The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1909-08-10

ma CONFUSION. hC NA'A't
pouring up on deck, screaming anu
shouting with terror Some OF the
sailors rushed to clear the boats, but
n sharp order from the captain
stopped them. ~,
In few seconds the captain had
decided on his course. The remain
ing boats would not carry a hundreo
and fifty people. There were more
than twice that number on board.
On the other hand, the land was
about three miles off, and sandy
and protected beach meant safety.
But could it be done with that hole
in her side? He would try. lie
changed her course, rang "Full speed
ahead" and shouted to the mate: go
down and shut the for'ard bulkheads,
Mr.. Jones'"
The mate ran forward, and with
the help of the carpenter tore or
part of the hatch covering and sprang
to the ladder. AS he climbed down
Young Malcolm peered aimlessly over
the hatch.
Bring down a lantern" cried the
mate, and Malcolm, galvanized INTO
activity by fear, seized lantern from
the alleyways and clambered down
into the hold.
The mate ran toward the iron door
in the bulkhead, which had been left
open, and pushed it to.
1.-THE light here-quick!'
And the boy brought it.
BLAST them!-o blast them!'
roared the mate. They've put the
bolts on the wrong side. In five min
utes we'll all be in kingdom come"
He stumbled for the ladder, wild
with terror. Yes, every one would
be drowned, and he, too, with the
cruel, cold water sucking him down.
He dropped the lantern and began to
pull himself up the ladder.
Suddenly he stopped. An idea had
been born in his brain; hideous, I'M
thinkable thought-the door could be
closed from the other side. He hung
Imply on the ladder, and in his mind
ragged tornado Of conflict.
Oh, to be out of this awful ship.
safe once again at homel But the
mate had said that all were lost
That meant him. too. And if only
that door were shut, all could be
saved. Great beads of sweat broke
out on his forehead He groaned and
writhed about like one on the rack
Then he began to descend slowly. He
stopped again on the last rung. He
chung to the ladder as a drowning
man to rope. He could never let
go. Why was he not going up the
ladder? There were boats left. He
had seen that He could fight for
place. and be saved. He was so young;
not old, like the mate and captain.
They must give him a place.
All at once he loosened his hold and
ran blindly for the door On the way
he tripped and fell heavily on his
hands and face, cutting and bruising
them. He lay half stunned for a
minute, moaning from the pain, then
raised himself and crawled the rest
of the way. He passed through the
door, and with feverish haste shot
the great iron bolts. The boy was
alone in his tomb. He leaned against
the bulkhead, sick. sick to death.
Why had he done this? He did not
know. They would be saved now. but
he-O! God, no more light or life for
him! His poor dry lips moved con-
vulsvely, and his hands beat aimless-
~ on the iron wall. He would go
back. Hope returned with rush. He
would die in the open-with others
around him. 1t would be good to die
thus. not in this hell OF darkness and
desolateness. He unshot one bolt and
fumbled for the other Then. with a
low moan, he cast himself from it.
driving his teeth into his lips in his
agony.
1t was not to be. He was too great
coward to live. He could only die.
lie would pray. But he could think
OF nothing but the This
night when l lie down to sleep" he
had learned at his mothers knee.
70 sleep-oh, he would sleep long,
There was to be no waking this time.
Long shuddering fits shook his
frame as he felt the icy fingers of
death rising inch by inch. He
screamed and raved, dashing his hend
against the iron, that death might
come quickly. He plunged beneath
the water, only to come I'D again
nghting madly for life. Then there
was long drawn sob, and then ST
lence
Inc captain stood on the bridge. q
hgnre OF stony despair. The land
could never be reached with water
pouring like torrent into the for
ward hold. He cursed his negligence
IN overlooking such a fr;cbtf,,1
biunder. 1t was going to cost 200
Nves, and he must not be among tho
saved. The Pride of Asia was pet-
ting low in the water. but he could
not understand why she was not sink
ing more by the bow. She was vibrat.
ing from the engines. pushed to their
highest pressure, for the firemen
stuck CALAMITY to their posts. Five
minutes went, and ten, and then
with a sudden shock, she took ground
and all were safe.
Next morning, young Malcolm was
missing, and the sorrowful news wos