Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-21

G reading of plates, the tearing
q aSunder Of Stanch steel ribs
and croSSbeamS. which should
sound the knel of the ships last mo-
ments. But tine Kansas seemed TO be
in no hurry to fall in pieces. She
strained ana groaned and shook vic
lently when wave pounded her. 9th
erwise she lay there like a beaten
thing, oddly resembling the living but
almost unconscious men stretched on
the mattresses in the forward salon.
Courtenay did not experience the
least fear of death. Emotion of any
sort was already dead in him. He
found himself wondering if an unex
pevtedly strong current setting to the
southeast had not upset his reckoning
if there were any broken limbs among
the occupants of the salon. if Elsie
had been injured by being thrown
down into his >dbin. He looked at his
watch. 1t was past II. In four hours
there would be dawn. Dawn. In as
many minutes he might see the day
that is everlasting. All, perhaps not
even four minutes, The Kansas, with
a SILVER, lifted to the embrace of a
heavy sea, lurched to port and settled
herself more comfortably. The deck
assumed an easier angle. Now it was
possible to walk. There were no rocks
here, at any rate. Courtcnay at one,
jumped to the conclusion that the pow
erful current whose existence he sus-
pected had cut out for itself deep
water channe! toward the land and the
ship had struck on the silt of its back
wash. Anyhow, the Kansas was still
living. The lights were all burning
steadily. He could detect the Rhythmic
throb of the donkey engine. He felt
it like the faint beat of Il pulse. In
her new position the ship presented
less of solid wall to the onslaught of
the sea. The tumultuous waves began
to race past without breaking so fierce
~. Had she started her plates? Were
the holds and engine room full of wa
ter? If so, Walker and his helpers
were already drowning beneath his
feet And when next she moved the
vessel might slip away into the depths!
A man rushed by. or tried to do so.
stoker who had temporary charge of
the donkey boiler and seized him
wrathfully, his eyes ablaZe.
Go back" he roared
"Senor. The ship is lost"
eco back and await my orders"
He could have strangled the fugitive
in his sudden rage The fireman en-
deavored to gasp his readiness to obey.
Courtenay relaxed his grip, and for a
time at least one member of the crew
stuck to his post. fearing the mad
captain more than death.
A mob of stewards and kitchen
hands came in Il torrent up the salon
stairs. Courtenay met them. terri
flying figure, and thrust revolver in
their faces.
Back" he shouted, cor some of you
will die here"'
Even in their frenzy they believed
him The foremost skunk away and
fought in Il new terror with those who
would urge them on. Gray, bleeding
from a cut across the forehead, knock.
ed down q man who brutally tore lSo
bel out of his path. Tollemache, q
revolver in each hand. set his back
against the corner of the salon a
the foot of the stairs.
Pm with you. captainp he yelled.
COurtenay saw that he had conquer
ed them for the instant. lie raised his
hand
Behave like menu he cried. you
can do no good by crowding the deck
] am going to the bridge to see If it is
possible to lower the boats. Eacl
boats crew will he mustered in turn
passengers and men alike. If you art
towards now you will throw away
what chance there is of saving your
lives"
A revolver barked twice somewhere
on deck A bullet smashed one of the
windows Of the music room and LODGED
in a panel behind Courtenay. They
all heard the reports, but the captain
promptly turned the incident to ad
vantage
'Yom see we mran TO maintain or
der" he said. mfr Malcolm. tnlrs
care that every one has n life belt"
A sort of cheer came from the men
Who could fail to believe in a leade
so cool and resourceful? He ran GU
into the darkness to discover the cause
Of the shooting. A number Of sailors