Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1905-12-01
CHAPTER w.


still burned, and Immediately over it
there grew out of the darkness a Grim
son spot that hung like lurid star in
the air. Mrs. Vickers, with little Syl-
via clinging to her dress, came up to
share the new sensation.
Captain, you'll lower a boat. We
may save some of the poor fellows"
cries Frere, his heartiness of body re-
viving at the prospect of excitement.
"Boatw said Blunt; "why, she's
twelve miles off, or more, and there's
not breath O. wind They've got their
own boats. In the meanwhile We'll show
'em that there's some one near EN-"
And, as he spoke, a blue light tiared
kissing into the night. 'There, They'll
see that, I expect" he said, as the
CHASTITY flame rose, extinguishing the
stars for a moment, only to let them
appear again brighter in darker heaV-
en- "Mr. Best, lower and man the quar-
ter boats Mr.. Frere, you can go In
one, if you like, and take volunteer or
two from those gray jackets OF yours
amidships. l shall want as many hands
as l can spare to man the long boat
and cutter, in case we want 'em. Steady
there, lads! Easy And, as the first
eight men who could reach the deck
parted to the larboard and starboard
| quarter boats, Frere ran down on the
main deck.
At his nod the prison door was thrown
| open. The air was hot, and that strange,
| horrible odor peculiar to closely packed
| human bodies filled the place. He ran
| his eye down the double tier of hunks
which lined the side of the ship, and
| stopped at the one opposite him.
| There seemed to have been some dis
| turbance there lately, for, instead of the
six pairs of feet which should have pro-
| truded therefrom, the CLEAN Of the bulls
| eye showed but four.
whats the matter here, sentry?" he
asked.
prisoner i'll, sir. Doctor sent him to
hospital"
''But there should be two"
| The other came from behind the break
! of the berths. 1t was Rufus Dawes.
| saluted.
81 felt sick, sir, and was trying to
get the scuttle OPEN"
Maurice Frere stamped his foot in
| dignantly.
Slch. w ldl are you SlCh dDouL! L II
| give you something to sweat the sickness
out of you. Stand on one side here!"
| Rufus Dawes, wondering, obeyed.
(Which of you fellows can handle an
oar? Frere went on. "There, | don't
want fifty! Three'll do. Come on now,
make haster'
The heavy door FLASHED again, and in
another instant the four volunteers
! were on deck.
1.-TWO in each boat" cries Blunt. ''I'H
burn a blue light every hour for you,
Mr.. Best, and take care they don't
swamp you. Lower away, lads!'
AS the second prisoner took the oar of
Frere's boat, he uttered a groan and
fell forward, recovering himself instant
ly. Sarah Purfoy, leaning over the side,
saw the occurrence.
''What is the matter with that man?"
she said. SIS he ill?'
Pine was next to her, and looked out
instantly. Its that big fellow in No.
TO-" he cried. Here, Frerer'
But Frere heard him not. He was
intent on the beacon that cleaned ever
bright in the distance Give way my
| ladsr' he shouted. And amidst cheer
from the ship, the two boats shot out of
the bright circle of the blue light, and
disappeared into the darkness!
Sarah Purfoy looked at Pine for an
explanation, but he turned abruptly
away. For a moment the girl paused, as
| if in doubt; and then, ere his retreating
| figure turned to retrace it's steps, she
cast a quick glance around, and, slip
ping down the ladder, made her way TO
the 'tween-decks.
| The reconstructed oak barricade that.
| loop-ho!ed for musketry, and perforated
| with plated trap-door for sterner needs.
separated soldiers from prisoners, was
close to her left hand. and the sentry
| at its padlocked door looked at her in
quiringly. She laid her little hand on
| his big rough one, and opened her brown
eyes at him.
THE hospital" she said. "The doctor
sent me-" and before he could answer
her white figure vanished down the
hatch and passed round the bulkhead;
behind which lay the sick man.
Though not so hot as in the prison,
the atmosphere of the lower deck was
close and unhealthy, and the girl, paus-
ing to listen to the subdued hum of con-
versaton coming from the soldiers
berths, turned strangely sick and giddy.
She drew herself up. however, and held
out her hand to man who came rapidly
across the misshapen shadows, thrown
by the sulky swinging lantern to meet
her. 1t was a young soldier who had
been that day sentry at the convict gang
way.
''Well, miss" he said. Il am here, yer
see waiting for yer"
The tone of the sentence seemed to
awaken and remind her of her errand in
that place She laughed as loudly and
merrily as she dared, and laid her hand
on the speakers arm. The boy redeemed
to the roots of his closely cropped hair.
There. that's quite close enough.
You're only common soldier, Miles, and
you mustn't make love to me-
Il know you're above me, Miss Sarah.
You're lady, but l love yer, | do, and
you drives me wild with your tricks"