Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1906-04-06
CHAPTER IV.

Its a ship on tire!' cried Frere.
CHAPTER ".
They looked again. The tiny spark
still burned, and Immediately over it
there grew ont of the darkness a Grim
son spot that hung like a 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.
Boat" 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 fared
Kissing into the night. 'There, they'll
see that, l expect" he said, as the
ghastly flame rose, extinguishing the
stars for moment, only to let them
appear again brighter in a 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
wv tuOSc gray ydChclS Va souio
amidships. l shall want as many hands
as can spare to man the long boat
and cutter, in case we want 'em. Steady
there, lads! Easyw 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-
eye showed but four.
WHATS the matter here, sentry?' h.
asked.
Prisoner III, sir. Doctor sent him to
hospitals
But there should be two"
The other came from behind the break
Of the berths. 1t was Rufus Dawes.
He held by the side as he came, and
saluted.
II felt sick, sir, and was trying to
get the scuttle OPEN"
Maurice Frere stamped his foot in
dignantly.
Sick! What are you sick about? I'll
give you something to sweat the sickness
out of you. Stand on one side here!
Rufus Dawes, wondering, obeyed
tWhiob of ~
oar? Frere went on. "There, | don't
want fifty! Three'll do. Come on now,
make haste!'
The heavy door clashed again, and in
another instant the four volunteers"
were on deck.
1.-TWO in each boat!' cries Blunt. "Ill
burn a blue light every hour for you,
Mr.. Best, and take care they don't
swamp you. Lower away, ladsw
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 ~ thdl lellOW III mo.
TO-" he CRIED Here, Frerew
But Frere heard him not He was
intent on the beacon that cleaned ever
bright in the distance. Give way, my
lads!" he shouted. And amidst a 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 moment the girl paused as
If in doubt; and then, ere his retreating
figure turned to retrace its steps, she
cast a quick glance around, and, slip
ping down the ladder, made her way TO
the 'tween-decks.
The iron-studded oak barricade that.
loop-holed 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.