The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-09

wicked. For the ship was in her way alive;
she was possessed; they wished to propi-
tate her; superstition had them by the
throat.
But they were easier when the body was
committed to the deep. And the mate as
sumed a more cheerful air when he had
carried the prayer book into his berth and
came on deck again. They put the ship
before the wind and loosed the foresaih
But though the wind had taken off, the
sea was very heavy, and the Pandora wal
lowed riotously. She took in seas over
both rails. Thrice that day she filled the
main deck, and but for the life lines rugged
right from the focsle TO the poop many
men would have been washed overheard.
AS she ran with the wind on the port quar-
ter, she sometimes dived as if she would
never come up. The galley fire was out,
and could not be lighted; the men drank
water and ate biscuit.
Hogs. dogs and sailors" they said.
Every time the vessel dived they held their
breath.
The mate had a hard time, for Rayner
was incapable of work, and the Pandora
carried no apprentices. Forward there
was no one capable of an officers work;
there was no broken skipper whom drink
had destroyed, no young fellow with
second mates ticket. So Mr.. Gamgee prac-
tically slept deck in snatches till he
slept almost as he stood under the weather.
cloth in the mizzen4rigging. He prayed
for moderate weather, for sight of the
sun. But, though the gale was less, it still
blew hard and the sky was black and the
0fr otaG
by day or a star by night. On the third
day Gamgee staggered as he walked.
If the old man can't come on deck soon
I'll have to cave in,'' he thought. He
shook his fist at the ship. ~ wish I'd
never seen her; she's a mankiller."
That night when the starboard watch was
called at II the wind took off suddenly and
the Pandora pounded in the wallow of the
sea like a bull buffalo in a bog. She
shipped seas over both rails; the racing
waves astern came and slapped their crests
at the man at the Wheel she scooped up
the forward every stagger she made.
She had been running under the reefed
foresail and the three topsails. Now they
shook the reefs out. Gamgee was alert and
alive, but his nerves half betrayed him.
He jumped from the poop to the main deck
and back again. He wanted to be mate and
second mate and skipper, too. And the
fresh canvas took hold of her she slapped
at the rising sea, dived into il, and as the
wind beloved almost as fresh as ever the
man at the wheel lost his nerve, gave her
too much helm, snatched at her, gave her
too much again and almost preached her
to. And then the mate was again on the
main deck.
Some one heard him cry as the Atlantic
fell on board. But no one ever heard Gam
gee say anything again.
The water filled her from rail to rail.
She shuddered and then lifted slowly, and
as she ran on once more before the wind
and rolled, she poured out the sea on
either side. The main-deck ports were
burst outward, the gear foated in mex
tricable tangles, 400-gallon tank dashed
under the poop ladders broke from it's
lashings and took charge of the deck. In
the black darkness and the imminent dam
ger men cried out. Some cried out to their
mates and were answered some were not
answered. With the mate three other men
had gone.
And then she cleared herself once more
and the men came together under the
break of the poop. Joe asked for Jack
Marchmont. But Jack had saved anyone
from the expense of tombstone.
And L over-persuaded i'm to ship in
'er. Who'll be the next?"
Then one man said:
Where's Mr.. Gamgee?"
Joe ran UP to the poop
MIR. Gamgee! Sirl''
He amt here" said the man at the
wheel. "Oh, Joe, what is it?'
Twas your doinr' cried Joe. There's
three gone, and Jack with 'em, and Mr..
Gamgee!
And the man at the wheel fell all ashake.
of the pinnacle light.
Come and take her, Joe." he implored.
I'm in tremble, Joe, she's too much for
me-"
And tragedy heaped itself on tragedy
The steward came on deck, and heard that
the mate was gone. He lost his head and
ran off to the captain crying; he was ludic-
rous, horrible, speeches.. And Rayner sat
up in his bunk, and fell back without know
ing what had happened. He never knew,
for though the steward shook him feebly.
his failing heart had failed, and brandy
never brought him to. The steward ran on
deck blubbering.
II believe the captains dead" he sobbed.
And the two boldest of the men took off
their caps and went into the cabin humbly
A greater than their commander was there.
They stood in silence. fiddling with their
caps. and stared at the quiet white face
upon its pillow.
"Oh, yes. he's Dead" they whispered.
They backed out respectfully; they were
stunned, and were adrift. they were all
masterless men; authority had been re-
moved, they faced the unknown with dread.
They saw now that they had rested on
others knowledge. What did they know
of the sea after all?
They gathered on the poop.
WHAT" said Joe. who was at the wheel.
Him gone, too! And we
They all understood. They were in pecu-
liar isolation, in danger. And what would
be said If they saved themselves and the
ship?
Twill look as If we'd mutinied," said
Joe. But he had touch of natural au-