Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-11-08
CHAPTER XIII.

IL Emmett fell I'll. Although in.
s-.--J ured to hardship in the ele
mental strife. being of the stocby mar
iner race which holds the Erulr Atlantic
in no dread, he had never before been
called on to eat sodden bread, to drink
condensed steam favored with varnish
and to chew sustenance from the rind
of raw bacon These drawbacks, add
ed to the lack Of exercise and the con-
slant wearing of clothes not yet dry,
placed him on the sick list.
Again there We're ominous whispers
of unfair division In the matter Of
accomplishment that the purser, Con-
stance, Enid and others who helped to
apportlon the catables could treat all
alike. Some Jared better than others
In quality If not in quantity. The I'M
fortunate ones Grovlcd and talked of
favoritism.
4 crisis was reached whom the sec
ond officer mustered the night watch.
When one sheep leads the others will
follow. A stout German from Chicago
asked bluntly:
"Vere's de goot of blayin at mound
in cart? Uerc Is bud Won ting to CART
und dat Is der lldchen."
Community OF interest caused many
TO huddle closer TO him. Here was one
who dared 10 say what they all
thought. Their feet shufed in sup
port. The officer, faithful to his trust
was tempted to fell the man, but he
thought the circumstances warranted
| more gentle methods.
why are you dissatished?" he stern
ly demanded. What do you suspect?
Are you fool enough to imagine that
you are being cheated by people who
are dividing their last crust with you?"
How do We know dat? Dose girls
dey are chokin' NIT MIR. Pyne all der
day. Dey can'd do dat und be hungry
like us"
you unmitigated ass" said the dis
gusted officer. There is food here for
three people. They have fed eighty
one of us for two days and will keep
us going several more days. Can't you
figure it out? Isn't it a miracle
| Here. Who's for guard and who not?
Let US quit IOOlipS.
And the doubters were silenced for
| the hour.
| The hymn singer endeavored to raise
a chorus. He was not greeted with en-
thusasm, but n few valiant spirits
came to his assistance. A couple Of
hymns were feebly rendered - and
again silence.
Say when" observed Pyne calmly
when he entered the service room TO
find Brand trimming the spare lamp.
Not tonight" said Brand.
''Why not? Hell may break loose at
any moment downstairs"
What has occurred? l heard some
thing of dispute when the watch mus
tered ut 8 o'clock"
Things are worse now. One OF the
men found Il gallon Of methy lated spirit
in the workshop"
Good heavens Did he drink any of
itw
'He and his mates have empticd the
tin. Eight are helplessly drunk. the
others quarrelsome. The next thing
will be a combined rush for the store
room"
But why did not the second officer
tell me?"
HE thought you had troubles enough
If he could depend on the remainder OF
the crowd he would rope the sinners
Says he knows n slave knot that will
make 'em tired"
Brands eyes gllstened.
'The fools" he said, land just as the
weather is mending too"
you don't mean that?"
Listen"
He glanced up Mt the glass dome
Heavy drops were pattering on IT.
They looked like spray. but Pyne shout
ed gleefully:
rs 1t rain?"
Eyes. ! was Just going to summon
the watch to help In filling every YES
sci. BY spreading canvas sheets we
can gather large supply IL It rains