Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1900-09-28
her bowsprit. Then she passed away
as ghost in the fog.

III IL lew SecOnuS tne captain Hdu
decided on his course. The remain
ing boats would not carry a hundred
and fifty people. There were more
than twice that number on board.
On the other hand, the land was
about three miles off, and a 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; $50
down and shut the for'ard bulkheads,
Mr.. Jones'"
The mate ran forward, and with
the help of the carpenter tore of
part of the hatch covering and sprang
to the ladder. AS he climbed down
young Malcolm peered aimlessly over
the hatch.
"Bring down lantern" cried the
mate, and Malcolm, galvanized into
activity by fear, seized lantern from
the alleyways and clambered down
into the hold.
The mate ran toward the iron door
in the bulkhead, which had been left
open, and pushed it to.
"The light here-quick!"
And the boy brought it.
"Blast them!-oh, blast them!'
roared the mate. "They've put the
bolts on the wrong side. In five min
utes Wen all be in kingdom come"
He stumbled for the ladder, wild
with terror. Yes, every one wonld
be drowned, and he, too, with the
cruel, cold water sucking him down
He dropped the lantern and began to
pull himself up the ladder.
Suddenly he stopped. An idea had
been born in his brain; hideous, un
thinkable thought-the door could bt
closed from the other side. He hung
Imply on the ladder, and in his mine
ragged a tornado of conflict.
Oh, to be out of this awful ship
safe once again at home! But tn,
mate had said that all were lost
That meant him, too. And II only
that door were. shut, all could b'
saved. Great beads of sweat brok,
out on his forehead. He groaned ant
writhed about like one on the rack
Then he began to descend slowly. II,
stopped again on the last rung. HI
clung to the ladder as a drowning
man to a rope. He could never lie
go. Why was he not going up th'
ladder? There were boats left. II,
had seen that. He could fight for |
place, and be saved. He was so young
not old, like the mate and captain
They must give him place.
All at once he loosened his hold ant
ran blindly for the door. On the wa.
he tripped and fell heavily on hi
hands and face, cutting and bruisin:
them. He lay half stunned for
minute, moaning from the pain, thel
raised himself and crawled the res
Of the way. He passed through tn
door, and with feverish haste sho
the great iron bolts. The boy wa
alone in his tomb. He leaned agains
the bulkhead, sick, sick to death
Why had he done this? He did no
know. They would be saved now, bu
he-O! God. no more light or life 70
him! His poor dry lips moved con
vulsively, and his hands beat aimless
ly on the iron wall. He would e
back. Hope returned with rush. II
would die in the open-with other
around him. 1t would be good to di
thus, not in this hell of darkness an
desolateness. He unshot one bolt an
fumbled for the other. Then, with
low moan, he cast himself from 4
driving his teeth into his lips in hi
agony.
1t was not to be. He was too grea
a coward to live. He could only di,
He would pray. But he could thin
Of nothing-nothing but the "Thi
night when / lie down to sleep" h
had learned at his mothers knee.
To sleep-oh, he would sleep long
There was to be no waking this tim,
Long shuddering fits shook HI
frame as he felt the icy fingers {
death rising inch by inch. II
screamed and raved, dashing his hea
against the iron, that death nigh
come quickly. Ife plunged beneat
the water, only to come up agail
fighting madly for life. Then ther
was long drawn sob, and then S
lence.
The captain stood on the bridge,
figure of stony despair. The Ian
oo,,lJ nayar ha raacba6 xx,;th ,y,t J..