The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-04-20

instant, and then sunk. leaving a dull
red spark upon the water.
Its a ship on fire.. cried Frere.
| CHAPTER ".
They looked again. The tiny spark
still burned, and Immediately over it
there grew out of the darkness 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.
Boat" said Blunt; why, she's
twelve miles off. or more. and there's
not a 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 dared
kissing into the night. There, they ii
see that. l expect" he said. as the
CHASTITY fame 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 / 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, sentryY' h.,
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.
He held by the side as he came, and
saluted.
81 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.
(Which of you fellows can handle an
oar? Frere went on. There, l 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 boatw cries Blunt. ''I'll
burn a blue light every hour for you,
Mr.. Best, and take care they don't
swamp you. Lower away, ladsv
| 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 p
she said. 'Is he ill?'
Pine was next to her. and looked out
instantly. Its that big fellow in No
TO-" he cried. Here. Frere!"
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 a chez,
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 ar
explana ton. but he turned abruptly
away. For a moment the girl paused, a:
if in doubt: and then, ere his retreatins
figure turned to retrace its steps, she
cast a quick glance around, and. slip
ping down the ladder, made her way Il
the 'tween-decks.
The iron-studded oak barricade that
loop-holed for musketry. and perfora tee
with plated trap-dOor for sterner needs
separated soldiers from prisoners. wa.
close to her left hand. and the sentry
at it's padlocked door looked at her in
quiringly. She laid her little hand OF
his big rough one, and opened her brown
eyes at him.
THE hospital" she said. "The doctor
sent me- and before he could answer
!, |
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 wa
close and unhealthy. and the girl paus
ing to listen to the subdued hum of con
versation coming from the soldiers
berths, turned strangely sick and giddy
. She drew herself up, however, and hell
out her hand to a man who came rapid.
across the misshapen shadows, throw
by the sulky swinging lantern to NEE
, her 1t was a young soldier who ha'
been that day sentry at the convict gang
+ way.
"Well. MISS" he said, II am here. ye
, see. waiting for yer"
The tone of the sentence seemed I
awaken and remind her of her errand Il
I that place. She laughed as loudly an
merrily as she dared, and laid her han
on the speakers arm. The boy reddene
| to the roots Of his closely cropped hail
There, that's quite close enough
You're only a common soldier. Miles, an
you mustn't make love to me-"
II know you're above me, Miss Sarai
i. You're a lady. but love yer. do, an
: Yen drives me wild with your tricks"