The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1903-10-21

ed. For over the raging sea the nro
flashed and the lightning tore through
the midnight sky. path Of fame.
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 muffled
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 mad no wish to attract etten-
1 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
Mrs. Grey looked in the direction
Indicated and saw a man, tall. large
limbed, muscular-looking, who worked
with the powerful strength, the fierce
enrgy OF a 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
bc2t-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! Core; 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 board!"
Where is the use?' the elder wom-
an cried, frantically, and flung up her
hands with gesture of despair. at
is only choice of the manner of
death-by fire or food
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 nything-anything
is better than this certain DEATH"
The heat was growing unbearable
1t 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 re-
volver out of his pocket.
Back, there! Back I say! I'll
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 background of
flame, something Of grandeur, some
thing which told of an unflinching 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 a voice brolSe---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 hottom Of this
you 1t is who are making men cow
ards and murderers of women. Cuth.
bert Bracken! Oh. you dog--you
dastard!"
A weird scene! Before, a black sea;
behind, wall of fire. In the shadow
a man and woman standing, stunned
and speechless. In the lurid fore
ground two figurss-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 quick movement, q
| fash 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 up from