Willmar tribune., 1899-10-18

roundings in the glory of his scarlet uniform.
1 held firm hatred for him as he lay there,
feeling that half my present trouble was due
to his Internal weakness or deliberate care
lessness. Had matters gone we'll below,
might have made a shift to keep to the
deck and yet have food and drink supplied
me, but now the whole business was on me,
and my wounded were without proper care.
l wondered how it could have come about
that such an accomplished swiller Of liquor
had found it possible to have gotten dead
drunk on the short allowance of whisky left
in the bottle had given him, but soon
gave over thinking of it. The question to be
settled was how could leave Ames and his
sister, but it was soon solved. Letting them
take their chances for moment, seized the
snoring redcoat by the collar and hauled
him up the companion way, he making the
third drunkard had pitched from the cabin
in this fashion. As I dropped him with
small ceremony there came sound as
though he had struck the deck with a
muffied club. This made me suspicious of
still concealed arms, but, on turning him
over, found the cause and supply for his
latest debaucb. In the skirts of his coat
were two bottles like that had taken from
him, one full, the other two-thirds empty.
1t was Godsend, and then and there / took
such dram that ere long the contents of
my veins were less akin to the icy water
they had seemed to be holding.
Going back to the cabin, I hauled the lar
board bunk mattress to the floor and laid
the girl upon it. Close to her laid Ames,
lifting bed and all, and thus both were be-
yond danger of q bad fall, however the ves-
sci might ramp. The lad opened his eyes as
placed him by his yet unconscious sister,
but I bade him not speak, and tried to
hearten him by telling him l was yet mas
ter, that Gertrude was by his side, hurt, but
not badly, and that we would, by the help
of God, be safe ashore ere sunset. He
smiled family, and made as if to nod, by
which l guessed that whisky was no medi-
cine for his complaint, but managed to get
a dram down the throat of the girl, whereat
she soon opened her eyes and came to life
with another moan.
Though I wished to linger by her, I dared
not; there was much to Go-too much for
one mortal. 1t was the work of moment to
clear the floor of the bounding missiles and
heave them above (all but the gold, which
threw into an empty bunk, and followed
after for a brief look about.
Since had taken the whisky my energy
had come back full f1edged and in fighting
mood, as though the numbness Of the past
few hours had been waking slumber from
which had just recovered. The broaden
ing day put hope in me, though clearly and
with quick sensitiveness I marked the
anger of the sea, the sinister scowl on the
face of Nature, and the wild disorder reign
ing aboard the Phantom from her bow
SPIRITS end to her remaining truck. Be-
slowing glance on the drunkard, who lay
on the wet planking not whit less COM
fortably than on the carpet of the cabin
floor, | gave my attention to the shrouds,
finding as yet nothing had let go or sprung.
/ then carried aft the main throat and peak
halyards, that they might act the part of a
back stay and give some relief to the stand
ing rigging. was engaged in making fast
the Lines when there passed beneath us a
wave of extraordinary height and sharpness.
1t was cross sea, and it well-nigh tripped
the schooner, which term betokens cap