The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-08


strike; ana tie SVeep foIs the horizon
extended farther thar We had seeh Tor
weeks. The beauty OF the day would
have pat new hea,tand lie into All Of
US but for the,mIserable wreck under
foot The very glare Of the sunlight
seemed TO seTeal with new Tfvidness
how close the end was. Light As tho
sea ran. The ieeIaden bow Of the Don.
ma Isabel ploughed deeply undp-
every crest bursting In white fcan
through the break in the port bul.
warks, the list 10 the deck so steep we
made our way forward with dlEicuity
along the slippery surface. Our rate
Of progress had become SO slow g to
leave only the barest ripple In the wake.
Clambering over into the foro-ehains
! pointed out 70 the men how the sea
was encroaching on the bulEing side.
TAey stared at the evidence graYely,
each compreheudlng clearly the dread
meaning, yet no one spoke for a min.
Etc.
u reckon you was right, SIR" ad.
2'tted johnson, finally. The old hook.
or Is goin' down"
De Nova peered along the slippery
deck, cleaning 10 the sun, moodily,
but said nothing until he looked up
and caught my eyes.
Wat you do, monsieur"
u mean to hold on as long as It ia
safe" replied. because the cabin
gives shelter 10 the women. We all
know what the open boat means, and
we'll put that Oh until the last possible
moment. We are not making much
progress, It's true; but still, every
mile helps. and, II this weather will
only bold, the wreck may keep ahoat
for several days yet, but we'll get
everything fixed for q quick depart
ure."
Kelly and Sanchez appeared in the
cabin door, and called to them to
Join us.
Now, lads. let's make use Of what
daylight we've got left This weather
is likely TO change any minute. Three
OF you lower that jIb. and get out the
canvas belonging to the long.boat.
Piece the ilb up with any old stuff
Won can find that will stand q light
wind. De Nova. you take charge Of
that job. Dade, you'd better run back
TO the uller. and hold her steady as
the jib comes down. Johnson and
| will ypn th,t al, Ionu hon, L. gnurNd
stocked, and ready for launching"
We made thorough Job Of It, over
hauling the boat from stem to stern.
and ending by rigging up block and
tackle for hosting her, when loaded.
over the bulwarks. We dashed the
Donna Isabels helm again, and dis
patched Dade into the cabin after sup
plies. The greater portion of the
stores brought from the Sea Queen,
more especially tho canned goods, re-
manned intact. and we packed these
away snugly in the stern lockers, add
ing whatever we could find that re-
manned eaiable among the frozen
stores In the lazarette. Altogether we
TINS amassed a sufficient supply. We
/ rolled mp all the extra blankets, shOv.
ing them under the seats, and saw
that seryiCeable spars and oars were
safely slowed and lashed. II was
| growing dusk before these matters
had all been attended to. and finally
stepped out Of the boat. The men were
massed in body on the deck, and the
moment saw them understood they
had been discussing the situation. De
Nova spoke:
Monsieur" he questioned, "how
much in American money would be
in re chegi?"
81 don't know. Of course. hut Just for
guess, perhaps slOO.OOO-maybo
more"
An zare he only 70 ten Of us. To
divide II up make, maybe, ten t'onsand
dollar for each. Was II not 500"
why yes, or even more than that,
for I will chCcrfully waive my share
and can pledge that Lady Darlington
will do the same. But what Of it?"
"Zat fine lot monies for saiIor.man,"
he said, eagerly. An WY not have
II? Anyhow. wy not try 10 save It?
Ze long.bUat is built to HOP % peoples.
an We only ten. Zen wy not take 70
Eoi?'lt eat noting, It drink noting.
an II II weight too much. zen we t'rOw
II overheard. But W. not try carry It,
&c hundred rousand dullar?"