Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-06-09

over Hozier and placed her strong
young arms round his body.
quick" she painted. Let me help
you! You will be killed If yen remain
here"
Her voice seemed to rouse him as
from troubled sleep.
II was HIT" he mutteted. what is
it! What is wrong?"
"Oh, come. come" she screamed, for
some unseen agency tore q transverse
cash in the planking not foot in
front OF them.
lie yielded with broken exposiula.
tons. She dragged him to the top Of
the stairs. Clnging to him. she half
walked, half fell. down the few steps
But she did not quite fall. Hozicr's
weight was almost more than she
could manage. but she chung to him
desperately. saved him from head
long plunge to the deck and literally
carried him into the forecastle. where
she found some Of the crew who had
scurr!ed there like rabbits to their bur
row when the first shell crashed into
the engine room.
Iris fine eyes darted lightning at,
them.
You call yourselves men," she cried
shrilly. yet you leave one of your
officers lying on deck to be shot at by
those fiends!'
I'VE didn't know he was there.
miss" said one.
The firing now appeared to increase
in volume and accuracy. Several bull
lets changed against the funnel or
broke huge splinters off the boats.
"Great heavens, listen to that,
grOwled a voice. AN we cooped up
here. blazed Mt by lot Of rotten da-
goes. with not gun to our name.'
Iris was still supporting Hozier,
whose head and shoulders were pill
lowed against her breast as she knclt
behind him.
"Can nothing be done?" she asked.
II believe Captain Coke has been kill
ed. Mr.. Hozicr is badly injured.
fear. Bring some water. II possible"
Eyes. yes; water. Only knock on
the head. How did 1t happen? And
what is that noise of flring?"
Hozier's scattered wits were return
ing, though neither he nor Iris remem
bered that the Andromeda was water
less. He looked up at her. then at the
men, and he smiled MS his eyes met
hers again.
"Funny thing" he said, with nat
ural tone that was reassurlng. IL
thought the windlass smashed Itself
into smithereens. But 1t couldn't
What was it that BANGED"
"A shell fred from the island" said
the girl.
Hozier Strengthened himself little
He was hearing marvels, though far
from understa nding them as yet.
"A she'll" he repeatedly vacantly.
Had she said "a comet" 1t could not
have sounded more incredible.
Eyes. 1t might have killed you. Sew
eral Of the men are dead. myself
saw three of them killed outright, and
two others are badly wounded"
Here you are, sir--drink this" said
a fireman, Offering pannikin Of beer
II was unpalatable stuff, but 1t tasted
like the nectar of the gods to one who
had sustained blow that would have
fellcd I'm OK. Hozier had almost emp
tied the tin when an exclamation from
an Irish stoker drew all eyes to the
after part of the ship.
"Holy war! VIII ye look Mt that"
shouted tho man. Sure the skipper
isn't dead at all. at all"
Iris had failed to grasp tho moan
ing of Coke's nntics In the chart room
but they were now fYlly explained
The bulldog breed Of this self confessed
rascal had taken the upper hand Of
him. Though no had not scruplsd Il
plot the destruction Of the ship ant
thus rob q marine insurance compan!
Of . considerable sum of money, though
et that very instant there wac actua