Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-19

charred edges where the explosion had
torn the planking up had given the fire
free chance to eat it's way and yawned
gloomily.
plete than it amidshps. The rain had
evidently started in before the flames had
had chance to eat deep into the solid tim
bers, and there were spots around the edge
of the jagged rent there in the deck which
showed the fresh yellow of the pine it
was torn by the explosion, where 1t had not
been at all blackened by the fire or smoke.
The entrance to the cabin companionway
was charred, but held its sharp edges. The
greater part of the exterior of the deck
house was not burned although the paint
on it was family clouded by the smoke,
and, in some places yellowed and blistered.
Parton remembered with a shudder how in
tense the heat had been and how dense the
smoke had rolled. He was astonished be-
cause the damage had not been greater.
The wheel was not burned a. all, and at the
stern the bulwark looked fresh and bright
| in comparison to the amidships' ruin.
Forward of the great amidships gap, Par
| ton, as he peered, could see the captains
big water tank still standing, but the after
end was quite blown out, and as he looked
at 1t he realized the significance of the
lesser explosion which had followed the
great defamation of the Humberite 1t had
been the noise of the bursting water tank
that he heard Heated until there was not
room enough IN 1t for both its water and
the steam which the roaring heat had gen
Grated, ii had exploded, and helped to put
the fire amidship out by pouring it's deluge
of fresh water directly on its heart through
the very hole which the explosion had torn
for 1t, as If with the idea of Offering means
for undoing its own fell work
Parton longed to run forward and be-
| low at once in order to find whether his
| diamonds were safe or not, but he curbed
| his Impotence for many reasons and went
| with the captain down into the cabin of
| the ship.
Capt. Sears gathered up some of the
clothes which were still hanging against
! the bulkhead at the back of the captain's
| berth, and taking an armful of them car
| ried them over to the cabin table and laid
| them down on Ii.
While he taking the clothes from the
| berth Captain Sears noticed Captain Bur-
gees big silver watch hanging against the
| bulkhead.
| well. if there amt Captain Burgess
watch!" he said in great establishment
| Then he looked around. Hanging in its
place was the ships chronometer. We'll,
/ you must a be IN in a hurry he exclaimed.
| These valuables made his mind turn to
| the salvage he had given up and he sighed
softly.
I'VE Were" laughed Parton.
Then, going to his own berth. Parton
/ gathered out of it such of his own be-
| longings as they found there. Among them
was his watch
| But the strain of working here In the
| cabin at such unimportant matters was
4
| would be unwise to tell Captain Sears
| about the treasures I'm the hold, and he had
! resolved when he had come on board not
| to show his anxiety about it. He knew
/ that his interest in the cargo of the ship
/ below decks would be surprising to the
villagers, and he had no desire to arouse
/ their curiosity.
He hestated for moment Then he said:
| While you are in here l will take look
| below. so that I can report to the captain
| about the condition of the hold He will
| be anxious to know what shape his cargo's
/ in, and I-have few little things down
there i want to see about myself
I'm be with you in just minute" Sears
said. II thought I'd jest unscrew this here
| chronometer. Captain Burgee allus would
| have the best they was. This here one
! cost him pretty near $500. He'll be right
| glad TO see it ag in
1t was easy to see that it hurt him to
| have thrust upon his mind the bits of sal
| wage which might have come to him. but
| which he had renounced.