The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-02-23
| HE DIAMOND SHIP
MAX PEMBERTON
o Doctor Xavier" 1.-The Hundred Days" ETC.
Copyright Appleton


ing else than the final triumph of one
faction.
II take 1t that the men are up against
the rogues, Larry. We could wish for
nothing better than news of their sue
cess.'
You think so, sir?'
IT trust a seaman before landshark
any day, whatever his ship or nation
ality. He is more likely to honor a
woman, Larry-there will be some
measure of honesty in him; and IL 1t
is put to the vote, he will haul down
that flag the first time he Is asked.
Why should he not? He has nothing
afioat. I'd wager a hundred guineas
that inconsistencies began this fight and
will carry 1t to conclusion--that Is,
IL the seamen wip---"
"And If they 90 not. sir?"
Then God help the ship, Larry
she will not be afioat a week"
"'Tis q coward 1 was!" said Nc
Shanus, land not ashamed Of it. This
very minute I tremble like woman,
though tits often of kindness a woman
trembles and not OF fears. Look yon-
face of the ship! What lies under 1t,
my friends? What are those feeling
and thinking and suffering now that
they are going to their Maker? 'Tfs
as though l 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 it!''
This fearful encounter ceased finally
about o'clock of the afternoon watch.
Ironically enough, heard them strike
eight bells just as though it had been
upon ship In good order at sea- and
as the sound came floating over the
water to us, reflected upon the amaz-
ing force Of habit which governs a
sailor even in the most terrible of sit
uations.
Larry" / said "they would change
the watch even If the sea dried up.
What's to be done now; what in Gods
name. can we do" I'd go aboard II
1T 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 1t
all along. sir. Whatevers 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?"
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 seamen.
| Certainly, they were putting the dead
overheard and as Larry had perceived,
they had lowered a boat. Possessed,
/ supposed, of what they thought to
| be a fine idea for seamen are grega-
rious beyond all others), they pres
emily lowered a second boat and upon
| this third. Some one firing a gun
to call our attention, they next
| tagged n message to us, so plainly hon
est that l caused 1t to be answere ed
| without a moments loss of time.
I'VE want help! Stand by to pick
up a boat"
| To this our reply fluttered out, that
| we would permit their boat to come
alongside and the more to encourage
, them, we steamed toward the great
ship, and met them when they We're
| little more than the half of a mile
| distant from it. There were seven men
in ALL 1 made out. and little lad at
| the tiller, the boat itself being an or
| binary lifeboat, painted white, but ILL
| kept and shabby AS to the national
| ity of it's crew, l could detect huge
| negro at the bow oar and another
man of color amidships, while the rest
were mostly dark skinned, and one
| took to be an Egyptian.
Let Bill Evans go up" was their
| cry; and sure enough up came a fer
ret-faced, administered. 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 clove-hitch, and no. mis-
take. Some's gone, and that's an end
Of them. The rest would be thank
| full for doctor, and there's no de-
nying it,"
Come" said 1--WE must know
more about it than that. What ship
! is wonder 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 any part in it?'
He looked up at me-a foxy look. ]
thought-and stumbled through al
strange a narrative as I have ever
heard.
"Old Salt Horse went off in the re-
lief" he began, and ! knew he meant
Imroth thereby; Captain Ross has
been first since. He was for lying In
this hair oil Of a sea: we was fol
going ashore. That's what the lady
wanted. and who was to stand agir
1t. Eight months have me and my
mates been floating about this ocean
like flock Of ducks. Did I ship with
Salt Horse for that? AS true as Gods
in heaven, I come from London Road
| Plymouth, and Bill Evans is my name
same as my father and mother be-
fore me. You come aboard and dc
what you can for us, and we sail
the ship to Rio. No harm comes Ia
the young lady, but she stops aboard
until we're ashore. and that's my last
word, IL I swing for it,"