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

With the mate three other men had
gone
And then she cleared herself once
more, and the men came together un
Ter the break of the poop. Joe asked
!or Jack Marchmont; but Jack had
saved any one from the expense of
tombstone
And | overpersuaded i'm to ship
n her. Oh, she's bloody ship"
Then one ran said:
Where's Mr.. Gamgee?"
Joe ran up to the poop.
"Mr. Gamgee! sir!"
HE amt here" said the man at
he wheel. ooh. Joe. what Is it?"
Twas your doin'." cried Joe.
There's two gone, and Jack with
EN-, and Mr.. Gamgee!"
And the man at the wheel fell all
ishake His face was ashy in the
feeble glimmer Of the pinnacle light.
Come and take her, Joe" he Inn
plored. "Oh. the swine she is. I'm In
tremble, Joe. She's too much for
me-"
And tragedy heaped itself on
tragedy The steward came on deck,
and heard that the mate was gone.
He lost his head and ran In to the
captain crying; he was ludicrous. hof
rlble, speechless. And Rayner sat up
In his bunk, and fell lack without
knowing what had happened. He new
ar knew. for though the steward
shook him feebly, his failing heart
had failed, and brandy never brO2ght
him to. The steward ran on deck
blubbering.
Il believe the captains dead" he
SObbed.
And the two boldest of the men
took off their caps and went into the
cabin humbly. A greater than their
commander was there. They stood in
silence, fiddling with their caps. and
started at the quiet white face upon
Its pillow.
ooh yes. he's dead" they whis-
they were stunned, and were adrift;
they were all masterless men, au-
thority had. been removed; they faced
the unknown with dread They saw
now that they had rested on others
knowledge. What did they know Of
the sea after all?
They gathered on the poop.
WHAT" said Joe, who was at the
wheel. Him gone too. And We"
They all understood. They were in
peculiar isol ion in danger And
what would be said If they saved
themselves and the ship?
Twill look as il we'd mutinied, >"
said Joe But he had touch of nat
lral authority in him. AS soon as
/ gets light We'll write out true
account of II and sign it. all OF us.
And Wen m.ne for the nearest port ="
They were all quiet men, English
men and Dutchmen and there was no
more drink in the shin than that in
the medicine chest The steward
drank what remained al il And III
the morning all the Zen. II Ter OF the
crew met on the poop AT first they
had certs 1 natural reluctance 10
use that portion of the ship, but II
they did not meet there the steers
man could rot take his share in the
talk. Bat Joe did most Of the talk
ing.
81 reckon the nearest port Is
BueAos Ayre5," he said. This morn
IN took the liberty of looEin' at the
chart, and there amt nothin' 'andier
as is common talk with sailormen. II
we stand north we'll about il it oil;
or any ways, ven it on the track OF
steamers maxim for it, and we might
get the lend of hofcer to take us
in. What do you say, mates?
Some nodded, some shrugged their
shoulders, and some said, "Buenos
Ayres? On yes, thatll do as well az
another"
"And I've took the liberty SAID
Joe solemnly, of borrowin' the log
book from down below. and I've wrote
out plain account Of all this ere
Is aaid last night. For - Aest pp'