, 1909-07-15

the Women Afforded Me Strength
and Courage to Remain.
Approximation. Blessed Mary! what
changes the world had witnessed
since these died! What wonders of
discovery: what growth in faith;
what widening of human knowledge:
what generations OF men and m
had been born, lived. loved. and died
this floating tomb!
Not until after I had explored the
last empty room and returned to the
group Mt the door did l regain my
| senses and feel myself again a living,
responsible being upon whose strength
of will depended the future OF all on
board. A glance into those Mortified
faces told me instantly that they we're
ready for a mad retreat to the boat;
| that the slightest exhibition of weak
ness on my part would set them into
a panic. l stiffened into resistance, all
memory of the past blotted out utter
ly by the demands of the present.
Men, we've come into a hard job
tended to-" said, gravely. However,
well wait until after breakfast before
tackling the worst Of 1t. Day is be-
ginning now. and we will need all the
light 1t gives us. Dade. get out some
provisions from the boat. start a fire
In The galley. and prepare a hot meal.
Sanchez. go along and help; o will
! probably have to cut away some ice
| before the fire will draw Not a word
| TO the women about what Won have
| seen aft. my lads"
The two started forward willingly
| enough. and Immediately turned to
| the others. marking their uneasy
| chances. and fully assured that | must
| keen them also busily empIoyed or
| else lose control altogether.
We have too much IN acconnIisb
| here tn waste anv lime wbi,a thos,.
fa1Ior,, ,,c ,,,,ira ma., IL" r
c,nttr,,eI onicLIy ~.IIoI-rtaht ,
,oo,lo ,hosa sron. ,b,++o,. IN,
climb nm nm the noon and dig the ice
cr the sl,vlicht and our Of he t;.nn.i
We've pot tn have d,vIirht .,d a rre
Now Da Nov, wont Won and Iobn-
| son to helm me. Come on. men. wha.
| ar. Won two afraid of These are III
dead"
fairly drove them IN 4, but !, dit
Them both good although tho m.,ne.
In which thev advenca, down th.
cabin their faces blancbed under fin.
torch yI,re tbeir bod,es sbaL-,r ~.
with ague made me nsrvous and irri.
table I nut them Mt the ,fter.norts
Johnson with The cIea ver and he Ncv,
with his he,tb.kpif and hotwa.t.
| the three of lie we finally succeeded ir
w~rsncbipp both stern.norts frsa a
| THAR ;cv fettsrs AZ We hurst ,ber,
oman through IN. vida .nerturas NJ,
looted forth into the grav dre.ripes.
| os the dawn Satisfied with what MS,
tbus heep accomnHsbed we retra,ec
our stems back through the cabin nh
servinp that KeIIy had made som,
| rrusg,ss .Dove, The am dayli..l. g..
.eadv beginning to tinge that grim ia
terror.
That breakfast WAS The first warm
meal any of ia h.l enioyed for fiy.
DAVIS and we ate II together sitting
about on the galley deck. The mel
were unusually silent. even the yoluble
Kelly holding his toncue No doubt
their thoughts were with their perilous
situation and the grewsome task con
fronting them: vet they partook heart.
Ily OF the food. and | ndeayored by
every means in nv mower to arouse
their courage and cheerfulness. TIC
that end | dwell on the possibility OF
ne wealth thai might he concealed he
lween decks. promising an early search
But I smoke most to Lady Darlington
admiring greatly the easy manner in
which she bore herself amid such
rud surroundings and adapted herself
to the necessities of our situation. AL
semblance of pride and exclusiveness