Morris tribune., 1905-05-06

EOu VI IuG well Ill LIS iuG
had been too much for her; some of
the weakened timbers had given away,
or some of the seams had opened, or
perhaps butt had started, for the ship
was leaking badly. Still those daunt-
less men did not despair. The crew
were told off in gangs to work, and all
night the clank, clank of the pumps
was heard. Katharine dutifully laid
down as she was hidden. But there
| was no sleep for her nor any one else
on the ship that long night. The day
broke again finally, but brought them
no cheer Their labor had been I'M
availing; the leak had gained on them
SO rapidly that the ship lay low in the
water, listless and inert, rolling in a
sick, sluggish, helpless way in the
| trough of the sea. The wind had abat-
| ed somewhat, and boat well handled
might live in the water now.
By Captain Vincent's direction the
men were sent to their stations on the
spar, Or upper, deck The boats crew
man in the long lines, the division Of
ficers doing the counting The boat
was launched without tackles, by main
strength, sliding on rollers over the
side through the broken bulwarks
{ Katharine, listless and Indifferent, still
attended by Chloe. was put aboard
Captain Vincent looked about among
charge? They all looked deprecatingly
and entreatingly at him. None desired
| to go; no one wished to be singled out
to abandon the ship and his brother Of
f1cers. His glance fell on Desborough.
1.-THE duty is yours. You are the first
| officer of the ship"
"Oh Captain Vincent, do not send
me, beg you. Ny place surely is On
the ship with you. Cannot some one
else
mo, you must 60 My last command
to you, my lord" he said. smiling faint
~ and extending his hand, Desbor-
ough, seeing the futility of further ap-
peal, grasped it warmly in both his
own, bowed to the other officers and
with a wave Of his hand, stepped on
the rail and sprang into the tossing
boat alongside.
"Are there any others to go?" he said.
The captains eye fell upon the figure
Of the colonel standing among the Off
GERS
''You are to go, sir. Nay, I will hear
Of no objections. You are my prisoner.
and I am bound to see you delivered
safely. Go, colonel I mean it. l will
have you put aboard by file of ma
rines if you do not go at once"
Katharine awoke from her apathy
and stretched out her hands, with
piteous cry:
Father, father! Oh, cannot lose
you toor'
Prisoner or no prisoner, sir" said
the colonel, '1et me say that I am
proud of my connection with you and
your officers and your men. If live
to reach the shore the world shall hear
of this noble ending Goodby, captain
Goodby, gentlemen. l would fam stay
with you"
''No nor was the cry from this band
Of heroes, and then Hollins sprang for
ward and shouted:
LADS, three cheers for the colonel
and for our shipmates in the launch!
Let them tell at home that we were
glad to stay by the old ship
The hearty cheers came with a roar
from 500 threats.
Colonel, we haven't a moment of
time" whispered Desborough, who saw |
that the ship was sinking.
"Shove off, men! Pull hard"
A few moments OF nard rowing in the |
away, and the boat waited under just |
enough way to give them command Of |
her. The men of the ship kept their |
stations; calm and peaceful they also |
waited. The ship settled lower and |
lower. A man stepped hurriedly aft, |
and a moment later the bold and bril- |
liant ensign of old England, which |
never waved over Drawer men, futtered |
out in the heavy breeze from the |
wrecked masthead, the vivid red of the |
proud flag making lurid dash of color |
against the gray sky line. The ship |
was lower now. Now she plunged for
ward; the water rose; the captain rails
ed his hand; three hearty cheers rang
out; the drums beat; the marines pre-
sented arms. She was gone! The flag
streaned out bravely on the surface of |
the water, and then it was drawn
down. A confused mass of heads and
waving arms was seen in the water,
and they, too, in moment were slowly |
drawn down into the vortex caused by
the sinking ship. The woman again
hid her face in her hands; the colonel |
laid his arm across the shoulder of his
daughter; Desborough and the men in
the boat stared horribly at the spot left
vacant. A deep groan broke from
them; they rose on the crest Of wave,
sank down again, rose once more and
looked again-the little boat was alone
on that mighty sea!
Oh, the agony of those long and
frightful days in that little boat! New
er sail did they sight, as day after
day they rowed or sailed to the west