Los Angeles herald., 1908-03-29
CHAPTER VII.
A PARTIAL WRECK.

~ OR several moments after the shock,
no one on board of the River Queen
~ had any very clear idea of what
had happened.
Those who had been sleeping were thrown
out of their berths. and it was not until after
the crashing, tearing sounds, which were ae-
companied by sharp, distinct orders in a
strange tone, that any one knew what had
been the cause of the trouble.
Jim, who, having been awake at the time
the collision occurred, was the first to gain
his presence of mind, shouted soon he
recovered his footing
We've been run into and must be sinking
Every one get outside quickly as possible,
until we know just what condition the boat
is in"
He started at the same time toward the
room to get his money-box, when loud noise
from the hold caused him to stop abruptly.
The prisoners were below, and if the boat
were to sink they would be drowned, unless
they were released at once.
Push on the trap door as hard as you
can," he said, as he began to cut away the
flooring with an ak that fortunately NEAR
at hand.
SO rapidly did he work, and so energetic
were the prisoners in their efforts to release
themselves. that even before True and Bent
had gotten forward, three men came up out
of the hold. rushed out on to the bank and
were lost to view In the darkness.
Jethro instead of doing anything toward
his own safety, ran out aft to see what had
caused the confusion.
raft of empty coal barges, which were
being towed up the river, had run into the
River Queen, and were still close alongside.
"Are you damaged much?" hailed the cap
tain of the tugboat.
II don't know. Hold on alongside. until we
find out how we are fixed" answered Jethro
And then he ran forward to the trap-door
leading to the hold, arriving there just as the
eSeaDed robbers had disaDDPared
Jim had already gone below, knowing that
to the hull of the boat alone could any seri-
Gus damage have been done, and, before Jeth-
ro had succeeded in lighting a lantern, he
came on deck again.
''Were not taking in any water" he said,
"and do not believe any but the upper
timbers have been injured"
By this time True and Bent had succeeded
in lighting all the lamps on board, and the
extent of the damage could be seen Fully
one-half of the starboard side of the house
had been crushed, although not so badly but
that it could be repaired in short time All
the goods had been thrown down from the
shelves, and the wreck looked very much
worse than it really was.
whats the damage?" asked the captain
of the tugboat, anxious to continue on his
way up the river, and yet not daring to leave
the boat that had, perhaps. been wrecked
through his carelessness, until he knew that
all hands were safe.
''Were pretty badly broken up, captain,
replied Jimmie, as he went forward. Here's
our lantern still burning" he added, as he
pointed to the flagstaff. IT don't see how
you could have run into us.
"The current swung us in" answered the
captain; ''but reckon that we won't have
any words about it. I'll send an order over
to you, drawn on a carpenter at Bethlehem.
He'll repair your boat and charge it to me"
scVery well, SIR" said Jim, for with his
slight experience on the river he did not know
what was customary in such cases, and had
already begun to fear that he would be
obliged to pay for the necessary repairs out
of his earnings.
One Of the deck hands from the steamer