The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1911-04-02


ing for the luxury with sea tai@D. The
engineer sat in an armchair watching
the machinery and with one ear tfit1d
toward the group behind him. All
were in shirt sleeves. 1t was about
o'clock of the evening.
The engine bell changed, and at the
same instant they felt the vessel
swerve and begin to heel at the sud
den throwing over of the helm. Ihe
four were upon their feet for just so
long as was required for the engineer
70 make one movement of obedience
to the signal Then came a shock,
with the sound of something smash
ed in every part of the boat. The
four men struggled in heap upon the
floor in uttcr darkness.
It was Holdcrsen who guided Paul
and DR.. Hammond to the outer air
and the top of the deck house. The
captain. tie engineer and two other
men were already lowering boat.
The Deering carried two, and Holder
sen began at once to clear away the
second.
"That's right" called the captain;
"get EN- both out One of EN- may
float. And look lively; we're all gone
forard"
care VIE on a rock?" asked Ham
mOnd
Rock? Nor answered the captain
with n aroan. Il wish we were. 1t
was SOME hulk"
The doctor. Paul and HolderSen low
cred their boat without mishap and
were aflbat first. but only by few
seconds. The Norwegian seized an
oar and thrust another into Pauls
hands
"Pull dway" he cried. "Shc's going
down.
Darkness which seemed TO rise from
the sea engulfed the Deering as the
boat moved away, but Paul saw a
burst of white foam in the midst of it,
marking the end. They must have
pulled farther than they supposed be
fore it occurred to any one to hail
the other boat There was no answer.
Half clad as they were, the cold
gripped them with a terrifying in
tensity The doctor, who was sitting
in the stern, bent forward and took
hold of Holdersen's oar for the sake
of the exercise.
sis there any land near here" asked
Paul.
"Not that well ever see,'' answered
the Norwegian. And Paul looked over
the mans shoulder toward Hammond.
'How long can we stand this, doc
tor said he-"till morning"
Probably not" answered Ham
mond, and might have been surprised
at the resemblance to his professional
tone
It'll midnight?'
81 should think likely"
"How can l prove it?" said Paul.
GLOW can I prove that 1 survived the
hour? / knew this was coming. !
have made my will. If / live till Il
O'Clock and the fact can be establish
ed my share of the estate will go
where have disposed it,"
"Some one you care for very muchf'
said Hammond.
Il may perhaps say SO now" an
swered the young man. And in the
awful strain of that moment his
mental part seemed to have separate
voice, and, moreover. Hammond's
thoughts were at that moment on his
sister
ooh, my boy he cried-"not Cellar
Yes
There was silence
at may have been for the best,
said Hammond, speaking half to him
self, with frozen lips "She may suf-
fer less But where were your eyes
Where were your eyes?"
Paul ceased rowing. For an instant
he forgot his situation and the cold
hand of death at his throat.s
You can't mean He paused
Hammond, who had bowed his head
raised it to peer into his friends face
In the darkness. Then suddenly be
| sprang up with cry.
! whats that?' He was pointing
over their shoulders They turned
All were now upon their feet.
A duh gray cloud seemed to be float
ing across the sea In front of them