The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-23

you ii know there's soineb dy coming, an
| you must 'op ii as if you'd been bsynitted
| Now. then, have you ever seen krooJer?
Yes" replied the fireman. Il saw hin
up-country once. when / worked in the
| diamond mines.
OH Is that why you're shtverin' sc
much? Have you got the aig?"
NO: l tell you it's the change from
hot 10 cold. I've come straight up from
the stokehole''
Then l think you'd better go straight
down again. said Crook You aren't as
| iIterostin' as l thought you would be. an
I'm sure | shall never learn anything use
full from you. Besides, you'll die on my
hands if I'm not careful, an / don't want
TO be mixed up in mess like that. | can
Just make You out. an you look as il
you'd sink on the floor. Be off or you'll
get clGpped in clink.''
He turned toward the taffrail and began
pacing about to show that, so far as be
was concerned, the interview was com.
pletely ended. As he did so the fireman
Sushed ct the lifebuoy. and with feverish
hands began TO unlash it. For the moment
Crook was too much amazed to act; then
he derted forward and struck at the figure
with the butt-end of his rifle. There was
dull sound, curse, and a wild spring
at the alert sentry. The thin figure OF
the fireman fell upon and twined about
the sentry. but only for a second or two.
Letting his rife go, Crook flung himself
against the stranger and rolled with him
or the deck, his fingers gripping his
throat.
What DEVILS mischief are you up TOP
demanded Crook. Tell me, or I'll throt-
lie you
His prisoner tried to speak. but the grip
was too hard, and he only gurgled.
The noise of the struggle brought up
some of the soldiers who were lettering
about the decks and Crooks company Of
ficer. who had just lighted a cigar, saun-
tered up. puzzled aud interested
Crook jerked his prisoner to his fest. and
held him fast while he took up his rife.
What's the natter" asked the officer.
Let me goi Let me CO., screamed the
prisoner. Let me go, or it'll be too late,"
Quietly" said the officer, mo ones
going 10 eat you. Now. what's all this
bother about? What were you doing
here"
He'll wriggle away" cried Crook, pant
ingly. II can't hold him, sir Can l hand
him over to somebody else?''
You needn't hold him, need you?" said
the officer il surprise.
Needn't / just, sir?" answered Crook.
you should ha seen him try to steal the
lifebuoy an spring overheard with it.
saw his game; an he nearly did it, too
Get hold of the man. Wilkin." said the
officer TO a soldier near him. who are
you:"
He addressed the fireman, but the fire.
man only struggled nercely, and screamed,
Let me go. Let me co."
"Cor1e, come" said the captain. Don't
be a baby. What's the natter What 10
you want to steal a lifebuoy for?"
Hes of his chump, SIR" explained
Crook. Must be. l thought so when l
saw him rush on to the ship at the dock.
| sized him up then as wrong 'un. an
I'm right
Come" said the captain, sternly, give
an account Of yourself.
He might as well have appealed to the
ship herself. The fireman struggled and
foamed; he fought so hard that the captain
had to order more men to help Wilkin to
control him Even then the captive man
aged TO drag himself and the soldiers to
the vessels side and almost 20 escape from
them and threw himself into the sea. All
the time he shrieked to them to let him
go. saving that 1t would be too late.
Take him into the guardroom." said
the captain.
The men fell upon the furious form.
pinning il by the arms and legs. Gripping
its power OF movement, and dragged IL
along the deck. down the hatchway TO the
horseback. then down to the troopdeck,
and between the mess tables to the guard
room in the bows.
Put him in the cell; he's mad drunk"
ordered the captain. "It'I be time to rea-
son when he's sober"
They thrust the frail figure through the
guardroom door. then into the little room
on the right above which an electric lamp
was burning, and between which and the
guardroom at the top there was a row OF
short strong iron bars. The door was
locked upon him, and the fireman was left
hurting himself against it, tTpi-~ to tear
the bars away. and then attempting to
thrust himself through one Of the port
holes which he had managed to open. But
he could not get even his head in. and he
returned 10 the door and screamed to them
TO let him out, for Gods sake
There was a general officer on board the
transport. going out to take over the COM
mand of a division. He heard the noise
and the screams and walked down to see
what the confusion meant.
rs he one OF our mem" he asked, mind
full Of military jurisdiction.
''No, sir-he belongs to the ship-one Of
the firemen, they say" answered the cao-
I'd better have him brought down here,
especially as he was interfering with one
OF the sentries."
What's he bowling like that for?" asked
the general. irritabiy. az another fearful
cry came from the cell, followed by the
thuds Of the body of the fireman as he
hurled himself impotently against the door.
Let him be brought out and taken some
where else-I suppose the ships people
have a place to put him in. Anyway it's
no business of ours"
The guard opened the door and let the
prisoner come out. He knocked two OF
three Of them down as he rushed from the
cell and was daEhing down the troop
deck when he was seized almost at the
generals side.
Let me got" he screamed. "Ah, you.
sir-you'n listen. I'll tell you everything
but be quick-there isn't second to be
LOST"
what is IT," asked the general, placid
ly. Don't grip Linn so hard, men--he
wants TO tell me something privately. Yes,
you may come and whisper it, Il that's
what you want.
The fireman stretched himself on his
toes, the soldiers holding his wrists still,
and in one sentence told the general what
he had to say.
The generals face blanched, but in the
light OF the troopdeck no one saw the
change. And that is true?" he said. In a
low voice. to the fireman.
Gods truth, as l stand here, sir" said
the fireman. Il vas paid to do it. and I
brought It on board in a bundle. There's
time to save you all, even yet I'll show
you where It is. There's time-just time"
He almost groveled before the officer as
he spoke. The men looked on in silence,
but not understanding what
was meant.
Come" said the general Everybody
else stay here. Make way, there" he cried.
and the crowding troops and crew fell
back instinctively wondering what the aw-
full looks upon the faces of the general
and the fireman meant.