The Prescott daily news., 1908-02-19

both human and have all the human passions. To believe in any interpre- tation of the Christian religion Is all the more absurd under the circum- stances. How can one practice un- selfishness and self-sacrifice and at the same time practice the most ab ject selflshness and cowardice? There were several officers of high rank on that ship, and one was more than usually selfish. l don't say he was bad. He was brought up to believe we common people were farther re- moved from him than the galley cat Is from us."
 That's your internal monarchial government" I said
 Not at all Not at all You Americans recognize class as much as we do. It's absurd to deny it. We all try to rise to the class which does nothing. We all look up to wealth and position. That's the reason l don't blame anyone for social crimes. But that's the reason big dark man was in the port torpedo room. man who would not see as the rest. A man of the people, powerful young, and with a desperate purpose. He loved my sister, for she was beautiful. He possessed the same feelings as the | officer of higher life, only his were not affected by the false and artificial training. He was not of the upper class, and recognized nothing but personal worth. That's the reason he went aboard disguised, and with a fixed and resolute mind"
 Do you mean you know the man who torpedoed that ship?" I asked, in derision.
 Do 1 often talk, sir, to enjoy the music of my own voice?" and he looked at me
 Co on" 1 said.
 There's nothng more to tell There's nothing for me to tell, sir. You know We are governed or re- strained only by that intangible something that"
 He stopped and looked over the moonlit ocean. The night was beau tiful and the moon caused the lumpy trade-clouds to cast shadows on the sea.
 Yes" said the sailor. there's the restraining force, the consciousness; but when one has suffered much he either eXhausts himself in the wild | passion of pain and indignation or | becomes coldly fierce to visit the pain upon those who cause it. We are all little bad The weaker-or maybe it is the stronger who suffer for our sins"
 Did you know it all the time?" I asked.
 No. l didn't recognize him until | the firing began; but he made 1t plain to many of us that the ship was going to her end. Stop him? Do you sup pose you could stop a man who has studied and planned for ten years how to send his foe to-? Many of us rec ognized him and wondered at his be- ing aboard that ship. Then he went l slowly back into the harbor, and he cried out to me to go on deck. I be- gan to realize his meaning, and rushed aft, climbing, struggling, gasping, knowing then that what he said was true. He was an expert in electricity and had invented one or two remarkable machines. l fled from terror that was all-absorbing It was because of his staring bright eyes, | flushed face and smile of peculiar tri- umph. It was the smile of man who believes he has won. His joy was wild, unfeigned, truly hysterical, and then l knew the end was near and I l flew from him as from hell itself I | reached the upper deck at last. The men were at their stations. The l fighting was over and the. poor fel- lows looked relieved. I plunged among them as one demented. Then l breathed and looked about me for something to float on My heart was dumping under my ribs, and my nerves were strung as one has them when the lock string of a great rifle is drawn taut and he waits the crash. Up and down the deck l tore until I could stand it no longer and rushed to the taffrail. At that instant there was d lei ! liS SioSh, d uSaleuInS COiCuS- sion from below and forward I looked and saw a great column of water arise alongside us. The battle ship stopped and rolled heavily, while dense cloud of yellow smoke and steam enveloped her. Then she began to list rapidly Men called out hoarsely and rushed about, 1 picked up piece of wood which fell near me and | remember wandering whera if