The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1905-10-13


It would have been lonely enough on
the deserted hulk but for the rats.
They were present In scores, great,
gray, leaping bewiskered fellows,
scnrrying about decks and quarreling
with one another, no half-tame IN
offensive house animals, but savage,
impudent brutes, born and bred on
shipboard.
For want of anything better to do,
Hardy watched them. Finally he
grew tired, and at midnight. after
eight strokes on the bell, went down
into the cabin. In the middle of the
floor stood huge rat. The watch
man shouted at it. The beast lifted
its head inquiringly without sign of
fear, and then trotted leisurely into
the captains stateroom.
Hardy stretched himself out in a
dilapidated haircloth armchair. the
sole remaining article of furniture,
set his lantern down near by and tried
to fancy himself in command of the
bark on foreign voyage. He lost
consciousness for time, but was sud-
denly reused by sharp pain in the
right hand. Springing up, he flung
from him with shudder of disgust
a rat which, emboldened by his sill
ence, had leaped into his lap and bit
ten the knuckle of his middle finger.
He looked at his watch. 1t was
nearly two o'clock. the time when
mans life forces are said to be at
their lowest ebb. Over the decks
above, Hardy could bear numberless
feet pattering and racing, while the
air was rent by shrill, continuous
squeals. In the cabin itself were
fully dozen rats, darling in and out
of the open staterooms. Taking his
lantern. Hardy went up the compan-
ionway.
The tide, which was almost high,
gurgled steadily into the hold through
the open seams. driving all the rats
upward. Until few days before, the
animals had had enough to eat from
the cargo to keep them from being
hungry, but now lack of food had
made them savage. The decks were
literally alive with them, running
suuealine. lighting.
Hardy had NO sense Of fear. but
the incessant squabbling wearied him
and he longed for the approach of
morning. He almost wished that the
harbor thieves would put in an ap-
pearance. They could easily be
frightened Off by a show of his re-
yolver. and almost any human inter
ruption would be welcome to vary
this ceaseless souealine
The turmoil ON the decks increased.
The watchman started forward and
trod ON the. tail Of one of the rats.
The animal turned unon him and sank
ito teeth into his ankle with a shrek.
There was something about that
note different than the others. AS it's
sound dead silence suddenly fell
unon the bark and Hardy was aware
that every rat turned toward him.
Another shrilI vicious call from his
assailant and in an instant the an
gineer found himself tba object of at.
tack by scores of foes.
Against the pinnacle leaned a
wooden carstanbar Hardy siezed
this with his right hand and
with the Iatern in his loft vau1ted
unon tbe cabin roof w.b,cb rosa .hou+
four feet above the deck
He gained thereby ! momentarv
resnite but soon his enemies discover.
ed his whereabouts TN thav swarm.
ed cIambering over the fastoonv ~
rigging along the edge ~ the cabin
ton The watcbman sci DOWN his
lantern crashed tha c.nstan-bar
tightly with hotb hands ond hegan
to Law ahort him With Ions swaer;no
bIows that cant rat ofter rot avine
over the rail into tba 500
Az e.. ~ s, IT.
assailants 1t seemed absured to think
tnat MS SAFETY could be seriously en-
dangered by such contemplate anil