Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1911-11-08

Dawn Of the third day after thu
whipping brought the Jessie's white
sails in sight. His partner was on
board. vigorous and hearty from six
weeks recruiting in Malaita. He could
take charge now and all would be we'll
with Berande.
Sheldon lay in the steamer chair and
watched the Jessie's whaleboat pull in
for the beach. He wondered why only
three sweeps were pulling. and he
! wondered still more when. beached.
there was so much delay in getting out
of the boat. Then he understood. The
three blacks who had been pulling
started up the beach with a stretchcr
on their shoulders. 4 white man.
whom he recognized as the Jessies
captain. walked in front and opened
the gate, then dropped behind to close
it. Sheldon knew that it was uughie
Drummond who lay in the stretchcr.
and mist came before his eyes. He
felt an overwhelming desire to die.
The disappointment was too great. In
his own state of terrible weakness he
felt that it was impossible to go on
with his task Of holding Berande
plantation tight gripped in his fist.
Then the will Of him famed up again.
and he directed the blacks to lay the
stretcher beside him on the floor.
Hughie Drummond, whom he had last
seen in health, was an emaciated
skeleton.
"Black. water fever" the captain
said. He's been like this for six days.
unconscious. And we've got dysentery
on board. What's the matter with
you?"
I'm burying four day. Sheldon
answered, as he bent over from the
steamer chair and inserted ther-
mometer under his partners tongue.
Captain Oleson swore blasphemously
and sent a house boy to bring whiskey
and soda. Sheldon glanced at the thec
mometer.
Zone hundred and seven" he said.
"Poor Hughie.'
Captain Oleson offered him some
whiskey.
Couldn't think Of it-perforation.
you know" Sheldon said.
He sent for boss boy and ordered
a grave to be dug: also, some of the
packing cases to be knocked together
into coffin. Having given the orders.
Sheldon lay back in his chair with
closed eyes.
Its been fair hell, SIR" Captain
Oleson began. then broke of to help
himself to more whisky. Contrary
winds and Gains. We've been driftin'
all about the shop for ten days.
There's ten thousand sharks following
US for the tucker we've ben THROWN
over to them. They was snappin' at
the oars when we started to come
ashore. We got it from the water
water from Owga creek. Filled my
casks with it. How was we to know?
I've filed there before an it was all
right. We had sixty recruits-full up.
and my crew Of fifteen. We've been
buryin' them day an night. The beg
gars won't live, dash them! They die
out Of spite. Only three Of my crew
left on its legs. Five more down.
Seven dead. Oh. h.! What's the
good Of talkin'?''
"How many recruits leftT' Sheldon
asked.
"Lost half. Thirty left. Twenty
down. and ten tottering around"
Sheldon sighed.
''That means another addition to the
hospital. We've got to get them ashore
somehow. viaburi! Hey, you, Viaburi,
ring big fella bell strong fella too
much"
The hands. called in from the fields
at that unwonted hour, were split
into attachments. Some were sent
into the woods to cut timber for house
beams. others to cutting cane grass
for matching and forty Of them lift
ed whale boat above their heads and
carried it down to the sea. Sheldon
had gritted his teeth. pulled his COL
lapsing soul together and taken Be-
rande plantation into his fist once
more.
Have you seen the barometer" Cap
tain Oleson asked, pausing at the bot
tom of the steps on his way to oversee
the Decentralization of the sick.
NO." Sheldon answered. rs it
DOWN."
ITS going down."
'"Then you'd better sleep aboard to-
night" was Sheldon's judgment.
''Never mind the funeral. I'll see to
poor Hughie. If you can see your way
to It. come ashore tomorrow and lend
me a hand. If you can't, send the
mate.''
fright o. I'll come myself. Mr..
Johnson's dead. sir. l forgot to tell
you-three days ago."
Sheldon turned to his partner. calling
for boys to carry him into the house.
But Hughie Drummond had reached
the end. His breathing was impercep-
tible. BY mere touch Sheldon could
ascertain that the dying mans tenn.
perature was going down. 1t must have
been going down when the ther-