Evening star., 1907-11-08
THE CAPTAIN OF THE KANSAS
Bv LOUIS TRACY,
Copyright. 1906, ny Edward J. Caode)
Author of 1.-The Wings of the Morning." Etc.

I VI u = =
hope? Now that the gates Of death were
opening. he a god in their eyes-a
god who promised life IN return Tor
obedience.
A revolver barked twice somewhere on
deck. A bullet smashed one of the win
dows of the music room and lodged in
panel behind Courtenay. They all heard
| the reports but the captain promptly
turned the incident to advantage
! You see mean to maintain order,
he said, "Mr Malcolm. take care that
| every one has a life belle
| sort of cheer came from the men.
! Who could fail to believe in leader so
cool and resourceful? He ran out into the
| darkness to discover the cause of the
! shooting. A number of sailors and fire
men were striving to launch boat. There
was a struggle going on. He could not
! distinguish friend from foe in the melee
| but he threw himself into it fearessly.
| You fools. he shouted. You may
! die soon enough without killing each
other. Make way there! All! would
| you?" He caught the gleam Of an up
| lifted knife, and struck savagely at the
! face of the man who would have used It.
| The butt Of the revolver caught the sailor
| on the temple. He went down Ike
stone. Courtenay stumbled over another
PROSTATE body. 1t Mr. Boyle. striv-
ing to rise. Their eyes met in the gloom.
Courtenay stopped and swung the other
clear of the fight. for the second and third
officers were using then fists, and Walker
even in the hurry Of his ascent from the
stokehold. had not let go OF a spanner.
The yells and curses. the trampling of
dim forms swaying In the fight. the roar
ing Of the gale. and the incessant crash Of
heavy spray made up a ghastly pande-
monium. 1t was orgy OF terror. or
Wild abandon, of hopeless striving on the
| edge Of the ptt-a stupid madness at the
best as the ships lifeboats on the port
side were on the spar deck, In their panic
the men We're endeavoring to lower
| dingy. Yet Courtenay saw that discipline
was reganing its influence He thought
to inspire confidence and stop useless
savagery by a sharp command.
| "All hands follow me to starboard,''
| The struggle ceased instantly. The cap
| tatns order seemed to imply some new
! scheme, Men who a moment ago would
| have killed any one who sought to re-
strain them from clearing the boats falls.
| now raced pell-mell after their officers
No heed was paid to those who lay on the
| deck. wounded or insensible. Herein
| alone did these Chilean sailors differ from
| wolves and wolves have the excuse of
! fierce hunger when they devour their dis
| abled fellows
! Still carrying Boyle Courtenay led the
confused horde through gangway to the
| higher side of the deck.
! Swing those boats back to the spar
| deckw he said. Get falls and tackle
| ready to lift them to port. Don't lose
| your heads. men. You will all be clear of
! YOU
are told
| Two officers and quartermaster sprang
! forward. In an incredibly short space of
| time the crew were working with re-
doubled frenzy. but under control and
/ with a common object. For an instant
! Courtenay free to attend to his chief
| officer He bore him to the lighted saloon
| companion. Boyle was deathly pale under
| the tan of his skin The captain saw that
| his own left hand, where it clasped the
| blood.
, Below there" he cried. Bring two
men here Mt Malcolm"
| When the chief steward came he gave
| directions that Mr. Boyle should be taken
to the saloon and Dr. Chrstobal sum
| noned.
Send some one you can trust to re-
turn" he continued. Go then to the lee
| of the promenade deck. You will find
| others there.
| liCitude for the unfortunates wounded in
| the fight We're of any avail. His mind
was clear. the habit Of command strong
! in him Not until the sea claimed him
/ would he cease to rule. The clank OF
/ pulleys, the cries of the sailors heaving
at the ropes, told him that the crew
were at work. At last he was free to go
to the bridge
| He found the luartermaster IN the chart
! house on his knees. When the ship
struck the officer of the watch had been
| thrown headlong to port. Recovering his
feet before tumbling could fling
! him overheard, he hauled himself out of
danger just in time to take part In the
fray deck. He came back now, hurry
ing to join the captain. Courtenay. stand
ing in the shelter of the charthouse, was
peering through the flying scud to lee
ward. The sea was darker there than 1t
had been for hours. Around the ship the
/ surface was milk-Nk with foam, but be-
/ yOnd the area Of the shoa there seemed
! to be remote chance for boat to live.
We're on a sort of breakwater. sir"
said the second officer
Seems like it. Is the ship hard and
/ fast?'
Il am afraid So
Il think the weather is moderating. Go
and see how the barometer stands
Steady Improvement, sir" came the re-
port.
ANY water coming in?''
Mr. Walker said he thought not"
"Perhaps 1t doesn't matter Try to get
the first lfeboat lowered. Let her carry
as many extra hands as possible We
have lost two boats. But do not send any
women in her If all is we'll let them go
in the next one. Take charge of that
yourself
Would you mind tying this handker-
chief tightly just here, sir?'
The second officer held out his left fore
arm.
Were you knitted, too?" asked Courte-
nay.
ut is not much. but I am losing a good
deal o. blood.
The brutes-the unreasoning hrutes."
n1uttered the captain. AS he knotted the
linen into a rough tourniquet the other
asked:
Shall I report to you when the first
boat gets away, sir?
! No need. l shall see what happens.
When she is clear l shall bring the ladies
! to you"
/ Pride of race helped these men to talk
as Collectedly as If the ship were laid
alongside a Thames wharf They knew
not the instant the Kansas might lift
again and turn turtle, yet they did not
dream of deviating a hairs breadth from
! their duties. The second officer went aft
TO carry out the captains instructions,