The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-04-04
CHAPTER XXI

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| The beggars are going off in the
boats" said Hayling. Don't yol
think we'd better go out and have
a look?"
ooh, be CAREFUL" implored the
girl.
Trust u.s." said Frank. "But
they'll not interfere with us. They
have something much more import
ant on hand"
So he opened the door and to
gether We stepped out on the deck
and coolly marched forward to
where some men were busy clear
ing the falls. preparatory to lower.
ing the boat. Whether they saw
us or not l cannot say, but they
worked on as if totally oblivious OF
our presence. After all. they had
something else to think about.
Presently, a volley of oaths her.
aiding his approach, Mr.. Gupp came
tearing aft Seeing us but indis-
tinctly through the mist, he yelled
out. Now then, skulkers, for
ward!" But, as we did not move,
he came closer with hand up
raised.
"Oh, it's you, is it?" he said,
drawing back.
Apparently said Hayling. "You
have done a fine thing now"
"Me done fine thing!" he
snarled. by God, l know who's
done it, and who shall pay for it,
too"
Anyway, you're in beast of a
mess"
ooh. l can't stand talking to you.
The damned ship'll go to the bot
tom in a minute and you and your
pals along with her."
81 am glad you have no intention
of accompanying u.s."
But with a contemptuous oath
the gunner darted away in the
mist. Hayling turned to me:
"You know what he means,
TOM"
Precisely"
what do you Think"
eff we have to die. III rather we
died here than with them"
But Ethel?"
LET us ask her"
Hurriedly returning to the wheel
house we were admitted.
THE ship is really sinking?" she
cried, turning a white, terrified face
to Frank.
81 fear so. They are getting out
the boats. They will put off from
the ship Immediately"
And leave us here to iie?"
perhaps Tom and | can prevail
upon them to take you off"
And what is to become of Tom
and you?"
I'VE are to stay behind"
She slipped her right hand into
his, her left into mine.
Glorious was the look of admira-
ton that sparkled in Hayling' s
eyes. All his soul shone there; all
his hopes, it seemed, of earth or
heaven. Yet he made no other
sign or movement, though to re-
frain from touching her must have
plagued him like madness. Then
he turned to me, and for the first
lllll6 ilc otc1lleu lllcSOlutc.
This can't be, Tom" he mutter-
ed, savagely. by God, we're not
going to go down like rats"
Being as desperate as he, I told
him that | was really and together
We darted out upon the deck. The
ship was already sinking by the
head, and in a few minutes at the
most she would slip over on her
side and disappear.
Hayling bounded forward to the
port boat, but only just in time to
see the last man slip down the falls
and jump aboard. Muttering an
oath. he instantly made for the
other side and beheld the starboard
boat already putting off. In the
stern of this one sat the redoubt-
able Gupp, the engineer LUZ by his
side. AS soon as he caught sight of
us, for Ethel had followed in our
tracks, he waved his hand and
shouted goodbye. Frank lifted his
rifle ominously but instantly
dropped it. Gupp was in other
hands.
Sorry can't take you with me"
he shouted, though / might be able
to find room for the gal. What do
you say, miss? We're a jolly lot OF
fellows and we'll treat you well.
Look how the ship is going by the
head. In two minutes she'll roll
over. Quick! What do you say -?
Will you come with us and live or
stay there and die?"
We all looked down into the boat,
each with varied feeling, but none