The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1903-01-01
Bred L the Bone.
BY PATRICK VAUX.

1t was close on SHUTDOWN When the Y.
S. A.. despatch boat Speedy sighted and
spoke Admiral Brainerds most WeSter-
" scout, the Denver, protected cruiser;
and the cruisers were the last Amerl-
can eyes that she was ever to see. In
the northeast, leagues away from san
Domingo, the American llberatlon OF
which from continual lnterneclne strl1e
had caused the European Alliance to
declare war against the states! Bralneru
was feeling for the enemy's powerful
fleet, hoping to divert its attention from
the L. S. a. Flying squadron swooplng
down to devastate the western coast OF
the mainland of Europe, and also secure
the Windward passage against Its APP
proach on Domingo and Cuba. That
afternoon, acting on information ac-
curately supplied by the captain OF the
r. Nj. S. Co.'s mailboat, the admiral
had flung his scouts, one after the other
down into the southeast, and detailed
the understanding Speedy for Santiago
with dispatches and to speak the west
erly scouts. when encountered, with
orders to rejoin the main body OF the
fleet.
Her acting lieutenant, getting the
utmost out of her fine engines and
sweaty-browed engineers and tiremen,
sighed contentedly when he looked at
the speed dial. Another four hours at
eighteen-a-half knots should see him
in harbor. He also found relief IN the
thought that Lieutenant Durey would
then be in hospital. Poor fellow he
muttered, as he wiped the wet off his
night binoculars. Better Shell IN
ones innerds, and end up in a scatter,
than have his complaint
Below. in the little cramped ward
room. Durey was writing in a fresh
attack of agony. A suffocating sob
burst from him; he dug his elbows into
his knees. With his face supported be-
tween his hands he let himself swing
like an automaton to the yessels JOB
bling. So eXcruciatlng were the flames
OF pain within his breast that 1t was as
if a thousand nerves, raw, vibrant, ana
exposed, were being plucked out by
their roots. He gritted his teeth to-
gether to hinder himself from shrek,
ing. Sweat beaded his heavily-llned
brows and trickled down over the
tWitching ashen-gray cheeks. Gasplng
thickly, he threw himself back, shut
his eyes, and stitfened his muscles.
Then suddenly his anguish fled away.
For a minute or two he sat there, pant
ing with exhaustion, his body limp and
shaken: but a lurch and weather roll
made him secure himself in a safer
position beside the table. He wondered
with fear when the next attack would
recur; then the jumpy, tumbllng move,
ments of the hurrylng boat diverted
his thoughts.
AS the boat, carefully nurSed through
the CaicOs Passage by her third officer.
hurled herself up the dark, seething
slopes flashing dimly with kindllng
phosphorus. heaved herself across the
widening troughs and smashed down
growing sheaf of sea. she Jared and
groaned and quivered in every inch OF
her rigid hull But Durey was obllvl-
Gus to the many voiced turmoil. With
in his brain jostling thoughts were
making a noiser hubbub He sat there
looking duly at the shielded glow-lamp,
his squarish head sunk between the even
shoulders, and his thin, long-tingered
hands gripping the fiddle
Lieutenant purey was of slender
build, untitled for such hardship or
physical stress. Nothing but his high
spirited nature had enabled HIM to With
stand the pungent seasoning OF the gun
room. However, his seafaung ancestry
had bestowed ON him temperament
fearless of the elements; to hlm at sea
it came as mere routine to cope with
and bear the weight OF the greatest
elemental danger. From the female
side of his family stock was the talnt
developed in him-hlS ineradlcable alb
florence of physical suffering. Atschool
his cOWardice of a Gaming had earned
the contempt of other and hardy lads.
had naCSaI and llS
physique improved. he had partly lost
his sdueamish nicely Of feeling, aud
through his profession had become
hardened to the thought of possibly eX-
periencing it some day.
Nevertheless, this blemlsh was not
wholly eradicated and, making him
look constantly ahead to state OF war,
il had covertly inspired his withdrawal
from the service.
However, when the rumor OF war
spread in the land, Durey had offered
his services again. He was comfortably
married by this time, with a charming
wife and babies: and until the very last
moment had entertained vague inner
lv hope that his wife or his parents
would offer some strenuous opposition
to his reServlng, some opposition TO
which he could honorably bow the head.
To their God-speed he had to join his
ship.
As now he sat clutching the fiddle"
tight, he admitted, mentally, certain
secret gladness at his being sent into
sick-bay ashore. While aboard the flag
ship the spectacle of tattered, CORY,
living things once sturdy seamen,
brought aboard cut of shattered
cruiser, had revived all his inveterate
adherence of suffering. His moral
courage. too, had suffered defeat from
the sudden attack of his malady-the
growth of an internal tumor developed
by his exposure to wet and cold when
on minetield duty in Hampton Roads.
Surgeons had differed in diagnosis, so
the Admiral, knowing his capabilities
for handling men, had despatched him
for urgent treatment.
AS he sat, gripping the fiddle" to
keep lis balance, the sudden piping OF
boatswains' whistles, the indistinct
scampering of naked feet overhead, the
deepening throb and thud OF qulckened
machinery took his attention. With a
curse at his infrmities of mind and
body he switched off the light, stagger-
ed to the ladder, and slowly clambered
on deck AS be drew his legs out OF the
the boat made a steep dip; |
hastily banging to the hatch, Durey |
grabbed a lifeline and stared about |