Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1900-09-13

and confusion. Nhe emigrants came
pouring up on deck, screaming and
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 off, and a 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 of
part of the hatch covering and sprang
| 10 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-quickl"
And the boy brought it.
BLAST theml-oh, blast them!'
| roared the mate. They've put the
bolts on the wrong side. In five min
utes wen all be in kingdom come
He stumbled for the ladder, wild
with terror. Yes, every one wonld
/ be drowned and he, too, with the
! cruel cold water sucking him down.
He dropped the lantern and began 70
pull himself up the ladder.
Suddenly he stopped. An idea had
been born in his brain; a hideous' I'M
| thinkable thought-the door could be
closed from the other side. He hung
Imply on the ladder, and in his mind
ragged a tornado Of conflict
Oh. to be out of this awful ship,
safe once again at homel 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. lie
chung 10 the ladder as a drowning
man 10 a rope. He could never let
go. Why was he not going up the
ladder? There were boats left. lie
had seen that. He could fight for a
Mace. and be saved. He was so young;
not old. like the mate and captain.
They must give him a place.
All al 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
minute. moaning from the pain, then
raised himself and crawled the rest
of the way. He passed through the
! I
the great iron bolts. The boy was
alone in his tomb. He leaned against
] the bulkhead. sick. sick TO death.
Why had he done this2 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-
yulsivelv. and his hands beat aimless-
" on the iron wall. He would so
= hack. Hope returned with rush. He
would die in the open-with others
around him. II would be good TO die
thus. not in this hell of darkness and
desolateness. He unshot one bolt ana
= fpmbled for the other. Then. with a
low moan. he cast himself from IL,
driving his teeth into his lips in his
agony
n was not 10 be. He was too great
a coward 10 live. He could only die.
He would pray. But he could think
: of nothing-nothing but the This
NIGHT when I lie down 20 sleep" he
had learned at his mothers knee.
To slepp-oh. he would sleep longl
Tbsre was 10 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
aoainst the iron. that death might
come quickly He plunged beneath
! ne water. osly to come mp again,
. sehtina madly for life. Then there
] was a long drawn sob, and then ST.
{ lence.
The captain stood on the bridge, =
J figure Of stony despair The land
,euld never be reached with water
mourning like a torrent into the for
ward hold. He cursed his negligence
IN overlooking such a frightful
thunder. It was going to cost 200
: lives. and he must not be among the
: s,ved The Pride of Asia was get
ting low in the water, but he could
NOS understand why she was not sink.
. inc more by the bow. She was vibrat-
inc from the engines. pushed TO their
highest pressure. for the firemen
. stuck CALAMITY to their posts. Five
minutes went. and ten, and then