The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-11-06

shouting with terror. Some of the
sailors rushed to clear the boats, but
a sharp order from the captain
stopped them
In a few seconds the captain had
decided on his course. The remain
ing boats would not carry hundred
and fifty people. There were more
than twice that number on board.
On the other hand, the land was
about three miles of, 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: go
down and shut the for'ard bulkheads,
Mr.. 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 aimlessly over
the hatch.
Bring down a 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-quicki"
And the boy brought it.
"Blast themi-oh. blast themI"
roared the mate. They've put the
bolts on the wrong side. In five min
utes we'll all be in kingdom come"
He stumbled for the ladder, wild
with terror. Yes, every one would
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 be
closed from the other side He hung
Imply on the ladder, and in his mind
ragged tornado of conflict.
Oh, to be out of this awful ship,
safe once again at homei But the
mate had said that all were lost.
That meant him. too. And if only
that door were shut, all could be
saved. Great beads of sweat broke
out on his forehead. He groaned and
writhed about like one on the rack.
Then he began to descend slowly. He
stopped again on the last rung. He
/ chung to the ladder as a drowning
/ man to a rope. He could never let
] go. Why was he not going up the
ladder? There were boats left. He
had seen that. He could fight for a
+ 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 and
ran blindly for the door. On the way
he 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 himself 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 or life for
himl His poor dry lips moved con-
vulsiveIy, and his hands beat aimless-
ly on the iron wall. He would go
back. Hope returned with rush. He
would die in the open-with Others
around him. 1t would be good to die
thus, not in this hell of darkness and
! desolateness. He unshot one bolt and
fumbled for the other. Then. with a
low moan. he cast himself from it,
driving his teeth into his lips in his
agony.
1t was not TO be. He was too great
a coward to live. He could only die
He would pray. But he could think
of nothing-nothing but the "This
night when I lie down to sleep" he
had learned at his mothers knee.
To sleep-oh, he would sleep longl
There was to be no waking this time
Long shuddering fits shook his
frame as he felt the icy fingers Of
death rising inch by inch. He
screamed and raved. dashing his head
against the iron. that death might
come quickly. He plunged beneath
the water, only 20 come up again
fighting madly for life. Then there
was long drawn sob, and then ST
lence.
The captain stood on the bridge. a
figure of stony despair. The land
could never be reached with water
pouring like a torrent into the for.
ward hold. He cursed his negligence
in overlooking such frightfu
blunder. 1t was going to cost zoe
lives, and he must not be among the
saved. The Pride of Asia was get
ting low in the water, but he could
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