, 1909-07-29

iSoNh vi ouT MINUS, anu II vs. all OURS
ours. If we could only bring 1t forth
to where 1t possessed value.
II we only could. The thought
struck me like a blow. / knew the
truth. the truth. There vas not INT
chance in a thousand-not one. 7
made no effort to deceive myself. The
men. even the mate. blinded by the
gold-lust had ignored facts plain as
day to me-the terrible listing of the
ship to port, the constant seeping Of
water into the hold, the increasing
soddenness of the staggering hull-all
these combined to tell the story-that
the Donna Isabel was doomed. No
power of men. situated as we were,
could ever save her. The protecting
i~ce-sheath. by help of which she had
drifted ghost-like out Of h Antarctic.
pounded by the fierce seas. loosened
by the milder air of more northern
attitudes, had already commenced to
flake of, and the invading water was
discovering %crevices everywhere along
her ancient seams. We had come to
the gold; we had discovered it: 1t
was ours But we could only gaze on
1t. and give it back to the ocean in ex-
change for our lives. I Strengthened
up. my lips compressed, and looked be
yond the struggling figures of the men
into Doris questioning gray eyes.
Father of Mercy, | possessed some
thing worth more than money-the
love of a woman! Ay, but what OF
the men? What of the men,? II would
be cutting their hearts out; yet II
must be 'done-done. If necessary. with
all the brutality of a slave driver. She
had said this treasure was a curse. q
legacy of crime and death. a prize
for dead men. MOI while | retained
mini and body to battle should it cost
our lives. | pushed De Nova back
ward, n planted myself across the
open chest, scowling into the uplifted
angry faces.
That's enough, men. This is part
of the treasure all right, but there is
no occasion for you to go crazy over
II. Put hose coins back-do you hear,
McKnight?-put them back. and well
shut down the lid. They're nice to
look at, and dream over. but that's
about all the good well ever get of
them. Were there any signs of 9th
ers down there in the ice, Johnson"
No, sir, but they'll be there"
"Oh. yes. no doubt they'll be there,
but The only way we could ever get
them out would be to run this hooker
ashore in some mild climate and let
he ice melt. It's plain enough 10 see
what has happened. The Donna lisa
bel sailed in ballast. these chests be
ing about the only cargo she carried
They shifted in the heavy seas. and
the Lord only knows where they ars
now. Anyway. they ara safe beyon6
the reach Of your ice c%leaver."
They stared into each others faces
the disagreeable truth slowly pene
trating their minds. Kelly spoke. his
voice trembling:
Then why the hell, sir, couldn't We
do Just what you said?"
What, run her ashore?-simply be
cause, my lad. that shore happens to
be a thousand miles away, and | doubt
If this wreck keeps, afioat three days
longer"
Their excited faces told of incredu
lily. of a suspicion that I was playing
Wit them. and | went on swiftly:
You fellows have been so crazy the
last two days you haven't thought of
anything but gold. | tell you IT is
not the treasure, but our lives we've
got to save. The ice is peeiing off the
sides, and the ship is taking water like
a sieve. We are going to be driven
back to the long boat. and how much
of this heavy stuff can we transport in
her? 1 know it's mighty tough, lads.
but we might as well face things as
they are"
T expected opposition, but o such
a wild storm of curses and excavations
as greeted these words. All ems of
sea discipline vanished. even De Nova
joining in the cutlery. | remained,
planted across the box. waiting for
he bedlam to cease, uncertain how |
had best attempt to restore them to
their senses. Cole decided the matter
by rushing forward like IN enraged
bull. throwing me aside with a heave
of his shoulder. the next Instant bury
ing his hands in the coins. That the
fellow was out OF his head was evil
lent enough-mad as a March hare
but l could not hesitate because OF
mat. ihose others were On the VERGE
all they needed for open revolt was
leadership, example, and | caught up
a chair and laid the blubbering negro
on the deck, pieces-ofeight flying in
every direction as he fell.
Unless it's a fight you want. stand
back. the whole of you!" | threatened.
the broken chair still in my hands.
We NAV be able TO axe this chest,
or a part of 1t. with US, but there is
going to be no more digging done
down below. De Nova who are you
with in this row-the men or me-"
BY gar. II makes mt mad to Stv
up all Eat MONIES"
We'll. get mad, you'll have to give