The White Pine news. [volume] (Ely, Nev.) 1906-1910, 1907-04-17

down, = It's ships law as eyerb
thin serious should be wrote out in
the log-b3ok, and nowheres else, Snail
| read it,
Ana he read out what he had writ
ten
Three DAYS back, as tie in the
log, Mr.. Case. the second mate fell
from the foreyard as We was goin to
take in the foresaii. and was Killed.
He was buried accordin the next day,
while we Was owe to. And last night
In the middle watch as all 'ands was
maxim sail. the wind avin' falien.light
sudden and the sea bein' very 'eayy,
We shipped an 'eavy sea over the pert
rail as washed Mr.. Gamjy overheard
with Jack Marchmont, A b.. Andrew
Anderson, A. B. and Thomas Griggs,
hoy. And the captain bein' i'll, as the
log says, died sudden on earring it,
and is now lyin' dead in is cabin.
Whereas. there bein no officer in the
ship. all 'ancs assembled as aforesaid.
declares this is the truth, the ole
truth, and nothin but the truth so
clip us Gawd. And we intends maxim
for bonus airs. or monty Nidyo."
And one by one the crew signed
this simple statement, as it was held
down on the top of the signal locker
by It's author. Those who could not
write--and there were three who
could not made their marks when
Joe signed for them.
Whatever 'appens To this blasted
cooker we must Keep old of this
log, said joe "ior s3pposin' any
hother disaster bel Il IL. as seems
likely enough and we took to the
boats, it would look very bad for us,
without a single officer
II was a cold and unhappy day for
them as they drove to the northeast,
still under short canvas But the
weather broke a little. and they set
the topgallant sails at last.
so long as We don't pile her up on
the Falklands we should do" said the
one other man on board beside Joe
who seemed capable of taking re.
sponsibility. lie was from Newcastle.
and was, of course, known as Geordie
Naturally enough he and Joe divided
the watches between them. and the
remainder of the crowd sheltered
their uneasy minds under their
strength.
Il suppose if we bring her in we
might get something extra" said
Geordie the day they buried the cap
tain.
D,,t L. l,,
led him for'ard from the wheel, at
which patient Swede stood.
"Geordie. old man, do you want to
bring her I'M" he asked
why, yes. suppose So" said
Geordie. He stared at Joe What
DO you mean?"
Joe broke out strangely and struck
his f1st upon the rail.
II want to see er sink" he said
sayagely. Il want to see err go
where she's put SO many good men.
What right as we to save 'er to do
more arm? It amt alone as she's
1rownded my chum or the others, but
she a black record that amt fin.
lshed unless we finish It, She's
strong. and will go on killiE' fox
twenty years, Geordie. She'll make
money for them as doesn't care, but
what of the likes of us?"
He was greatly moved.
She's caulked with mems lives,
and painted with their blood" he
cried passlonately. "Pd rather she
sunk with me than sailed the seas
any more
And Geordie fidgete ..l-uneasily. -
That's true, mate, but"
Aye" said Joe, 81 know. If We
scuttled 'er twould look bad, and It's
bad enough as 1t is; but It's a good
deed, il we done it. and it should be
done, and I'll tell you 'ow to do it.
He leant upon the rail and spoke
earnestly, in low voice.
1T won't DO, own, TO scuttle 'er
at sea, not even if we let on she
leaked and logged it day by day. But
If we sunk 'er in the Plate or In the
poy at Monte Video, 'twould do right
enough, and I've a plan for that. |
made it out in the morning watch,
IT'S as easy as eatin', and easier a
deal than eatin ships biscuit. Down
below in the lazaret I'll bore 'oles in
her, three or four, and plug em on the
inside. about foot below the water
line And I'll over the size and plug
'em outside, then I'll draw the inside
plugs. Dyse see?"
And Geordie saw.
You needn't know it. ! can do it