Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1905-01-05

Lanterns do"h neie' N71
peated.
covered lanterns we used for the anrhOr
watch" i
Burton felt for his match-b9x and
opened 1t. "Ive got just one mafcnT ne
said.
That's enough, II it don't go baF on
U.S."
Il was an anxious moment when Bur
ton scratched the match; but 1t did not
20 back on them Not food, but drnK'
was what they first sought by the an
terms light, and after two hours OF mint
ing and hard labor they found BISCUIT
box and q case Of mineral TaterTtne
two almost side by side.
"We're all right, now, sir said sae
sailor, joyously. 1--WE can stand 1t TIL
they have to come down after some
thin"
Yet the hours that followed were very
tedious, and when they had heightened
out to two days or more, officer and man
grew heartily sick Of confinement Tne
space at their command was so restricted
that they could barely stretch out, lying
or standing; but they dared not try TO
enlarge 1t, for the ship was rolling q
good deal, and they feared that II t9ey
"broke the stowage" they would BRING
down casks and boxes, trunks and tackle
on their heads. :,
Sometimes Burton or Roberts would
have a spell of frantic humping at ne
hatchway. But the sounds came back
muffled, as II the hatch were buried oSNp;
and II they were heard in the whN-
house nobody seemed to heed. III
1t was on the fourth night orday, tRY
hardly knew which, when the weatlff
had moderated a little, that Bur'FR
thought he heard d muttering in the i
rection of the stewards pantry, andS VI
a light over the tops Of the casks. M
Hello, there, doctor!" he called. \
Then the sailor Joined in. iii, dto'
Alloy, there!" He tried to creep towA cll
the light between the decking and !
tops Of the casks. !
"Wha' dat? Who dar?" questioned MI
steward, q Demerara negro. ~
"Mr. Burton and Fred" replied the
sailor, in q tone that must have sounded
sepuIchral. n,
"Wow-oo!" moaned the steward. ''RS
done been called by a dead mani" THIN
came the sound Of fall and the jingleto pr
glass.
Hes few" the sailor reported 70
Burton, In disgust. Took me for a
ghost, reckon"
SAY" he added, moment later, VI
smell smoke! Say, that fool dropped
his lantern! He's set the ship aire!"
The horror Of the situation was inI
stantly apparent. Notso the means of
escape.
Erred, we must try to reach the IRE
and put 1t out!" Burton cried. Y
"No use, sir. can't crawl any near
err, and you're fatter than am. Besides,
we haven't anything to put 1t out with.
We'd be roasted" .. 4
"But we'll be suffocated, anyway"
Have to stand it, sir, If 1t happens 30. :"
But now they heard on deck the roar
Of voices and trampling of feet that told
that the alarm had been given.
Commands Of oflcers and answers OF
seamen showed by the tone that they
knew they must battle for life,
No flames had reached the second
mate and the sailor as yet. but the heat
in the lazaret was rapidly becoming
sitting and the smoke seemed 10 search
the farthest corners Of their aching
lungs.
They breathed with difaculty through
folds Of their shirt-sleeves, which they
had torn on and wet with mineral
water.
Roberts was FIRST 10 succumb. Az he
sank insensible, there were sounds at the
hatchway that foreshadowed the lifting
Of the hatch, and Burton dragged his
companion near It.
Suddenly the hatch was removed. An
avalanche Of hose came through It The
boatswaln set his foot on the irst step
Of the ladder.
TAKE Roberts on deck hrstI" Burton
cried.
But with . single glance below, the
boatswain yelled and fedl
Burton seized the nozzle Of the hose
His laboring lungs and smarting eyes
forgotten, he dragged It forward and d.
rected stream toward the flames.
The water came Just in time to ward
them from an oil-barrsl Another
stream, poured through the sliding door
Of the stewards pantry. helped to win
the fght. Soon It was over.
Burton threw down the hose and tried
to crawl back to the hatchway.
But now it was his turn to give out.
and Roberts, whom the fresh air had
restored to CONSEQUENCES, pushed and
pulled, eoaxed and lifted him toward the
deck. There the captain met them. Y
The dead come to fe!" he cried,
amazed.
TEND to Mr.. Burton nrstl" gasped