The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1910-07-01

grouped close beside the entrance,
while De Nova and Celeste had gone
forward to assist Dade in bringing his
supper from the galley, so that for the
moment we were comparatively alone.
As | bent over, wondering what | had
best say, she questioned quickly, with
a little sharp indrawing of the breath:
"And-and the people, Jack,-the-
crew? What became of them?"
Dead more than a century ago" /
answered solemnly. Il did not stop
this morning to read the log, and SO
know little of their story. But the
vessel itself tells of storm and Of long
struggle in the ice; probably most OF
those on board persisted from expos
ure and cold"
Her hands clasped mine, her cheeks
white from apprehension.
"Were-were there any-any bodies
-here?"
yes" I replied reluctantly, not dar-
ing to say otherwise.
"How-how many"
-Four men, a woman, and a child"
Ar instant she stared into my face;
then swept her eyes about the light
ed cabin, only to bury them within her
hands, her whole body trembling.
"A woman and child! Here!
here, for 1876 years! Oh, merciful
Cod" she lifted her eyes again, filled
with horror, her hands clenched.
"They-they were actually here, ap-
pearing natural? looking as they did
in life?"
Yes; they seemed to be sleeping,
for they had been solidly frozen in the
very attitudes in which they died. The
woman rested on the couch yonder.
She had beautiful dark hair and eyes.
and must have been about 80 years Of
age. The child was in a bunk, a little
f1axen haired girl of three or four"
"And-and you buried them?"
CAS- best we could. We wrapped
~ them In blankets, and consigned them
to the deep, with a prayer for their
souls" l bent closer. Doris, dear,
don't let this rest so heavily upon you
h | wish l might nave kept it all hidden.
- 1t was only the end of one of the in
i Vulnerable tragedies Of the sea. We
= must face our own needs now and
N that task will require all our courage"
| thought she did not hear me, the
q tears continuing to fall between her
70 fingers, half-suppresed sobs shaking
Il. her form. Yet as l rested my hand
r. upon her shoulder, she looked up at
10 me out of moistened eyes, her lips
al firmly set.
ed "Yes-yes; I know, Jack, but-but
T. T., n Il ~ %lr,;I1n o~l o-I hoe ooron
IS to me with such a shock. l can not
H. comprehend it-that they should have
" actually been here-here, all those
IS. y~ears-waiting! But l will not think
he of it any longer; IL will do some.
thing to make me forget"
ur We all messed together, sitting upon
ag the long benches drawn up about the
,e- table, Dade waiting upon us, with Dor
is and Celeste occupying places be
a tween De Nova and myself. At the
beginning we spoke little, the strange
III ness of our surroundings holding us
silent. but the minds of all being busy
&c with the same thought, we insensibly
- drifted into conversation regarding
~ our chances of rescue, and the histor,
of the old vessel in whose cabin w
10 loated. Once De Nova introduced thu
subject Of the treasure which Nigh
tic be stored away below deck, and thu
&c men exhibited their interest by nu
~ merous question; but l gave them lit
tie encouragement along this line, re
alizing that for the present our earl
est effort should be to transform tn
wreck into some degree OF safety
~" 10Y H~.@ o-I = o1non ~,,IIar. fhoC0 O1
:: tanned, the search for treasure Nigh
begin.
What a scene and group that was!-
NO the wintry night without, the drifting
or fog of snow, the helpless hulk risin'
and falling upon the t~reacherous heav
-, Of the sea, that odd, violet-colored ligh
49, cleaning over US. The faces are evel
- before me-the girlish looking Celeste
20 with her dark curls and white teeth
~ Lady Darlington, her gray eyes still
.: moist as she glanced about the In
terror, u~nforgetful of it's memories; d
Nova, jaunty as ever, with no though
beyond the present, recalling to m
mind with every movement the face Q
~ that dead Spaniard who for more tha,
a century had sat where he was si'
loe ting; Sanchez, pale and with tina
hunted look, a counterpart no doubt Q
III some seaman this ship had known |
~ other days; Mcknight, burly and red
necked; Kelly, his blue eyes filled wit,
the merriment of old Ireland; tohr
~ son, broad-shouldered, and sober-facee
}! eating steadily, with never a lift Q
his shaggy brows; and Dade, futterin
ut, about like a waiter ashore, with hi
Ice eternal smirking and suggestion of
ne tip.
tie CTO BE CONTINUED.)
,of