, 1909-07-29

said slowly. I've alters been poor. an
I reckon the Lord don't mean me to
ever git rich"
| held out my hand, deeply touched
by the sterling honesty of the reply.
You've got something worth more
han money. Bill, and that's manhood.
o stand the acid. Shake hands,
nate"
He responded awkwardly enough.
having received more cuffs than praise
during his rough sea life. yet the Ak
Dres ion in the mild blue eyes gave
ne confidence that | had touched the
light chord. | surveyed the others
NoTnisht leaning on the cleavee. red
faced and scowling, Sanchez. Kelly
and Dade back OF him, the negro still
groaning OF the deck.
"Dade, come here" The fellow shut
"ed over toward me as s~pineless as a
ially-fish. Now, Kelly, you and San
chez lay Cole out in a bunk and dress
his head. All he needs is a banda6e
and plenty of cold water. When you
get done with that job come on deck
and I'll find you another. Mcknight.
drop that cleaver and come along
with us
They did not like 1t: but with De
Nova. Johnson and Dade standing be
hind me, they realized the uselessness
Of revolt. Their hesitation and growi-
ing curses irritated me none the less.
Jump. you fellows. unless you want
he same medicine Cole just took"
The two men lifted the negro in
heir arms and bore, him back to one
VI the state-rooms aft. Kelly aue
out again and returned with a pauri
sin of water. | bent down and clos =
The lid of the chest. The FIVE of rs
ramped out on deck.
1t was. indeed. a rare day for thG'
season Of the year and in that oce
ne sky overhead r1l" ulua al -,3u'.
less the wide sea stirred merely bv
he gnntlest swell. the slight brae .
steady and barely firm enou"h to Lol'
the rctten canvas STIFF. There was
even sufficient heat in the suns RAYS
to moisten the ice along the decks
where the chill of the win did o
strike. and the sweep of the horizon
extended farther than we had seer fer
Tse-s. The bCau'y of he day would
have put new heart and life into all of
us but for the miserable wreck under
foot. The very glare of the sunli~ht
seemed to reveal with new vivid aess
10Y close the end was. Light as Ire
sea ran. the ice-laden bow of the DON
ma Isabel ~p'oughed deeply under.
every crest bursting in white foam
through the break in the port bull
warks, the list in the deck so steep we
made our way forward with difficulty
along the slippery surface. Our rate
of progress had become so slow as to
leave only the barest ripple in the wake.
C~lambering over into the fore-chains
| pointed out to the men how the sea
was encroaching on the bullying side.
They stared at the evidence gravely,
each ccmprehending clearly the dread
meaning. yet no one spoke for a min
ute.
81 reckon YOU was right, sir" a d
mitted Johnson, finally. The old hook
err is goin' down"
De Nova peered along the slippery
deck. cleaning in the sun. moodily.
but said nothing until he looked up
and caught my eyes.
Wat o do. monsieur"
II mean to hold on as long as 1t Ia
safe" | replied. because the cabin
gives shelter to the m We all
know what the open boat means. and
wen put that of until the last possible
moment. We are not making much
progress. it's true; but still. every
mile helms. and. n this weather will
Only hold, the wreck may Keep anoa'
for several days yet, but Wen gel
everything fixed for a 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 wea'hei
is likely TO change any minute. hire
OF you lower that jib, and get out IL
canvas belonging to the lorgb'af
Piece the lib up with any cid stu
you can find that will stand a ligh'
wind. De Nova. you take charge OF
that job. Dade, you'd better run hae.
TO the tiller. ami bold her steady as
the iib comes down Johnson and
viii see that the long boat is sound
stocked. and ready for launch 3"
We made a THOROUGH job Of II. CO.
hauling the boat from stem TO ste n
and ending by rigging up block a
tac';le for hosting her. when load >
aver the bulwarks. We lashed th'
Donna Isabals helm again. and dis
patched Dade into the cabin after SUP
plies. The greater portion of the
stores brou@ht from the Sea Queen
-,ora esnac'allv the cann"d oo""r ="
1 (ContinuedNex Weekly