Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-03-02

u would say, or again, .'They will not
harm her. for She alone stands between
them and the gallows." God knows
how much Of a p%retense it was; and
yet. 1 think, the very effect of will
brought salvation to us. A mad attack
upon them would have undone all. I
realize today the good providence
which saved me from that.
a terrible cloud ~interposcd between
our burning eyes and those scenes of
horror n OF bloodshed it hid from us.
Rifle shots were heard necessarily -
now in volleys, again by twos and
tllrees. then once more in a general
exchange which seemed to speak of the
crisis OF battle. Nor might we argue
a good omen of the stiffness which fell
afterwards, for surely it could be MOTH
ing else than the final triumph OF one
faction.
II take it hat the men are up against
the rogues, Larry. We could wish for
nothing better than news OF their sue
cess."
You think so, sir?"
II trust a seaman before a landshark
any day, whatever his ship or nation
ality. He is more likely to honor a
woman, I-arry-there will be some
measure of honesty in him: and II it
is put to the vote, he will haul down
Why should he not2 He mas nothing
to fear ashore. The rogues keep him
afioat. Ed wager a hundred guineas
that inconsistencies began this fight and
will carry it to a conclusion-that is,
II the eamen win
And if they do not, sir??"
Then God help the ship. Larry!-
she will not be afoat a week.
""Tis a coward 1 was" said Nc
Shanus, and not ashamed of 1t. This
very minute. I tremble like a woman,
though tits often OF kindness a woman
trembles and not of fears. Look yon-
der at the smoke lifting from off the
face of the ship! What lies under it,
my friends? What are those feeling
and thinking and suffering now that
they are going to their Maker? 'Tis
as though 1 myself had been called
this instant to remember that I shall
be as they. who knows when, who
knows how? A cruel torment Of a
thought-God help me for ito
This fearful encounter ceased finally
about 4 o'clock of the afternoon watch.
Ironically enough, I heard them strike
eight bells just as though it had been
upon a ship in good order at sea; and
as the sound came floating over the
water to us, 1 reflected upon the amaz-
ing force Of habit which governs a
sailor even in the most terrible of sit
uations.
Larry" 1 said. they would change
the watch even If the sea dried up.
What's to be don now; what in Gods
name, can we do? I'd go aboard if
1T were not criminal to take the risk.
That's not to be thought ola man
would be safer in a lions den at pres
ent. And yet think of what it must
be v there
I've been trying not to think of it
all along, sir. Whatever's happened,
it's over now. They're putting the dead
overheard and what's more. launching
Il boat. I shouldn't wonder if they
came alongside. sir"
Alongside us, Larry? That would
be something new. Do you really mean
it?"
You must Judge for yourself. SIR
We put up our glasses. Timothy de-
claring. as usual, that there was a
plaster across the end of his (for he
never learned to use the telescope),
and followed with new interest the
movements of the victorious
Certainly, they were putting the dead
overheard and as Larry had perceived,
they had lowered a boat Possessed,
l supposed, of what they thought to
be a fine idea (for sealnen are grega-
rious beyond all others), they pres
emily lowered a secon boat and upon
this a third. Some one firing a u
to call u attention, they next
tagged a message to us, so plainly ION
est that I caused it to be answered
without a moments loss of time.
I'VE want help! Stand by to pick
up a boat"
To this u reply fluttered out. that
alongside and the more to encourage
them. we steamed toward the great
ship. and met them when they were
little more than the half OF a mile
distant from it. There were seven men
in all. I made out. and a little lad at
the tiller. the boa itself being an or
binary lifeboat, painted white, but ILL
kept and shabby. AS to the national
tty OF its crew, I could detect a huge
negro at the bow oar and another
man Of color amidships, while the rest
were mostly lark skinned, and one I
took to be an Egyptian.
Let Bill Evans go up!" was their
ret-faced, red-whiskered, simple-look-
ing fellow who answered to this very
English designation.
I'D be obliged to know IL you carry
a doctor on this ship. That's first.
We're in a 'c~love-hitch, and no mis-
take: Some's gone. and that's an end
Of them. The rest would be thank
full for a doctor, and there's no de-
nying It,"
Come" I said, I'VE must know
more about 1t than that. What ship
Is yonder and who is In command Of
her? Answer my questions properly
and 1t is possible that we may help
you. There has been a mutiny and
you have the upper hand. Why should
we take n part in it?'
He looked up at me-a foxy look. 1
thought-and stumbled through as
strange a narrative as / nave ever
heard.
"Old Salt Horse went OF in the re-
lief" he began. and 1 knew he meant
Imroth thereby: Captain Ross has
been first since. He was for lying in
this hair oil OF a sea; we was for
going ashore That's what thu Lodi,