The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-04-09

CHAPTER SxvmI.
In Which til. Oonn, Isabel Goes Down


clear. but with a mist slowly gather
ing in the south that seemed to threat.
en- change. observed Just before sun.
set that this fog had SO thickened and
spread as to obscure nearly a third OF
the sky, and yet there was no veerIng
Of the wind or noticeable Increase in
the roll Of The sea- The hulk was
sinking, yet so slowly that we were
only certain Of the fact through con-
slant measurements and the sight Of
water seeplng In through the numer-
Gus cracks revealed by the disap-
pearing ice. II was situation TO get
upon the nerves, yet do not remem.
Der that II occasioned any great
change in the routine Of our life on
board.
The negro Cole acted as though he
had lost his mind, entirely, and after
studying him awhile concluded to
let him do Us he pleased He ate
breakfast with the rest OF us, but with.
out speaking, and afterward, when we
left the table, picked up. the cleavcr
and made directly for the lazarette. I
called to him, but he merely rolled his
eyes up at me from the blackness be.
low and disappeared, the icy water
sTushfng underfoot We soon heard
him vigorously slashing away at the
lice, muttering constantly to himself.
went part way down the ladder. with
a candle In my hand. whence | could
see him toillng away at the end Of the
hole the men had excavated in the
Ice, though he paid no attention to my
call. The water was fully six inches
deep over the lazarette deck. splash.
ing back and forth as the vessel
rolled, and could see drops Of sea.
water squeezing in through the sides
OF her and dripping steadily down.
There was nothing to do but leave the
fellow alone, so after telling Dade 10
look down the ladder once in a while
and keep an eye on him Joined the
others on deck.
Gone clear nutty," commented Nc.
Knight, tapping his head. The very
sight O them yellow boys was too
much for him"
only hope II wasn't my blow" |
said sobery
"Blow-hell! Why. that crack never
hurt his skull, Mr. Stephens. The
fellow was plumb crazy as soon as the
box was open. He never thought theru
was so much money in the world
Why, you ought TO "a heard him tsl:
Of the Junk he was goIn' TO buy when
he got his share back 10 the States.
Oh, he'll come out of his dream oil
right II we only let him alone for
day or So"
So we left him down there alone.
pegging away in the dark. He came
up. however, at the call for dinner,
eating away heartily without utterlng
word and going back to his solitary
labor, paying not the slightest heed
to any Of us. When night came conf
PEELED him to remove his ley trousers
and boots and lie down In one OF the
hunks. When ] looked In a few min
utes later he was sound asleep
That the wreck was slowly settling
down under us was beyond doubt. and
laden with ice as she was the soddcn
hull would probably drop at last like a
stone. The thickening sky to the south
ward made me exceedingly anxious;
and just before dark we talked the
conditions over together, each man
having his say. The decision was to
remain on board, all alike believing
the. Donna Isabel would keep aaoat
several days yet, unless the weather
became serious. Everything was made
ready, however. for a hasty escape.
and deck.watch set.
Doris passed the greater part Of my
watch on deck with me, and as Kelly
was on the poop we were the nearest
to being alone together We had ever
been. 1t was an exceedingly dark
night, but still an awful sense Of lone.
illness brooding over the black waters,
the canvas forward Tapping mourn.
fully, the huge rudder continually
creaking to the slap Of the waves, and
faint gurgle OF water sounding from
below. The dreariness Of II affected
us both in spite of an effort at cheer
{. AuAuSaht btsiuSSs We udu uNtlt 10 ldih
about except our perilous situation.
Yet there was an acute pleasure In
thus being together, and so she lin
gered on beside me, her eyes wander
ing from my face out into the gloom.
much Of the time silent. yet content.
Finally, after urging her to go In ont
Of the chill, took a turn forward.
even clambering up the ice hummOck
to the fore peak, and testing the rise
Of water with a measuring rod. As
returned aft. where Kelly was slap
ping himself to keep warm. light
fahy snow began falling and soon
powdered the decks.
did not undress. but flung myself
on the couch in the main cabin after
replenlshng the fire, and lay there
some time, staring up at the smoky
deckbeams. listening 10 the siush Of
water in the lazarette, half-frightened
by the soddeuness of the hunks roll.
Ing. Yet my conviction that she would
keep afioat for hours yet finally lulled
mo to sleep,
De Nova woke me with a fierce grip
on the shoulder. and / started up, no.
fine The Urau aar-n - thn f.nnk IL,