The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1901-02-09

drank to repletion, and, stretching
himself upon the timbers, was soon
fast asleep. The moonbeams played on
his face and cleaned IN his strong,
white teeth until he looked ug1ier and
f1ercer than ever.
There he lay'at my mercy, and I fin
gered the revolver, that I had con-
trived to keep dry, and crept nearer
trived to. keep dry, and crept nearer
and nearer to him; but the peaceful
surroundings and the remembrance OF
the terrible. danger from which we had
just escaped. held. me back, and let
him sleep on.
I ate some OF. the provisions, and,
fearing lest my companion might I'll
ish the rest at one sitting, I filled my
pockets, and it was well that I did SO.
for, before the next evening the cask
was empty, and Sweeney hurled 1t In
to the sea with a. curse.
"a We're here long, me boy" said he,
glaring at. me, ''it's attn one another
we'll be, and fax, I don't intind to let
you make mincemate av me. and may
be 'twouldn't much matter If I finished
him up. and brought lin back that
way to Maurice
The latter part of this truculent
speech was made soto voce, but If he
had known tina I had heard and UNI
derstood we should have speedily Crap
pied. aRl '
I should have been no match for him
with Natures weapons, but my re-
volver gave me a very decided ad-
vantage, and his remarks but strength
ened, my resolve to use 1t freely as
soon as the right moment arrived. 1
got no chance that night, for his sleep
was restless, and he lay as far away
from me as he could, and whenever l
moved he sat up and glared at me. The
next day, when the sun beat down up
on us. he drak the rest Of the water,
and thirst came upon us apace. and all
traces OF humanity seemed to be leav-
ing us rapidly, and, but that he knew
Il had the weapon and was watching
him keenly, he would have attacked
me. He sat aloof from me on h
empty water key, at the far end OF the
raft. and had T been sure of my aim I
should have picked him off as he SQUAT
ted there, and, taking out the revolver,
I showed it. to him.
"It will be dark tonight" I said, un-
til the moon rises. If you stir I SHAH
shoot
"Ah! what the deuce is the matther
wild ye?" he growled. "Shure, twas
meself stood up for We beyant, h
they didn't want We to come on n
raft, an o putin, 9 hano TO
make IT. Arrah! throw away that pis-
til. It might go OF an kill mel"
"That's just what I mean IT to DO.
Mr.. Sweeney" and when I called him
that his whole expression changed.
Sweeney! And where did We get
that name?"
Twas reckless now, and somehow I
felt that I could kill him easier II my
blood were stirring more briskly, q
so I went on:
..Where did I get It? Why, from your
foster-brother. Maurice. Where else?
All! you're a poor tool. Jim Sweeney.
You couldn't manage matters with the
gentleman down there on the East
Coast, and now that you've found youl
man out here in Fiji, you're left alone
on q raft with that mans son, and he
means to kill you. To perditioE with
YOU and your Ragged Thirteen!" I
cried, st know all about you. I heard
every word at your meeting at Court
news. You found my father for me,
and-I've sent him warming that you're
coming: but he won't want 1t, for, by
the God above us, you'll v see him
again!"
with a wild yell he sprang up and
rushed straight at me, I waited till he
was close upon me before I pulled the
jtrfgger.,No shot followed! He was 80
81 oao sf1Nh H1nn1e nf Ann6.
'ish Joy upon his face, and he made so
sure Of clutching me that, when I sud
denly ducked, his impetus carried him
over me, and he fell into the sea. he
came to the surface in q second and
struck out for the raft and laid hold
upon IL; but STOPPING down, ! beat az
his fingers with the heavy end OF the
revolver, and when he let go for g
second, I smote him with all my force
and the blow. landing on ! temple.
stunned him. and his blood erimsoned
the water around. And beat n
beat till I had smitten him past recog-
milton, and at last I held him by
hand and 30 finished the business that
when. / let go he sank otltssof sight.
Thus BY my hand persisted. the man
who was really the most merciless
member OF that merciless fraternity!
For q while q was 30 mad with the.
triumph that I forgot everything else--S
sforrota that I had slain Q man. consti.s
tutin9 myself Judge and jury; forgot.
that Twas alone . the desolate ocean,.
and that a. 500 a. the scanty stores1s
had secreted was exhansted ! must. uns
less SheIpscarne,s gosthroughs the agonies
Of thirst tandshunger. and that the END.
Nd had mneted. ont to a fellow creature
would lie merciful In comparison to
that to- which 4 must come. Then the
look 81. agony on theSman's pale face az
blows a,rained upon him, came to
haunt me- ana. q bres1e springing up
as the sun set, q made shift to spread
out my coat ao moved slowly
away. as@g Hfgg
throughout that night and thesneexl.ts
day. and the night that followed 4 wass
yupon the deer. ana then II the morn 1r
Ing, rising up before me and ~ %
the path tf1Swhich the set Of the tide
takingI me 7 conld5see hegontliln1ee
MI a. island i whilesstheS dayS was yetj
yoournElsa Isha4 drifted withinSa mile eat.S
IA IdreNSsnearers IA uinsKeieldya cr1Hft
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va ssIiku9 oHbsearIisdSp astStheslAn ~ al-F
etossthieelr;;Sss sRhens1 4 j1d&edstheksllSYy ss
Z saaassthetsclifsEsnn NotsId btaslE a az
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