The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-03-19
CHAPTER xv.-fcontlnued.)

the bridge to relieve or assist Laird
was felled at the door Of the chart room
In the instant required to drag the body
70 shelter and close the door Of the chart
room, Captain Negley was overpowered
by the blizzard of steam, gas and livid
stone. When consciousness returned to
him he was lying across the body of Plass
and the ship was rolling like a runaway
buoy.
The skipper regained his feet. In spite
Of terrible burns, he felt little pain. His
limbs, below the knees, were like wood.
His left hand was yellow and inflated.
Fire brands still screamed into the sea
outside, but the day was returning. The
indomitable Negley was first to reach the
deck, the woodwork of which was burn
Ing In several places. He tried to shout,
but his throat was closed by the hot dust.
The body of a man was hanging over the
railing Of the bridge. 1t was Laird, with
his face burned away.
The shock Of his burns was beginning
TO overpower the captain when Pugh, the
third officer, untouched by fire, appeared
from below. In horrid tongueless way,
Negley fred the other to Oct, and stag
gered Into the cabin passageway. Pugh
shrieked up the hands and set to the fires
ana the ships course. Out Of the five
sailors and three officers on deck when
felee struck, Negley alone had retained
the thinking faculty.
Miss Stansbury was hurled from her
chair. Appalled, by the dread. fact of dis
solution, she lay in the primal darkness in
the midst Of falling glass. Macready was
cropping, calling for her. That she was
unhurt seemed such Z great matter to
him and entirely Insignificant to herself.
Her lover had fallen. Their starry pa
vilion Of the future was in blackness and
ruin. 1t would have been better had
Peles found them together. .
Macready lifted her to q chair. The
ports were gray instead Of black, but
splashed with the big seas.
Your friend is dead, Denny" she said
Aarshly.
Whats this you're talkin'? IT'S no
BIT Az geyser in 4 dirt pile a. can tell
him how t come an co.
The screaming Of the native women
reached them from the hold. Macready
opened the door, and blast Of terrible
heat entered the cabin. The woman was
clutching the arms Of the chair and star
Ing at him with the most pitiful eyes ever
seen In child or woman. The swaying
form Of Negley was in the passageway,
and something Of the extent Of the disas-
ter broke upon the Irishman.
Bring him here r. she commanded. tax
Ing Nesieys arm. There, I can man
age himl Run and get oils and lint !"
He obeyed. The decks were covered
with . paste that burned through his
shoes. Black clouds were rolling out to
ssa. Deep thunder Of q righteous source
answered Pelee's lamentations. The sail
ors were fighting fire and carrying their
dead. The thin, shaken voice Of Pugh
came from the bridge. The engines were
throbbing.
Eight miles at seal Eight miles at
sea" Macready repeated. '.Th' long
armed mountain-an' what musht the in
Aghtin' have bsenw
In the stors-room, he opened Jars Of oil
and cartons Of lint and bandages, for the
use Of the men then rushed back to the
cabin with a portion. Nature finds work
for strong hearts that have lost their
heroes. Negley's cracked and twisted
boots had been removed, and the ashes
elsanssd from his eyes and ears and
mouth. Another valiant nurse had emsrr-
ID from q broken romance. The woman
who would have tainted yesterday at the
smell Of burnt nesh was cutting away the
clothing from the captains shoulder.
When the eintments and wrappings had
bssn applied to the shippers wounds. she
helped Macready carry the unconscious
nan to . berth.
IT'S rainin' evsnchooalities out" hs
nuttersd gsnially, noting that the work
was life to her.
I'VE must be nearly in-shers By this
tms," she said slowly.
Denny's e6ervescencs was now corked.
Pugh had been putting the Madame out
to sea since he got control Of her. The
lrishman felt instinctively that the wem-
IN would want to 20 ashore, which he
didn't propose to allow. On the other
hand. although he had nothing to do with
the running of the ship, he didn't like the
Idea Of saving the Madame at the prics
81 her owners life.
II dunno" he answered carefuIlv
IT'S har-rd t see fur tn rain"
His soft magic failed.
ous eAF shAp - moFiuS 8H0 oXClQlm-
ID. Denny, open the door,"
Macready gave way. She heard the
steady beat Of the engines, and the big
seas driving past. She rushed out of the
passageway, regardless of the food. and
peered over the main deck railing. There
was no smoke, no familiar shadow of
hills, but a leaden, tumultuous sky and
the rollers Of the open sea, beaten by a
torrential shower. She crossed the char
red planking to the starboard side drench-
Cd to the skin In an instant. There was
no Pelee. no Saint Pierrel Macreadv
tried to draw her to cover, but she turned
upon him furiously.
you have let them put to sea-you.
his friend-whils he Il held back there.
waiting for his ship?"
What could poor Dinny, that bosses
tn galleys, ma'am, do toward runnin' the
ship? Thin byes 'ud say, Cit back r
your patty-pans. you wiper But I've
thried, sure, t kaps tn lady from harum
this day. You know Captain Negley-r
"Where's the first ofhcer?'
dead, ma'am."
"And the second oficerw
"Th' same"
"Who is putting out to seaf"
third Officer Pugh, In the name Az his