Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1907-02-08


Skakit's aStern of Us. Go below.
Amt tue skipper enough TO make me
nervous without you shown your oar
int'
And then from somewhere forward
came frightened yell and the sound
of some one running. Swensen came
bounding up the ladder from the main
deck.
Breakers aheadr' he shouted.
Breakers ahead. Put her over. Keep
her Off, quick
Bulke's face went white and then
crimson.
Breakers be hanged" he cried.
"kcep her as she isl
Eut the Swede was dancing up and
down. There were confused cries fors
ward. and other men came running.
"Starboard your helm" beloved
Swen,eu. Put her over. You can
hear EN-. Listen
lie held ~ both hands to enforce
silence, and for moment every soul
on deck stood listening. The waves
! clicked along the schooners side, the
wind sang in the rigging. and the
masts creaked. And then another
sound grew, as it were, into Bradlcy's
eaps-a low, steady murmur. now rs-
! ing. now sinking, He sprang toward
! the wheel
Put her over he shouted. There
are breakers, Starboard your helm.
Starboard"'
Keep her as she Isl beloved
Burke, bending forward with his fists
clincned Don't turn Il spoke
But for heavens sake, Mr.. Burke,
are you crazy? Well be ashore in ten
minutes"
The first mates eyes shone in the
dim light His teeth showed white
between his opened lips
by glory" he gasped choliingly, 'Tll
show you who's running this craft
Keep her as she Isl
Bradley forgot his duty as second
officer, forgot that half the crew were
watching him, forgot everything ex
cept that his best friend lay helpless il
q berth below. while his schooner was
being run into certain destruction. He
leaped to the wheel, and the mate leap
ed to meet him.
Bradley stopped as he spfang for
ward and it was lucky for him tina
he did so. Burke's fist whizzed pas
his ear, and the next moment the tw,
mates We're clinched and struggling IL
tile little space between the dccl
house and the after rail Bradley die
not attempt TO strike; his sole ide,
was to get to the wheel. Therefore IN
merely warded Off the furious blow
aimed at his head and struggled silent
ly. but the one sided fight could no
last long. Burke gradually backed hi
opponent to the rail, and then wthOu
turning his head he shouted:
"Thoma, pass me handspike Live
iy. YOU
The man ThOma-he was half drum
and naturally stupid-obediently plac
ed the handspike In the first mate
hand
Nov then" painted Burke BY
And then Bradley struck-a half arr
hppercut-right under the ugly, prt
truding chin. Burke's teeth clicked tC
getber; he seemed to rise from tn
deck and fell backward at full lengt
almost under the feet Of Swensel
Bradley showed the sailor from til
wheel and gave the latter whir
: The schooner shivcred. turned SLOWLY
the booms swept across her deck. an
she heeled over on the other tacl
with her nose pointing we'll away fror
the beach and toward the open sea.
Burke lay still for au instant, spread
eaged on the deck; then he rose to hi
feet. Bradley stopped and picked II
the handspikc. The first mate glare
Mt the man who had knocked hin
down. Also he looked respectfully Q
the handspike. But if he had bee
angry before he was crazy now.
: you mutineer" he shouted with n
oath between every word "Iust wa
Z minute! III show you how | ire
uiutineers"
|, He ran TO the cabin companion al
= jumped down. Bradley, trying to Il
pear calm before the crew, glanced
> the sails and then out over the sid
Suddenly, SO close that their eardrul-
throbbed with it, there doomed out
the dark thuttering, shaking 70;
. that swelled to a shrek and died aw;
= the voice Of the great steam fogho