The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1901-02-27

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that and the cries OF ncn and the
clashing of seas and the beating Of
iron and the beast cries from the cattle
decks the din was almost enough to
split the ear. And then the steam siren
burst out into one vast below Of pain.
which drowned all the other noises as
though they had been children's whis.
pers.
Kettle slid on coat and trousers ovcr
his pyjamas and went INT thumped ut
a door at the other side of the alley
way.
Miss CarncgieT
yes"
DRESS quickly"
81 am dressing, captain"
Get finished with il and then wait.
I'll come for you when it's time"
1t IL all very well 10 he cool on these
occasions. but sometimes the ace is to
the prompt. Captain Kettle made his
way up on deck against II great ava
lanche of water which was caScading
down the companionway. No shore
was in sight. The ship had hacked of
after she had struck and was now roll
Ing heavily In a deep trough. She wa:
low In the water. and every second
wave swept over her.
No one seemed to be in command. 4
dim light showed Kettle one lifcboat
wrecked in davitS and Il disorderly
mob Of men trying to lower the other.
But some one let go the stern fall so
that the boat shot down perpendicular
ly, and the next wave smashed the
lower half Of 1t Into splinterS. The
frenzied crowd left 1t to try the port
quarter boat, and Kettle raced them
across the streaming decks and got Just
to the davits. He plucked a greenheart
Delaying pin from the rail and laid
about him viciously.
Back, you scum!" he shouted. Get
back or III smash in every face among
you! Good Lord, isn't there n mate or
Il man left on this sinking rarmyard?
Am l to keep of all this two legged
cattle by myselfT
They fought on, the black water
swirlinS waist deep among them with
every roll, the siren believing for help
overhead and the ship sinking under
their feet, and gradually. with the
frenzy Of despair, the men drove Kettle
c"Nh "S"ihoS 'hS I'LL hllc Oluelb VI
them cast Off the falls OF the quarter
boats tackles preparatory to letting
her drop. But, then, out of the dark.
ness, up came Mcrodd and the steam
er's mate, both shrewd hittcrs and men
not afraid TO use their skill, and once
more the tables were turned.
The other quarter boat had been low.
cred and Swumped; his DOat was the
only II remaining.
Now. Mac" said Kettle, help the
mate take charge and murder every
one that lnterferes. Get the boat In
the water and fend OF. I'll be of be.
low and fetch up Miss Carnegie. We
must put some hurry in 1t. The old
box hasn't much longer to swim. Take
the lady ashore and see she to
no harm"
"Oh, aye" said McTodd, land we'll
keep Il seat for yerser, skipper"
You needn't bother" said Kettle. II
take no mans place In this sort Of tea
party" He splashed off across the
streaming decks and found the cattle
boats captain shcltering under the lee
or the companion wringing his hands.
out, you Dlitherer," he shouted, "and
save your NANCY life! Your ships
gone now. You can't play hash with
her any more" After which pleasant
speech he worked his way below, half
swimming, half wadlng, and once more
beat against Miss Carnegie'a door.
Even In this moment Of extremity he
did not dream Of going in unasked.
She came out to him In the half
swamped alleyway, fully dressed. "Is
there any HOPPER she asked.
We'll get you ashore, don't you
fear"
He clapped an arm around her waist
and drew her strongly on through the
dark and the swirling water toward
the foot Of the companion. Excuse
me, MISS" he said, this is not famil.
iarity, but l have got the frmer sea
legs. and we must hurry"
They pressed up the stair, battling
with great green cascades Of water,
and gained the dreadful turmoil on
deck. A few weak stars cleaned out
above the wind and showed the black
wave tops dimly. Already some of the
cattle had been swept overheard and
were swimming about like the horned
beasts OF a nightmare. The din of surf
came to them among the other noises,
but -" as visible, The steamer
had backed Off the reef on which she
had struck and was laundering In deep
water. 1t WAS indeed a time for hurry.
1t was plain she had very few more
minutes to swim.
Each sea now made q clean brcach
over her, and a passage about the
decks was a thing Of Infinite danger.
out hettle was resourceful and strong.
ana ne had a grip round Miss Carnegie
ana a hold on something solid when
the waters wrenched him, and he con.
trived never to be wrested entirely
from his hold.
But when no had worked his way
art a disappointment was there ready
Tor him. The quarter boat was gone
mclodd stood against one Of the dav.
It's cool and philosophical as ever.
you Internal Scotchman, you've LET
them take away the boat from youp' |
Kettle snarled. 81 should have thought |
you could have kept your end I'D with
a NANCY crowd like that"
use your eyes" said the engineer |
The boats In the wash below there |
at the end OF the tackles, with her side |
stove In. She drowned the three men
that were lowered I'm her because
theyd no sense enough to fend off"
"Ihat M Of setting a lot Of farm.
ers TO work a steamboat"
"Aweel," said McTodd. "steomora