Lower coast gazette., 1910-12-31

the worst trouble of all-our stock of
water IN the after scuttle butt ran
out: there was plenty forward on the
man deck, but all next day the gorilla
seemed to sense our predicamCnt for
he lay crouched on top Of the deck
mouse ready to spring on whoever at
tempted to reach the casks.
by nightfaIl Captain Graves was
desperate with the crying and wailing
OF the boy, whose one cry was thirsty,
mummy. so thirsty
"! VAS at the wheel. the skinner
was below. The gorilla, when ( last
saw him, was curlei up in the fore.
Top apparently asleep. Captain Graves
came softly up the companion anu
Whispered that he was going 10 steal
out OF the cabin door on to the main
deck and make a dash for the sorely
needed water.
Let me so, captain | begged, but
he refused, saying that he could better
locate the water casks in the dark.
hess, while ! might TRIP @! stumble
ana bring the beast down on me So !
remained aft. listening intontiv There
was Il" moon and the night was pitch
oaIk, m" brig rolling heavily and m.k
lliS all the weird noises usual tu :,
Wooden vessel in II Scaway.
while | stood there | heard a Quick
rush. d smothared, choking cry. and
'Ne S0cIrn splash OF a body alongside.
| kne" what it meant-thc captain
had gene TO his death like the pest Of
his Wnlucky crew.
"Maddened with horror AMI race /
left the wheel and sprang lor the main
deck, Selling a Delaying pin as | ran.
hut the grizzly gray devil eluded me.
although | searched every nook and
corner, even climbing on the bulwarks
to look in the boats swinging In the
davits.
Happening to look aft | spied the
shaft Of yellow light streaming from
the open cabin door, and my heart
gave a jump of diSmay. In an instant
| realized the utter futility of my rage,
ana what the consequences of it might
De. MIS-. raves and her baby had
been left alone, exposed to the fury O;
that l%ncarnate fiend had he chosen to
pay them a visit. While | had been
raVlng aloud, running to and fro and
~thrashlng the empty deck it would
have been easy for the gorilla to steal
into the cabin and wreak his ferocity
Gu the dttenseless mother and child
within. 1t must have been a Fremont.
ton, for even as | looked a dark shane
blurred the oblong Of light and in two
jumps reached the rail, where it
tossed something oversize.
My yell startled tn: fend, for with
a snarl1ng yelp he sprang for the main
rigging and vanished overhead in the
gloom, where l could hear him chat.
terlng and crashing his great teeth.
Il made a dive for the cabin, bang.
ing the door behind me, hurried TO do
likewise for the companion, and then
called for Mrs. Graves. Too well
knew what the result would be. Only
my W voice echoed in that silent
cabin; mother and babe had zone to
join father and husband, and | was
alone on the brig! Then | must have
sWooned, for when I came to the
morning sun was cutting zig-zag pat
terms on the floor as the ship swung
aimlessly hither and yon.
In a moment the dread happenings
of the past night of horror flashed into
meRory, and in that same instant
resolved to quit the brig, if possible;
otherwise it would be my turn to feel
the gorllla's claws gripping my throat
and in a trice I'd be pitched over.
board to join my shipmates.
"Cautiously l peered out of the
cabin windows along the main deck:
the great hairy brute, as tall as a full.
grown man, was summing himself on
top OF the galley, and, l hoped, asleep.
My plan was to make a rush for the
stern, where the boat was still tow.
ing, slide down the painter, cast of
and trust to luck for being picked up.
Better a SLOW death by exposure and
starvation in an open boat than by
strangulation with the hot and fetid
breath of the ape in my nostrils.
We'll. I stuffed some ships biscuits
in my shirt, opened the companion
doors very quietly and made a break
for the taffrail. It was only half a
dozen strides, but quick as l moved
the gorilla was quicker, for as | strad.
died the rail | heard the swift patter
of his feet on the deck planks. I made
a dive for the painter, fortunately
caught it and landed in the boat.
Looking upward, I saw the ape
making to follow me, but hesitating at
trusting his bulk to the light. swaying
rope. TO head him off | whipped out
my knife and slashed at the painter,
severing it with a single stroke.
But before | drifted clear the fiend
leaped for the boat, struck its bow,
bounded off into the sea, and came up
suffering alongside ready to Chamber
over the gunwale. With a cry of a e
| seized an oar and let him have it
with the sharp edge of the blade
squarely on top of his fiat and ugly
skull. Still snarlirg and swapping. the
dirty carcass sank alongside, leaving
but d ring of bubbles. Then for the
second time l lost my senses.
when next | opened my eyes | was
alone on the limitless ocean. How long
drifted | don't know; the memory of
the tragedy | had been through,
coupled with thirst and hunger, must
have driven me mad. On the island |
had no recollection of events on the
brig, but when you called me by name
"A, ,,,nthin~ ~ INV, L-oi, $3.50, osl