking both sides for the hole ne
had made it his business to hack.
''[ couldn't find it, but / found
something else that made the blood
tingle in me- very queerly. hadn't
really expected it, and only the
sheerest bit of luck could have put
it in my way by that light. But
there, a couple of yards up the side
of the forehold, were three big splin-
tered holes that nothing but an au.
CUR had worked through. I made
quite sure of that, got my nerves
set and turned to crawl back, and
there was Saunders STOPPING benin l
me. And / was fool enough to take
hold of his fingers and plug them in
the holes to make him feel the in
side smoothness.
He seemed startled himself, and
didn't say a word till we had clam
bered down to the sand again. Then
as went to tug my line, feeling a
bit nervous, he catches my arm and
put his glass against mine.
'Scuttled," he said.
"'Aye, scuttled, l yelled back,
and the next thing1 knew was that
i lay on my back empty handed.
He had tripped me and jerked away
my lifeline. Well. all the blood
rushed to my head. That's about all
/ know / lay there stunned most
by the thought that such villainy
could find a place in any mans
mind. But he was not quite quick
enough. Az he went to step back !
caught him behind the knees with
one hand, and down he came. Then
came the st. uggle for life and death,
and it doesn t bear describing. l had
tumbled to the whole thing in a
flash. He had been offered price
not TO let me go up if by chance /
found out anything black, and it
had been big enough to make Il
rogue of him. That was it, and let
any man here imagine a deadlier
position if he can.
II held on to him for a minute or
so like a vice. But was undermost,
the weight Of him on my chest and
the notion of what he intended do
ing suffocating me almost. Clouds
of the white sand went whirling up
about us, and the red mist in my
eyes made them seem real blood col
or, Irecollect- Aye, he meant it that
day. He knew he'd gone too far to
draw back, the mad fool Through
the glass / made out his axe going
up, as if he could see no way for it
but to smash in my helmet and
leave the water to do the rest. just
had strength enough to give one
mighty screech Then ! was done.
Closed my eyes and waited for the
thud.
1T never came, mates. But if it
wasn't touch and 90 with death,
what was ita That he was going to
do the thing I've never had doubt.
But all Of sudden there was a jerk
Of his line. Up he went. and l, hang
ing on to his ankles, had sufficient
sense not to let go. Up, up-very
slowly, for the line had a double
weight that they didn't know Of
above. Up, up, and in my dreams
since I've often felt the kicks he
gave to get free of me. But heaven
wouldn't allow it I've no recollec-
ton of reaching the blessed surface
and being hauled aboard. But it
goes without saying, OF / wouldn't
be telling the tale now.
"Mr. Lacy told me afterward that
when they unstrapped my things l
was black in the face and dead to
the world. They thought was 60
ing, and put back to shore at once.
But, however, once in my bed at
home got back enough sense to
gasp oct something that sent him
off to the police, hot foot. The next
thing / knew was that I'd been i'll
for u week, and that they were wait
ing for me to give evidence at the
trial-Truman Bros. versus the
Owners and Captain of the Witch.
LIT lasted days and days, and at
first seemed as if it was going
against us. An expert diver had
gone down and made his report.
But the owners calmly swore that
the auger holes were revelation to
them, and the crew did the same.
Onlv one thing did it. Their caDtain