Cochise review., 1900-11-01

slllllAllAlDAAsllllAlAllAlSllllll llllllAllll spec3 astern" rang out a large sail | iua ship took ferr. ir the fog, and in a few seconds crashed into the steam CT in front of the bridge.
 The Pride of Asia shock from stem to stern. heeled over to starboard, and then began to forge ahead, while | the other went pounding along her side, wTenching the port boats from | her dIvts and stnvio~~ tbero in with her bowsprit. Then she passsd away as ghost in the fog.
 The Pride of Asia had met her death wound. At once all was noise and confusion. The emigrants came pouring up on deck, screaming and shouting with terror Some of the sailors rushed to clear the boats, but sharp order from the captain stopped them.
 In few seconds tho 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 a sandy l 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, MT. Jones"
 The mate run forward, and wiSh the help of the carpenter tore off part of the hatch covering and sprang to the ladder. As he climbed down young Malcolm peered ainllessly ovsr the hatch.
 Bring down lantern" cried the mate, and Malcolm, galvanized into activity by fear, seized lantern from the alleywayg and elambsred down into the hold,
 The mate ran toward the iron door in tho bulkhead, which had been lsft open, and pushed it to.
 "The light here-quick!"
 And the boy brought it.
 "Blast them!-- blast them!" 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 che 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 1 ragged a tornado of conflict. ..
 oh. to be out of this awful ship, safe once again at home! But the mate had said that all were lost. That meant him, too. And if only saved Great beads of sweat broke .out on his forehead. He groaned and VI tined about like one on the rack. Then he began to descend slowly. He stopped again on the last rung. He clung to the ladder as 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 q place and be saved. He was so young; not old, like the mate and captain. They must give him place.
 All ot once he loosened his hold and ran bIindly for the door. On the way he rripped and fell heavily on his hands and face, cutting and bruising them. He lay half stunned for . minute, moaning from the pain, then raised himself and crawled the rest of the way. He passed through the d5ar and with fevsrish haste shot tha q,'sat iron bolts Tho boy was alo~e in l;s tomb. He leaned against the hulkhc2d sick. sick to death. Why he'd he done this2 He did not know. They would be saved now, but hc--o! God no more light or life for him Fis poor. dry lips moved con vulsiyclv. and his hands beat aimless- ly on the iron wall. He would 20 back Hope returned with q rush. He would die in the open--with others around him. 1t would be good to die tl.us not in this he'll of darkness and dcer'uhr~0ss. He unxhot one bolt and fum3lgl for the other Then, with s low iuoan, he cast himself from it, driving his teeth into his lips in his agony.
 T was not to be. He was too great coward to live. He could only die. Uc would pray. But he could think of nothing--nothing but the "This night when lie down to sleep" he had learned st his mothers knee.
 To sleep--oh, he would sleep long! There was to be no waking this time.
 Long shuddering fits shook his frame as ha felt tha icy fingers of death rising inch by inch. He screamed and raved, dashing his head