The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-01-19

the water between the dory ana rne
bark
Shark" said Kitchell. And there's
another he exclaimed in the next in
slant And another! Strike me, the
waters alive with 'em! There's stiff
on the bark, you can lay to that And
at that, acting on some strange i'm
pulse, he called again, Bark ahoyv'
There was no response.
| The dory was now we'll up to the
derelict, and pretty soon prolonged
and vibratorX kissing noise, strldent
insistent, smote upon their ears
whats that?' exclaimed Wilbur.
| perplexed. The captain shook his head
and just then, as the bark rolled almost
| to her scuppers in their direction, a
glimpse of the deck was presented to
their view. It was only glimpse
| gone Oh the instant, as the bark rolled
back to port, but it was time enough
| for Wilbur and the captain to note the
parted and open seams and the deck
bullying and in one corner blown I'D
and splintered.
The captain smote thigh.
"Coal!' he cried. "Anthracite coal!
The coal he't up and generated gas, of
course-no fire, y understand: Just gas
gas blew up the deck-no way of
stopping combustion. Naturally they
| had to cut for it. Smell the gas, can't
you? No wonder she's hissing-no Won
der she rolled-cargo goes off in gas
| and what's to weigh her down? was
wondering what could "a wrecked her
| in this weather. But it's as plain as
A B c."
The dory was alongside. Kitchell
| watched his chance and as the bark
rolled down caught the mainyard brace
hanging in a blight over the rail and
swung himself to the deck. Look
sharp!" he called as Wilbur followed.
1T won't do for you to fall among
them shark, son! Just look at the hun
dreds of 'em. There's a stiff on board.
sure
Wilbur steadied himself on the sway
ing broken deck, choking against the
reek of coal gas that Kissed upward on
every hand. The heat was almost like
furnace. Everything metal was in
tolerable to the touch.
"She's abandoned, sure,' muttered
the captain. LOOK And he pointed
to the empty checks on the house and
the severed lashings. ooh, it's a haul,
son-it's a haul, an you can lay to
that. Now, then, cabin first" And he
started aft
But it was impossible to go into the
cabin. The moment the door was OPEN
ed suffocating pillows of gas rushed
out and beat them back. On the third
| trial the captain staggered out almost
overcome with its volume
Cant get in there. for awhile vet"
he gasped, "but I saw the stiff on the
floor by the table. Looks like the old
man. He's spit his false teeth out. I
knew there was stiff aboard"
''Then there's more than one,' said
! Wilbur. ''See there!' From behind
the wheel box in the stern protruded a
hand and forearm in an oilskin sleeve.
Wilbur ran up, peered over the little
space between the wheel and the wheel
box and looked straight into a pair of
eyes-eyes that were alive. Kitchell
| came up.
Zone left anyhow" he muttered,
looking over Wilbur's shoulder. "Sail-
or man, though. Can't interfere with
our salvage. The bark's derelict right
enough. Shake him out of there Can't
you see the lads dotty with the gasp
Cramped into the narrow space of the
wheel box, like a terrified hare in a
blind burrow, was the figure of young
boy. So firmly was he wedged into the
corner that Kitchell had to kick down
the box before he could be reached.
The boy spoke no word. Stupefed
! with the gas. he watched them with va
cant eyes.
Wilbur put hand under the lads
arm and got him to his feet. He was a
tall, well made fellow, with ruddy COM
plexion and milk blue eyes, and was
dressed, as if for heavy weather, in
! oilskins.
swell, sonny, you've had a fine mess
| aboard here" said Kitchell. The boy
he might have been two and twenty
| stared and frowned
"Clean loco from the gas. Get him
into the dory, son. I'll try this bloody
cabin again.
Kitchell turned back and descended
from the poop, and Wilbur, his arm
around the boy, followed. Kitchell was
already out of hearing, and Wilbur was
bracing himself upon the rolling deck,
steadying the young fellow at his side,
when the latter heaved a deep breath.
| His throat and breast swelled. Wilbur
stared sharply, with a muttered excla-
| nation
"Heavens, it's a girl!'' he said.
CHAPTER ".
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