Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-07-13
CHAPTER NVu.

y N
~ week had passed away. and nothing
but Il lingering. igonizing death seemed
IN store for our poor caStaways-or for
such of them as still survived their ter.
riblc sulTerin.s.
Seven days of alternate hroiliny sun
shine and slccpllcfying shadow. of pitt
less CLASSY calm and tantalizing. iitful
gusts, of glaring skies without the glim-
mcr of a sail to ilcck their brassy rim.
and starry iirmaments that did but mock
the mad, appealing gaze that searched in
vain their tropic Splendors for an an
swcring CLEAN of hope.
or The twenty-four original survivors
ON the raft, but seven remained. Twelve
had sailed away in the quartcr-boat, and
they sailed away into the hungry hol-
lowncss of ocean space. into the ccholcss
vacancy OF the Unknown. to he heard of
ana seen no more on land or sea. After
that. the casualties among the occupants
of the raft had followed each other with
tragic ~irrcgularity. Sousporteur, the
Frcnchman. had been the first to sue
cllmb, lcaping overheard mt noon of the
third day in Il lit of alteration. On the
evening of the fifth day. the three sail
ors. maddcncd by thirst. had engaged in
II deadly struggle over the remaining
drops i'll the last water cask but one.
One of them. Wormslcy. had received IL
stab i'll The breast. from which he short
ly afterwards expired. and the two 9TH
crs. Cults and tiarwood. while continuing
the Struggle. in spite OF the feeble pro-
tests of their companions. had fallen
overheard i'll each others arms. and into
the devonring jaws of the attendant, hid
coiisly patient sharks.
rIi,n, NJ. .ffI,,t- .1, ,A;,.... H., al
denly. on the sixth day. complained of
being torn aSindcr by cxcruciating pains.
after which he threw himself lis,lcSsly
in the shadow of The sail. bahbling for ii
little space of imaginary brooks and
heather bordcrcd streams. and then dying
with set jaws and staring eyes.
y dead calm had required after sevcra!
days of comparative breczincss. The rays
of the declining sun were scorching in
their fierce intensity. The sea was MS
calm. blue and glaring as FURNISHED steel.
Not IL breath was in the air. not Il sea-
birds wing disturbed the hot. universal
hush, not even Il fish lcaped from the
changcless bosom of the level, heat-rc-
.lcetins sea.
Come, Dunmorc," growled Eastwood,
make Il fair divvy of what water there
is. We might as well each have IL fair
swallow and he done with it, instead of
taking it in thimblcfuls.'
mo, again. once and for ALL said
Dunmorc. savagcly. Miss Muir and the
child shall have what is left after sup
plying poor old Mackenzie. who is DIVING
Dunmorc was about to continue his
angry reply when Il faint voice called his
name, and, urning, he saw the dying
Mackenzie %propping himself fccbly up in
the place where lie was lying in the shad-
DIV of the sail. and beckoning to him.
rs it water you wish?' said Dunmorc.
still keeping his arm thrown over the
cask.
The Scotchman shook his head and
signed him to approach. ut the same time
indicating by another gesture that he be-
lieved himself to be dying. Startled for
the moment out of his customary pru-
dcnce, Dunmorc forgot about the treas
urc he WAS guarding, and approached the
dying man.
MIR. Guy hurried to the little tent, and
when he presently returned. leading Rob-
bic by the hand and with Miss Muir lean
ing heavily OH his other arm. Dunmore
was on his knees, supporting the head of
the dying man, who was Whispering some
thing to him in a hurried. gnsping way.
II accept the charge, Mr.. Mackenzie
said Dunmorc at last. and then. turning
to the others, he led the little lad close
to the dying mans side. and said to Miss
Muir and Mr.. Guy: MIR. Mackenzie has
just given me Il painful bit of this little
lads history. and, as a last request. com
mits him to my care. Have l UNDER
stood you rightly, old fricndy'
Mackenzie fcebly signed an affirmative
and then, drawing the lad more closely to
his side with one hand. he with the other
took from his bosom the canvas pouch in
which his diamonds We're sewn, and laid
it upon Robbic's head with an appealing
and significant glance toward Dunmore.
"YOu appoint me his guardian, and
wish me to hold this property in trust
for his bcnetity' said Dunmore, laying
his hand on the pouch. rs that ity'
The dying man strove to reply in words,
but utterance was denied him, and he
simply made another affirmative sign.
Listen, then, before you so way
from us, old FRIEND" said Dunmore, very
SOlomn1v ct accanf thnsa DIVING tr,ncfS In