Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-06-14
Copyright, 1881, by Robert Bonner's Sons.
CHAPTER XVI.-(Continued

Not one of the boats miserable crews
succeeded in reaching the ship; one after
anstaer they disappeared, shrieking. Miss
Muir's face was corpse-like in it's pallor,
aad she leaned. half-fainting, on Dun
morc's arm as he drew her way.
AT this moment Mr.. Cleats, the engi-
aeer, came up to them, and advised the
course best to be taken by all the sur
viving passengers.
IL have made hasty examination of
the injuries sustained by the ship said
he, land am satisfied that she will re-
maia afioat for an hour or so. | hope to
have a staunch raft built in time. In the
meantime, get ready your valuables and
such other effects as we shall be able to
carry"
The rude raft was at last completed,
while gathered around it in mournful
groups were the survivors who were to
trust their fortunes to it's frail support.
The only passengers surviving besides
Miss Muir. Dunmore, EASTWOOD, Mos
sDa.~ the Frenchman, and Mackenzie and
his son. were eight of the second cabin;
and. besides the second and third officers
and the engineer, there were but seven
sf thc crew remaining, including Mingo-
Ringo, who had worked very hard with
the rest in the construction Of the raft.
Twenty four in all out Of ships popula-
kion OF one hundred and ffty-six! Such
was the awful footing-up within less
Ahan an hour succeeding the elimination
" Weems' fiendish plot.
II became very evident now that no
Surtber time was to be lost in quitting
aiae ship. The raft was rough-built and
clumsy, being about thirty feet long by
aweuty five broad, but it had been built
,sn r0alers At length it fell into the
waser with a great splash; casks of water
mad provisions were put on board, to-
gether with such baggage belonging to
passengers as it was deemed advisable to
carry; then mast and some sails were
AhrOwn on board, to be made use of after
Abe wreck should have been cleared; and
after this the survivors, one after an
vafer, took their station on the raft,
which was then pushed off by the sailors,
who furthermore fell to work with some
gweeps that had been provided, so as to
be mt a safe distance at such time as the
wreck should be ready to disappear.
Agnes Muir was the only one of her sex
OF the frail raft. She sank into sitting
attitude, and fixed her eyes mournfully
GA the wreck that had been quilted
lcw moments before. The little Scotch
lad. who had been commercially quiet
and brave during the ordeal of the even
ing, crept to her side, but she only gath
FRED him closer with her gentle arm, with
put withdrawing her eyes from their OBJ
k.ct of contemplation. Suddenly Dash
GOOD leaped to his feet, with a muttered
- infi fhn otn
her. An enormous shark had risen from
he depths. Then, in an instant, the en-
ire on-lighted water-space between
she raft aud the ship became alive with
sharks, their sharp fins making a kissing
sound as they darted swiftly here and
here, but for the most part seeming to
Aauat the immediate vicinity of the
wreck.
"It's sure sign-one that I've never
hnown to fal!" said Mr.. Guy, in low
Eoiee. to Dunmore. "The Scarborough
via make her plunge in less than five
minutes. See! she is now settling per-
ccpsihly."
All eyes S1ere soon turned toward the
doomed ship, which was observed to be
sast sinking. The sea was almost dead
aiIa, aud yet she presently began to roll
sneasiiy. Then her torn and shattered
s0Hs were suddenly lifted high out of
Inc water, causing her bravely gilded
sane 20 glisten brightly in the moon
sght. Then she rolled again, then pitch
ii forward, and as, with a great, groan-
az sound, she plunged headlong down
INTO the sea and disappeared, a grooming
NV also arose from the miserable occu-
sanes on the raft, while the sharks dis
ppeared rs suddenly as they had APP
cared following their prey deep down
alto the CLASSY abysses, and once more
he momentarily disturbed ocean grew
s.aceful and bright in the vivid moon
Sght,
In u few minutes one of the sailors
Ainted to the spot where the ship had
disappeared, and called out:
Halo, there's one Of the ships boats
aanse up from the wreck, and she doesn't
aok disabled, either"
At must be the port quarter-boat,"
aid AIR. Guy, examining the object
through his glass. she was cut loose
aovc"
X was suggested by others, though,
hat the boat might prove available, and,
ne mast and sail having by this time
cen rugged, Roadway was made in the
ERECTION of the boat. which was soon
ragged out of the water and Inspected.
here was not plank in her that hadn't
cen started by the shock of the explo-
seH. but a controversy at once arose as
the use that might be made of her:
gr. Guy and the engineer with num-
eT OF the passengers and crew contend
AZ that the boat was hopelessly worth
sss while Mr.. Scudder, with perhaps n
Aajosity in his support, was of the opin-
IN that it could be made use OF for the
arpose of relieving the raft of part of
y occupants.
quarrel was almost the result. but at
@sth, chiefly through the Intervention
punmore, who sided personally with
tr. Gay, it was agreed that, il Scudder
Aould succeed in repairing the boat, he.
Hth such others as might choose to ac-
smpany him. should be welcome to
hir share of the fresh wafer and proyiS-