New-York tribune., 1900-06-24

fern in the fog and in a few seconds crashed
into the steamer in front of the bridge.
The Pride of Asia shook from stem to stern
neeIed over to starbOard and then began to
forge ahead, while the other went pounding
along her side, wrenchinE the port boats from
hef daVlts and staving them in with her bow
spirit Then she passed away as a ghost in the
fog.
The Pride of Asia had met her death wound
At once all noise and confusion. The emf
shouting with terror Some OF the sailors
rushed to clear the boats but a sharp order
from the Captain stopped them.
In few seconds the Captain had decided
ms course The remaining boats would not
carry hundred and fifty people There were
more than twice thai number board. On the
other hand. the land about three miles off,
and sandy and protected beach meant safety.
But could it be done with that hole in her side?
he would try. he changed her course. rang
Full speed ahead" and shouted to the mate
Jones'"
The mate ran forward and with the
help Of the carpenter tore off part of the
hatch covering and sprang TO the ladder AS
he climbed down young Malcolm peered aim
iessly over the hatch.
Bring down a lantern" cried the mate, and
Malcolm. galvanized into activity by fear, seized
lantern from the alleyways and cIambered
The mate toward the iron door in the
bulkhead, which had been left open, and pushed
it to-
The light here-quick,"
And the boy brought il.
Blast them,-oh. blast them," roared the
mate They've put the bolts on the wrong side
IL five minutes We'll all he in kingdom come"
he stumbled for the ladder. and Malcolm fol-
lowed. wild with terror Yes. every one would
. be drowned. and he, too with the cruel cold
water sucking him down. He dropped the Ian
tern and began 20 pull himself up the ladder
suddenly ne stopped An idea had been born
III his brain, hideOuS, unthinkabIe thought
the door could be closed from the other side.
lie hung Imply on the ladder, and in his mind
ragged a tornado of conflict
on to be out Of this awful ship. safe once
again at hOmci But the mate had said that all
nd II MI
tlat door were shut, all could he saved Great
beads of sweat broke out on his forehead He
Sroaned and wrthed about like one on the rack
Then he began to descend slowly. He stopped
again on the last rung. He clung to the ladder
as a drowning man to a rope. He could never
m m 30 Nhy was ne not going up the ladder?
ltI3 Ihere H were boats left. He had seen that He
SO young not old, like the mate and captain.
They must give him place
All at once ne loosened his hold and ran
blndly for the door. on the way h tripped
and fell heavily on his hands and face cutting
and bruising them He lay half stunned for a
minute moaning from the pain, then raised him
self and craWled the rest of the way. He
passed through the door and with feVerish haste
shot the great iron bolts The boy was alone in
his tomb He leaned against the bulkhead. sick,
. sick TO death. Why had he done this? He did
not know They would be saved now but he
/ o. God, no more light life for him, His Door
dry lips moved convulsvely, and his hands beat
aimlessly on the iron wall. He would go back.
/ Hope returned with rush. He would die in the
open-Wlth others around him. 1t would be good
to die thus not in this hell of darkness and desc
. lateneSS he UnShOt bolt and fUmbled for
| the other. Then, with low moan, he cast him
self from 1t, driving his teeth into his lips in his
agony.
It was not 10 be. He was too great a coward
/ to live. He could only die He would pray. But
he could think Of nOthing-nOthng but the This
/ night when lie down to sleep" he had learned
at his mothers knee.
To sleep-Oh, he would sleep long! There was
/ to be no waking this time. How the water was
! creeping up
Long shuddertng fits shook his frame as he
felt the icy fingers of death rising inch by inch
/ He screamed and raved, dashing his head
| He plunged beneath the water only TO come up
/ again, fighting madly for life. Then there was a
/ long drawn sob, and then silence
! The Captain stood on the bridge a figure %
/ stony despair. The land could never be reached
| with water pouring like torrent into the for
ward hold He cursed his negligence in
! looking such a frightfu blunder. It was going
/ to cost two hundred lives and he must not be
! ting low in the water. but he could under
stand why she not sinking more by the bow.
She was vibrating from the engines, pushed to
! their highest pressure. for the firemen stuck
Eallantly to their posts. Five minutes went and
ten, and then, with sudden shock she took
ground, and all were safe.
! Next morning young Malcolm was missing.
and the sOrrowful news sent to his father.
1t was thought he had fallen overheard when
the ship grounded, and he could not swim.
A week afterward. the divers entered the
| forward hold, and found, to their astonishment,
! that the bulkhead door which they had expected
! to find open, closed.
They forced 1t open, and against 1t was float
! ing the body Of boy.