Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-03
CHAPTER xviii.

CHAPTER XVIII.
u Nvhlch the Donna Isabel Goes Down
The following night and day passed
quietly enough, the weather holding
clear, but with q mist slowly gather
Ding In the south that seemed to threat
on change. observed Just before sun
set that this fog had so thickened and
spread rs to obscure nearly third Of !
the eky.. and yet there was NO veering |
OF the wind or noticeable increase In |
the ron 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 seeping In through the numer-
Gus cracks revealed by the disap-
pearing ice. It was situation to get |
upon the nerves, yet do not remem-
Der that It 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 as he pleased. He ate
breakfast with the rest Of us, but with
out speaking, and afterward, when We
left the table, picked up the cleaver
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
slushing underfoot. We soon heard
him vigorously slashing away at the
ice, muttering constantly to himself.
went part way down the ladder, with
candle In my hand, whence I could
see him toiling away at the end Of tho
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
q her and dripping steadily down.
There was nothing to do but leave the
fellow alone, so after telling Dade to
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"
II only hope it wasn't my blow"
said soberly.
''Blow-hell! Why, that crack never
hurt his skull, Mr.. Stephens The
fellow was plumb crazy as soon az the
box was open. He never thought there
was so much money in the world.
Why, you ought to a. heard him tell
tof the junk he was goin' to buy when
he got his share back to the States
Oh, he'll come out of his dream all
right If we only let him alone for a
day or So
So we left him down there alone
tpegging away in the dark. He came
up, however, at the call for dinner,
eating away heartily without utterins
"a word and going back to his solitary
labor, paying not the slightest heed
TO any of us. When night came COM
PEELED him to remove his Icy trousers
and boots and lie down in one of the
hunks. When looked in 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 sodden
huh would probably drop ct last Hike .
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 afoat
several days yet, unless the weather
became serious. Everything was made
ready. however, for hasty escape.
and deck-watch set.
Doris passed the greater part Of my
watch on deck with me, and 40 Kelly
was on the poop we were the nearest
TO being alone together we had ever
been It was an exceedingly dark
night, but still an awful sense Of lone.
liness broodtng over the black waters,
the canvas forward tapping mourn
fully, the huge rudder continually
breaking to the slap Of the waves, and
. faint gurgle Of water sounding from
below. The dreariness Of 1t affected
US both, In spite Of an effort at cheer
fulneas: besides, We had little to talk
about except our perf1ous situation.
Yet there was an acute pleasure in
thus being together, and 80 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 out
Of the chill, took a turn forward.
even clambering up the ice hummock
to the fore peak, and testing the rise
OF water with measuring rod. AS l
returned aft, where Kelly was slap
ping himself to keep warm, q light
faky snow began falling and soon
powdered the decks. @s-ss-..,
did not undress, but flung myself
! on the couch in the main cabin after
replenishing the fire, and lay there
some time. staring up at the smoky
deck-beams, listening to the slush Of
water in the lazarette, half-frightened
by the soddenness Of the hu1k's roll
ing. Yet my conviction that she would
keep afioat Tor hours yet finally lulled
~ to sleep.
De Nova woke me with fierce grip
On the shoulder, and started up. no
ting the gray dawn on the front win
dows, and reading the truth in his
face before he uttered word.
Is she going?"