The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-21
every breath tina. passed the lips

the midnight SKY, pain or name.
Lower the boats!"
And the words were the death knell
of the Dolphin. The order passed
from lip to lip. They FASTENED TO
obey. The captain stood at the ships
side and watched them fulfill their
task.
In the general confusion two figures
came up the companionway unob-
served. The elder woman was mufIled
in wraps; the younger had neglected
to protect herself against the night.
She wore only the white, trailing wrap
per donned an hour before
They had no wish to attract atten-
ton. They stood quite close together
in the shadow, trembling, but com
posed Around them was the Kissing
fury of the sea. the lurid glances OF the
lightning, the red glow of the fire. And
| breaking the sacred silence OF the
| night was the roar OF sea and sky, the
hoarse bowling of human voices, the
cracking of the flames.
Look at that sailor!" Laurie whis
pered.
Indicated. and saw a man, tall, large
limbed, mpscular-looking, who worked
with the powerful strength, the fierce
enrgy of young giant. His back was
to them. They could not see his face.
Even as they looked they saw him
dash up to where Merrick stood, shout
ing his orders.
Captain, you have women on board.
have you not? Give them the first
bC-t--the first chance.
Good Lord was forgetting them!"
the old man cried, in startled dismay.
He turned and rushed toward the
cabin.
Here, Capt. Merrick!" Laurie cried.
BLESS my soul, child, how cool you
are! Corse; the first boat"
He hurried them on to the decks
side. A crowd of unruly sailors were
climbing over the gunwales and drop.
ping into the boats below
Hold, you, cowards!" the captain
shouted. How dare you! You know
there are women on boardi"
Where is the use?" the elder WON
an cried, frantically, and flung up her
hands with gesture of despair. at
is only choice of the manner of
death-by fire or flood"
The sailor who had first approached
the captain now caught him by the
arm.
For Gods SAX, captain" in brusque
impatience, get them into a boat-get
them out of this hell! There some
thing may happen; change of wind
a passing sail-a-anything-
is better than this certain DEATH"
The heat was growing unbearable
It was scorching and choking them.
The first boat had pulled away. A few
mutinous men were clambering into
the second.
A terrible oath crashed between
Merritt's set teeth. He whipped a re-
volver out Of his pocket.
Back. there! Back L say! III
shoot the first man who touches the
ropes-I will, so help me, God!"
Already the tall young sailor had
lowered Mrs. Grey into the boat be-
low
For a moment the rebels staggered
back-just for a moment. There was
in the sight of the wlite-haired old
man, erect against Q background of
flame, something OF grandeur, some
thing which told of an unfilnching de-
termination and capability of putting
his threat into execution, which awed
and dismayed them.
The lightning came less frequently;
the thunder was dwindling to a dull
growl. The dense smoke upreared it's
black flag like standard Of death.
The fire had driven the remaining
crew to the extreme edge of the vessel.
On the intense silence that followed
the captains words voice broke-a
mans thin, sharp, excited voice:
Pull away, men-pull away"
Merrick sprang one step forward,
beside himself with rage.
Sol" he shouted, purple with pas
sion, you are at the bottom of this
you it is who are making men cow
ards and murderers of women. Cuth.
bert Bracken! Oh, you dog-you
BASTARD"
A weird scene! Before, black sea;
OSAihds wall VI HIe. IN the SHADOW
man AID woman standing, stunned
and speechless. In the Iurid fore.
ground two fgurss-one old, white
bearded and trembling with honest
anger; the other standing, half-afraid,
half defiant
One hand still grasped the rope he
had clutched preparatory to lowering
himself TO the boat below, when he
had issued his order a moment be-
fore. The other was thrust behind
him.
He spoke; and his quick, brutal
words-brutal In their import-were
distinctly audible through the crack.
ling of the flames:
Take that"
There was a quick movement. a
flash of steel. a report
The figure Of the old man swayed
heavily from side to side, then reeled
and fell on the deck, shot through the
heart!
A faint cry Of horror went I'D from
those in the waiting boat below.
Bracken heard, and was about TO
swing himself over when voice rang
out--a young, loud, stentorian voice:
dInldf noDE W.