Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1899-06-16

tho davits The skipper then called the
names OF tho crow he proposed to send
IN her, sending first the sailors, 80 that
the matb might place each in his proper
station in the boat. before the firorien,
otc., who would lie " 40 use in the
critical mnueuvsrs CT getting her away
from the chips side, crowded her up.
But these same lremen did not under
stand his reason and thought ho was
showing undue preference to his own
men, and, n heavier seq than usual
striking the steamer, there was a cry
Of, "'Sbe's going down, and he's send
ing the sailors 1Tstr' aud a rush for the
boat.
"stand back rs cried Tic skipper.
Crack, and the leading ereman spread
out his hands ard pitched on to his
face, rolling in a limp bundle down on
to the leo rail. The rost Of the men
stopped. They might as we'll be drown
ed as shot, they thought. and they hud-
died together, locking with Mortified
chances at their dead conirnde. The
skipper paused, lowered his revolver
and thea called the next name. They
had learned their lesson aud went quiet
" - the beat, which was got safely
away and driftod out Of sight In the
mist Of the gallo.
The other boat was filled without any
mishap, ard 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 10 pass tho body Of the
dead man, and he did not look at it.
The boat was hauling up on the painter
and was getting cloee. The skipper got
ON the rail ready to jump. At That mo-
ment q fireman, the brother Of tho man
no had shot, reached over the boats
bow, and with o cry of "Blast you,
stop and drown with Dillr' cut the
painter.
The distance between tho ship and
tho boat began to widen instantly, and
in spite Of the frantic efforts of the sail
ors at the oars the deeply laden boat
was swept away and blotted out in the
mist. The skipper got down from the
rails and made his way back to the
bridge deck. Ho had just ten minutes
to live. Ten minutes to prepare fer tie
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 nowT His wages
were els Per month. On that he had
had but small chance TO saw Well, he
supposed the Shipriasters' society would
do something for her, Sut she would
have to give up her little house at For
est Gate and drop from the position o.
a captains wife to letting lodgings
Perhaps ono of the children coald b.
got into an orphanage. II not, we'll, i
meant starvation or the workhouse. H
thought Of his own life, Of his hard, il
used boyhood, cabin boy in a Quebe
timber ship; Of his manhood, spent il
unremitting toll in all parts Of tn
world Of the various ships he had com
manded, in each of which he had beel
expected to use less coal. less paint
fewer provisions and to 90 with smalle
crews than in the last. He thought o
the blackguards he had had to commanI
as crews, and the trouble he had hat
with them, and the old sailor proven
rose to his lips, ITO live hard, worI
hard, die hard and go 70 hell after al
would be too id hard" Well
he'd not had much fun out Of life, an
now he was going to and out what i
all meant Anyway no had always don
ne hoef fDr hfc phsn
His eyes fell on the dead body Of tn
fireman. That tool If the man shout
indict him at the bar of the last judg
ment, he would answer there, as b
would have answered to an earthl
court. "kh my Judgment it was necet
gary for tho safety Of the men in m
charge" A sudden culver warned hiI
she was nearly gone, and he rose to hi
feet for mi last look to windward. A
he looked into the binding spray, b
saw a large wave come out Of the mist
and knew It would swamp her. II
gripped the rail with both hands, an
his lips moved in a half forgotten pray
Ell. "Our Father, which art and tn
wave swept on. But the Saraband ha
gone. The skipper had gone to meet HI
fireman where there shall be no MOI