Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1899-07-12

an not damn sovereign to help heal it,
neither so much glory as shines from the
buttons O. yer coat. Prize be cussed! Now,
if yer capting wills to let me take her into
port-as / came nigh doing awhile agone-
twill go far to put me right with the ad-
miralty an get me a job, mayhap, like that
lost through Thorndyke takin' my name,
damn his soul! Dye see?"
GAY, see, We sweep! And is that alt?
No prize money!"
GAY, all, all. Only to sail her home; no
more"
mo more, Ell? Ye are cursed deep
villain, but I'll touch the captain on it. Go
get the CRIME from your face and look less
like toad. Had he seen you, twas no
wonder Thorndyke launched himself over
the rail. What now, Scammell? Does the
lad still live?"
"He lives, indeed" was the answer, "but
whether or no he will bide long cannot
eay. He was better on deck than he is be.
lev. The cabin still stinks. / hope twill
Was he drunk ut mess? 1t is possible he can
Lold the lads life long enough to allow him
t. speak; he does little now but moan"
At this the two walked forward, and ]
heard nothing but the coarse voices of the
marines as they sang out to one another or
laughed uncouthly.
The knowledge that Ames still lived gave
me quick sense of relief-a relief which
fled on the instant as thought of the prob
able future in store for him. My own posi-
ton was infinitely better than his, even We're
he not suffering from wound, and, as for
his sister, after all was done, was she not
better off than either? But was she dead?
Ii not, what could have become of her?
had heard that the vessel had been searched
without finding trace of the third party
to whom Belden had referred On seeing all
was lost, was it possible that she had thrown
herself overheard that she might not wit
less her brothers tragic end? 1t was like
her. 1t would have been an act showing
her strength of character, as well as the
| weakness of her sex; natural recoil from
physical and mental suffering without
purpose; a heroic self-sacrifce It were as
we'll she had not suffered captivity and
loag-drawn misery. With her brother at
deaths door, or perhaps saved to die by
| military law; her property confscated, with
cut home or relatives and at the mercy of
Clinton's heartless mistress life would have
held no more for her than the doubtful ben
| eft of mere existence in confinement for An
indefRite period.
And yet was my reason against the idea OF
her self-destruction. There was mystery in
her disappearance, but its solution lay not in
tnat. The attacking party had boarded us
| from either side, yet not an eye had seen her
cast herself into the sea. There was more
| than this to make me doubtful. For her
brothers cake she had sacrificed herself be-
fore Clinton, yet on my hand was placed
her last kiss. Had she left the world thus,
without word to him, without a warning to
me? It was unnatural, unholy; it was mon
ssrous to think of, and yet The possible
l solution of the riddle as it drove into my
brain had scarce time to find Judgment be-
fore it was put to flight by the voice of Bel
den, which seemed to come from directly
overhead, his words showing that the con-
| tinuance of my present safety was not as
slired.
"Think you that dingy could be hauled
aboard and repaired? Twas neat shot,
and the ball seems to have cleft her like a
Fnife."
$50 it looks" came an answer, "but I'll
warrant you'll find her full of assures. The
work will barely repay the trouble. Better
cut her adrift. If wind comes, the wreck
will drag like sea anchor. You might give
attention to the quarter boat yonder, and
get the hatch aboard"
'HThe hatch, yes" Belden returned; "but
the boat is stove badly. Curses on the rebel;
be has cost US ten men in all, and only To
give US the slip! IT'S small wonder Louns.
bury has the shakes at thought of himl
Think Of the nerve"
Damn him!" was the retort. "What
about the schooner? Lounsbury wants to
take her in. There's nothing gone but the
foretopmast, and with three men he could
work her if the captain consents. In the
face Of our being short handed, the idea is
not bad if the villain can be trusted"
Hell scarce run off with the schooner
answered Belden, "and lead is no tempta
ton, though I'd be shy of trusting him with
anything more valuable. I know him Of
cid. He was scavenger to Clinton, and tt
Howe before him. Here, lad, cut away that
painter"
The last words were an order probabl.
I given to a sailor, for presently heard thu
. splash of the severed line. At the sam'
moment boat swept by, and from the few
words could gather guessed the Irish sur
geon had arrived and gone aboard.
After that more boats passed and re
passed as time dragged on, and finally tn
bulk of the vessels captors returned to thei
own schooner, for, saving now and thel
the sound of single man tramping tn
deck, the stiffness was unbroken.
It was with mighty satisfaction that hal
heard the final order to cut the tie bindin
my refuge to the schooner. l gave n
thought to what might come Of my benz
adrift on the broad ocean. Beyond eac
moment as it came and went seemed t
have no interest. The future was blank
nor need consider it SO long as the win
IT e.. H. H. Il
schooner would not part company, and VI
It'll darkness fell would be compelled t
remain in my present pinched quarters.
Hooded as was, up to the present m
hearing had been my only sense brought int
play, but with the departure of the last boa
load Of men used my eyes for the first TIM
The interior of the shelter under which
hung was lighted almost entirely from bt
low, and delicate greenish-blue tint playe
over the planks and ribs of the wrecl
Shielded from direct light overhead, tn
shell gave all the effects of "A water telescope
for, on turning my eyes downward, m
sight pierced the ocean for fathom afte
fathom, the color of the depths CROWN
from the most tender blue to a clear an
then dark green, showing me that the DO
tom lay beyond vision and far below. 1t wa
only by turning to the hole in the keel thu
could guess the hour, nor was it long b
. fore the sun had set and darkness came O
. apace. BY the natural attraction of foa
ing bodies, the boat had drawn near til
I l.schooner, and, as they struck and crunche
/ together, / heard the voice of the surgeon ;
q he left the cabin and came on deck.
/. well, by the powers, suppose mu'
i obey orders. If the boy is moved, he dies
i that's fat-an' by me soul, he may go, spit
a O me skill! must bide here the nigh
i :aust I? Ay, well; send aboard couple
bottles, Belden, or, by the piper, I'll mutin,
/ Why should dirty rebel be worth mol
q than our men: Is Scammell to bide wit
i. me?"
I NO." answered Belden; "he's sent for /
= TIN curtain Til fly tho linuor Mc(,ar