Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-03-14

ing part Of the brace.
Twice and thrice they saw him
stretch his full length, holding on
to the lift by one hand. But the
futtering rag was just out Of reach.
Drawing his sheathknife, he once
more stretched out. AT that mo.
ment the second mate, also watch
ing, went over, and without a word
Of warning let go the brace on deck.
The yard swung round, and the
yellow bundle crouching at its far
thest extremity darted down for
twenty feet with amazing swiftness;
then, seeming to expand itself to
four times its natural size, sailed
gently off to leeWard.
"Man overheard"
ooh, you murderin' villain!''
shouted couple as they all rushed
aft.
81 thought as how he'd "a hung
on an pulled it in to hin" quavered
the second mate as with trembling
fingers he cut a life buoy adrift.
For a moment it looked as if he
was to follow Dan, as the men, with
black scowls and loud curses, crowd
ed around him.
But the skipper and the mate
rushed up and between, hearing the
while many words hot and bitter.
The watch below, too, came pad
ding aft with naked feet and sleepy
eyes.
And presently on the smooth, oily
summit Of comber far away they
saw their shipmate, floating high,
with crowd Of birds lowering
about him.
But had they been 1000 instead
of twenty they could do nothing
more than uselessly throw life buoys
and hencoops overheard and watch
through contracted eyes, with little
means Of pity. One can do no more
hove to in the southern ocean, with
a forty foot sea running.
"God help himp' said the skip
per. ssHe was a good mar" And
he shut the glass with snap, giving
the second mate look that meant
Ties riding high" said the chief !
officer, peering. ''The wind that
kept him up isn't out Of his clothes
yet. But the birds are at him. Poor
beggar! There's one big brute
right on his head
At this there was a growl and a
wicked sort of move of men toward
the second mate, standing aloof and
sullen.
The captain had walked away aft
and was staring up at the Irish pen
nant, still futtering from the slack
ened brace.
The chief still peered through his
glass.
Seeing murder in many eyes, the
second mate gave a loud cry and
snatched an iron Delaying pin out of
she rail.
The cry was echoed BY one of
amazement from the chief, who,
dancing with excitement, roared:
He's gripped him! Stand by, all
lands, with your bowlines! Here
le comes like house afre! Hoo
'ayl"
And the men yelled again and fell
o knotting bowlines furiously as
hey looked and saw Dan borne !.
,reast high out Of the water, hang
ng on like grim death to the legs Of
huge albatross, towed up one
Teen comber and down another,
nut always coming closer. :
Heralded by shrill SCREENINGS Of
age and terror and the quick flap
ing Of mighty wings, the strange
came until almost close
board, abreast of the mizzen rig
ing.
Then as big sea passed, leaving
smooth valley, somewhat sheltered
y the ship, Dan let go, and a score
f boWlines flew around him in so
Many seconds.
Hauled on deck, nearly naked,
18th bleeding head and hands, he
taggered to his feet, and, singing
ut the second mate, he fell upon
i'm and would have choked him had
is strength held. Z
But it did not. So presently,
raped in warm blankets and with
Z inches Of hot rum qualifying the
lit water, he was put in his bunk.
The grest bird still sailed about
ne ship, swooping down for the
ieces of biscuit cast to it with
beral hand by the men, when the
RIPPER went upto the second mate.
go and get that Irish pennant
own" said he.
The man went without a word.
! i - - -.