Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-06-14
CHAPTER XVII.


CHAPTER XVII.
A week had passed away, and nothing
but a lingering, agonizing death seemed
in store for our poor castaways-or for
such of them as still survived their ter
rible sufferings.
Seven days Of alternate broilng sun
shine and sleep-defying shadow, Of pitt
less CLASSY calm and tantalzng, fitful
gusts, of garing skies without the glim-
mer of sail to feck their brassy rim,
and starry ornaments that did but mock
the mad, appealing gaze that searched in
vain their tropic splendors for an an
swerng CLEAN Of hope!
Or the twenty four original survivors
on the raft, but seven remained. Twelve
had sailed away in the quarter-boat, and
they sailed away into the hungry hol-
lowness of ocean space, into the echoless
vacancy of the Unknown, to be heard of
and seen no more on land or sea. After
that, the casualties among the occupants
of the raft had followed each other with
tragic irregularity. Sousporteur, the
Frenchman, had been the first to sue
cumb, leaping overheard ut noon of the
third day in fit of alteration. On the
evening of the fifth day, the three sail
ors, maddened by thirst, had engaged in
u deadly struggle over the remaining
drops in the last water cask but one.
One of them, Wormsley, had received
stab in the breast, from which he short
ly afterwards expired, and the two 9th
ers, Cults and Garwood, while continuing
the struggle, in spite of the feeble pro-
tests of their companions, had fallen
overheard in each others arms, and into
the devourng jaws of the attendant, hid
eously patient sharks.
Then Mr.. Cleats, the engineer, had sud-
denly, on the sixth day, complained of
being torn asunder by excruciating pains,
after which he threw himself lstlessly
in the shadow Of the sail, babbling for a
little space of imaginary brooks and
heather bordered streams, and then dying
with set jaws and staring eyes.
A dead calm had REQUIRED after several
days Of comparative breeziness. The rays
OF the declining sun were scorching in
their fierce intensity. The sea was as
calm, blue and glazing as FURNISHED steel.
Not a breath was in the air. not sea-
birds wing disturbed the hot, universal
hush, not even fish leaped from the
changeless bosom Of the level, heat-re-
lecting sea.
Come, Dunmore," growled Eastwood,
make fair divvy of what water there
u.s. We might as well each have fair
swallow and be done with it, instead of
taking it in thimblefuls."
mo, again, once and for all!' said
Dunmore, savagely. Miss Muir and the
child shall have what is left after sup
plying poor old Mackenzie, who is dying
Dunmore was about to continue his
angry reply when faint voice called his
name, and, turning, he saw the dying
Mackenzie propping himself feeby up in
the place where he was lying in the shad-
ow Of the sail, and reckoning to him.
is it water you wishY' said Dunmore,
still keeping his arm thrown over the
cask.
The Scotchman shook his head and
signed him to approach, at the same time
indicating by another gesture that he be-
leved himself to be dying. Startled for
the moment out Of his customary pru-
dence, Dunmore forgot about the treas
ure he was guarding, and approached the
dying man.
Mr.. Guy hurried to the little tent, and
when he presently returned leading Rob-
bic by the hand and with Miss Muir lean
ing heavily on his other arm, Dunmore
was on his knees, supporting the head of
the dying man, who was whispering some
thing to him in hurried. gasping way.
Il 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: "Mr. Mackenzie has
just given me 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 friend?'
Mackenzie feebly signed an affirmative
and then, drawing the bad more closely to
his side with one hand. he with the other
took from his bosom the canvas pouch IN
which his diamonds were sewn, and laid
it upon Robbie'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. benefit?" said Dunmore, laying
his hand on the pouch. rs that it
The dying man strove to reply in words,
but utterance was denied him, and he
simply made another affirmative sign.
Listen, then, before you go away
from us, old friend" said Dunmore, very
solemnly, II accept these dying trusts en-