The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1911-02-23
The DIAMOND SHIP
MAX PEMBERTON
Author of Doctor Xavier" THE Hundred Days" to
Copyright by Z. Appleton & Co.
MAX PEMBERTON

afterwards, for surely it could be Moth
: ing else than the final triumph of one
Il take it that the men are up against
snt Iogues, Larry. We could wish for
cess!" 49, SUI
You think so, sir2"
= trust a seaman before q landshark
n day, whatever his ship or nation
aiity. He is more likely to honor a
woman, Larry-there Will be some
measure of honesty In him: and if st
IS put to the vote, he will maui down
that flag the first time he is asked
why should he not? He has nothing
10 rear ashore. The rogues keep him
alloat. I'd wager a hundred guineas
tnat inconsistencies began this fight and
VIII carry it to a conclusion-that is,
II the seamen wip-"
And If they do not, sir?"
"fhe God help the ship, Larry
she Will not be afioat a week"
TITS a coward I was!" said Nc
shanus,, "and not ashamed of it. This
very minute l tremble like a woman,
though tbs often Of kindness a woman
trembies and not Of fears. Look yon-
der at the smoke lifting from off the
race 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? TITS
as though / myself had been called
this instant to remember that 1 shall
be as they, who knows when, who
knows how? A cruel torment Of a.
thought-God help me for ft!'
This fearful encounter ceased finally
about 4 o'clock of the afternoon watch.
ironically enough, 1 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" I said, they would change
the watch even if the sea dried up.
name. can we do? I'd go aboard if
it We're 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 over 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
a boat. | shouldn't wonder if they
came alongside. sir,
Alongside US, Larry? That would
be something new. Do you really mean
it?"
LOU itiuSI Judge luf 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 seamen.
Certainly. they We're putting the dead
overheard and as Larry had perceived.
they had lowered a boat. Possessed,
| supposed, of what they thought to
be a line idea (for searnen are grega-
rious beyond all others), they pres
entity lowered a second boat and upon
this a third. Some one firing a gun
to call our attention, they next
Ragged a message to us, so plainly hon
est that | caused it to be answered
without a moments loss of time.
we want help. Stand by to pick
up q boat!'
To this u reply futtered out, that
we would permit their BOAT to come
alongside and the more to
them, we steamed toward the great
ship, and met them when they We're
little more than the half of a mile
distant from 1t. There were seven men
in all, 1 made out, and a little lad at
the tiller, the boat itself being an or
binary lifeboat, painted white, but III
kept and shabby. AS to the national
ity of its crew, I could detect a huge
negro at the bow oar and another
man of color an1idships, while the rest
We're mostly dark skinned, n one I
took to be an Egyptian.
Let Bill Evans go up!" was their
cry; mi sure enough up came a fer
~ret-faced, red-whiskered, sfmple-iook-
ing fellow who answered to mis- very
English designation.
I'D be obliged to know IL you carry
a doctor on this ship. That's first.
We're in a clove-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" / said. I'VE must know
more o 1t h that. What ship
is yonder and who is in Of
her? Answer my questions properly
and 1t is possible that we may help
YOU. There a been a mutiny and
you have the upper hand. Why should
we take any part in ft?"
He looked up at me-a foxy look. I
thought-and stumbled through as
strange a narrative as I have ever
heard.
''old Salt Horse went off in the re-
lief" he began. and I 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 the lady
wanted, and who was to stand agin
it. Eight months nave me and nv
mates been floating about this ocean
like a flock Of ducks. Did I ship with
Salt Horse for that? AS true as Gods
in heaven. I come from London Road.
Plymouth, n Bill Evans is my name,
same as my father and mother be-
fore me. You come aboard and do
what you can for us, and we sail
the ship to Rio. No harm comes to
the young lady, but she stops aboard
until We're ashore. and that's my last
word. if l swing for It,"