The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1903-01-14
BRED l. THE BONE.
By PATRICK vAUx.

|
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 mine-field duty
in Hampton Roads. Surgeons had diff
fered in diagnosis, so the Admiral,
knowing his capabilities for handling
men, had despatched him for urgent
treatment.
AS now he sat, gripping the fiddle"
to keep his balance, the sudden pip
ing of boatswains' whistles, the indis-
tinct scampering of naked feet over
head, the deepening throb and thud of
Quickened machinery took his atten-
tion. With a curse at his infirmities
of mind and body he switched off the
light, staggered TO the ladder, and
slowly clambered on deck. AS he
drew his legs out of the companion,
the boat made a steep dip; hastily
bangingto the hatch, Durey grabbed
lifeline and stared about him.
The night was heavy with the men
ace of storm. Though myriad stars
, cleaned ahead, the horizon to wind
ward was obscured with cluods. The
strong head-wind blew wet and sharp
/ with spray that stung the lieutenant's
/ throat and nostrils like fine salt. With
/ start ,f surprise he saw the men
were standing by at quarters, and
| amidships torpedo gear was being rap
, idly adjusted abeam. Gulping down
Df
l amazement?-he staggered forward
to tho bridge.
AS he climbed its ladder a swirling
bunch Of sea meeting the port bow
1 splashed over the forecastle and
D bridge weather-cloths. Contact with
S the chilly gouts of spray restored Dur.
: ey's self-control. The drenched sub.
: was clearing his eyes, when he OBJ
g served him.
Hello, SIR" cried he, in a voice
: charged with excitement, would y
1 not be better below. She's THROWN
. lot of water aft. Bridges like a
mill-sluice-"
!, "No good driviR her. reckon. She's
:, losin' more than she's maxim over 1S
q knots" Durey grunted. why are
Q the"
!. 'It's cut an run. Look there!" in
terTupted the sub, handing his binocu.
lars, and shooting an arm west-by-
4 south. -Four big boats. Overhauling
9 us, guess, too. Well fight, though, II
A it comes to that. Sorry didn't report
If sir. l was waiting till there's more
q certainty about them.
- Durey steadied himself and took a
= long look at the distant strangers head
q ing down on their port quarter
They're none of ours. What are
j, they doing there? l just reckon the
- leading boat s smart thing, an Il
!, take some lickin'," he snapped out
" quick as his heart was beating.
y The acting lieutenant nodded empha
tically. That's my way of thinkin',
~ he screeched against the furry o
a, wind. "The look I got before tha
"a :. streak of cloud came up, gave then
- away. Guess the Alliance have ruI
, out flyin' squadron also. Keen look
y, outs they must have. They've sightet
=, ~ us. They shifted nine points to tn,
| WCot dlu, anu put Ou opcCus l<OOhS a
!, :, If they know something about u.s."
IL They've taken the pass as W
40 cleared the Caicos. Running for Sar
tiago and the transports" cried Dul
er ey, and snatched the binoculars out o
or the lieutenant's hands.
n AS ne stared at the enemy, envy
TO vehement and despicable, swept int
OF him, for well he knew the Speedy
ng commander was cool and collected
M while it was himself who was CROWN
to flurried and painfully apprehensiv,
to Was he coward physically as we
he as morally, he asked himself, and IL
he stantly was eating his heart in bite
as ness at his inborn pusillaniloity
d. He was moving to the binnaile whe
ig. a sharp cry broke from the acting lie,
ng tenant. by the Powers, they'v, opene
nd fire!" and the smothered re port a
ad most overwhelmed his voice. The
he was a volcanic eruption OF red-h,
'ty 'splinters and sparks amidship as II
on mght-spent projectile Topped again
snt the base of the mainmaft, crashe
y. through the deck and wrt cked ever
not thing in the after-part o. the vesss
I'm Durey recovered himself from u
of port bridge-rails against which he h,
tn been hurled with the sudden topplii
Of the thrashed hull. The acting lie
var tenant lay in bloody heap beside Il
red wheel, and from aft came shrill cri
,rt- and hoarse yaps of tortured bodies.
a For the moment he WINGED. and fl
ltil a hopeless feeling possess him, b
-er- the next he was bending over his
his sensible junior. A second project
me ricochetted over the seas wide to sti
ng. board, sending up great showers
uld snowy brine visible in the night;
Iod- third plunged short by 10 feet off I
port quarter. The enemy could pl
I'D good game at long bowls.
;, Bear a hand, here, some OF y
ling forecastle men," Durey ordered. "A
hile there. report the wreck" as. with I
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