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

forts now were of no avail and he be-
thought him that there was only one
resource left. These frenzied wretches
would destroy themselves and all 9TH
ers, so if he would save even a few
of the lives intrusted to his care at
least one of the boats must be pro-
tected. The struggle was fercest for
the possession of the two lifeboats. By
determined effort the jolly boat might
he secured.
So he ran to obtain help from the
few he could trust, from the tiny com.
pany of white men he had left in the
salon. He met them, forlorn process.
sion. coming up to the bridge. The all
powerful instinct of self preservation.
aided. no. doubt, by the singing,
drenching showers of spray, had gone
far toward terminating Isobel and her
maid, while Mrs. Somerville. a woman
advanced in years. was able to walk
though benumbed with the sudden
cold. Courtenay unlocked the door of
his cabin. Elsie, her face pale and tear
stained, but outwardly composed, was
yet standing near the table, and the
dog spranS from her arms the moment
his master appeared.
Thank God!' she said, all of fiut-
ter now that the solitary waiting for
death which came not was ended. II
feared l should never see you again.
Is the ship lostY'
The wild soughing of the wind rem
dered her words indistinct. and the
captain had no time for explanations.
in here" he shouted to Gray, who
had helped Isobel to enter the chart
room the first refuge available on this
| exposed deck.
SHARP with it"' he Numbered when
Isobel was unwilling to face the storm
again. The men took their cue from
his imperative tone. Gray clasped Iso-
bel in his arms and lifted her bodily
through the doorway. The others fol-
lowed his example Soon the three
| women were with Elsie in the cabin.
| Isobel, by sheer reaction from her pre-
vious hysteria. was sullen now and
needless of all considerations save her
own misery. When she set eyes on
Elsie she snapped out:
you here?"
eyes. Captain Courtenay brought
| me to his cabin after our return from
| the fore salon.
'Oh, did he? And he left me with
those devils beneathr'
| They both heard Courtenay's hur-
ried order:
leave the ladies here until we can
come for them. Follow me at once"
The door slammed behind the men
Elsie helped Mrs. Somerville to a chair
| Then she turned to Isobel and said
| gently:
1T is slight thing to discuss when
any moment may be our last, but the
captain placed me here while he went
| to bring you. He had gone only a few
seconds when the ship struck"
The crest of 4 wave combed over the
| upper works and pounded the solid
beams and planks of the cabin until
they creaked. The ship lifted some
what as the sea enveloped her
''Oh, this is awful!' shrieked Isobel
''If l must die, let me die quickly!
shall go madw
/
be an end of our sufferings soon. Per
haps we may escape even yet"
Eyes, l know. If any one is saved Il
| will be you. You left me down there
to take my chance among those fiends
You have been here hours with your
precious captain. no doubt. Were hi
looking after his ship this might MOI
have happened. Why did ever come
on this wretched vessel and will
you, who ran away from Ventana?
should have been warned by it. WheI
he could work me no other evil hs
sent you. Oh. you have taken a fine
vengeance. Pedro VentanaI May yol
be denied mercy as l am denied
now! Go away! If you touch me
shall strike you! l hate you! l tel
you l am losing my senses! Do yo
wish me TO tear your face with IN,
nails?'
Elsie, who would have Soothed he
distraught friend with a loving hand
drew back in real fear that she wa
confronted by a maniac The ute
outrageouSneSs of this new infiictiol
brought tears to her eyes. Yet sh
cholled back her grief for the sake %
the others.
Another heavy sea pitched on board
The Kansas trembled and listed sud
denly. Isobel screamed shrilly AM
burst into storm of dry eyed sobs
Her mood changed instantly into on
of abject submission. She sprang tC
ward Elsie with hands outstretched.
'Oh. save me, save mel" she walled
GOD knows, L am not fit to die!'
There are some noble natures whic
find strength in the need to comfor
the weakness of others Elsie drey
the distracted girl close to her AM
placed an arm around her neck.
1t was thus that Courtenay fOun,
them when he appeared at the doc
after lapse of time which none o
them could measure.
Now, Miss Maxwell, YOU first" b
said, with an air of authority whicl
betokened some new move of utmos
Importance.
''First-for what?" she managed t