Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-18

make a pretense at drnSing. which soon
deceived them. They took 10 the liquor
s like ducks To water. and voted me a royal
good fellow and prince Of pirates.
mixed the raw spirits with very hsadN
wines too being much astonished at their
capacity. by the way.
The men on watch kept reasonably
sober for time. but even they were not
too abstemious. | SAW to that Later on
the cook, who was not Vet too drunk.
fixed them up a regular banquet out or
the cabin stores. and there was no OBJ
lection to my taking q portion 10 my
lady I'm the stateroom below. where she
kept close and remained out OF the way
by my urgent entreaty.
My communications that long day with
my sweet charge were necessarily inter
mitted and short | did not dare Ia Ice
long away from the men on deck | still
wore my sword. and searched through
the captains cahin and found two heavy
pistols. which I carefully charged. con
Cealing them IN the deep pockets ~ my
pea jacket. passed among the men
freely, handing out the spirits, opening
fresh hotties and bandying rough jests.
hut took care never to he i'm any position
where could not command the compan-
ion hatch, which led to the cabin.
The day didn't pass without some alter
cations and quarrels One man did en-
deavor 10 get below. but | Was too quick
for him. He Was on" OF the most unina-
portant among the crew and ] fetched
a
he was too drunk To resent il successfully
even then-and which was greeted with
roar OF laughter by the rest.
Play fair Jack, yelled Pimball,
drunkenly-he WAS rather better humor-
ed in his cups than out. il seemed-'he
has given up his share OF the treasure
for the girl. Let him have her.
our drift was slowly but surely in the
direction of the island. Indeed. | think
We had made half a league more To-
leeward since had been hove TO. From
time to time | searched the shore with
glass, seeing that the land was protected
and completely Enclosed by "A reef on
that side. at least. which agreed with the
chart but the sky continued overcast and
the mist grew thicker so I couldn't make
ont much more than that. II was land,
and that was enough. 1t was big enough
To support life, and | thought that | de-
tected green patches here and there that
hetokened vegetation and. if 50. water
and life.
Nobody took any care 10 strike tho
bells hut when da rkness fell | declared.
noisily. that | would go below and turn
in All but the most seasoned and hardy
drinkers We're by this time dead drunk.
There WAS evidently some little remem
brance of my rank. for 10 one Yet con-
scious made amy objection. Pimbal lY-
ing supne on the deck. hiccoughed ont
that he and Glibby. who was in no better
case. would keep the watches. SO far as
the ship needed watching. ! ventured I"
without watch at all under the circum
stances. and he suffered out another
argument over the bottle which he and
Glihby lovingly shared. The wind had
moderated somewhat. although IL was
still blowing hard. We set no more sail.
however, and. indeed. unless we wished
to range past the island il was not neces-
sary. With drunken, effusiveness they as
sured me that they would take care of
tho ship and | went below, having pro
vided all of them with fresh supply or
drink just before.
/ sometimes wonder if | would not have
been justified in killing them all while
they were rendered thus helpless. But |
could not bring myself to such wholesale
murder. richly they deserved il and
little as l was inclined To mercy. also
thought of clapping them i'm irons and
slowing them below. But there were not
and Mistress Lucy and | could not work
the ship unaided. We could not even
feed and water our prisoners. Yet. II l
could have counted on three or four true
mems assistance. 1 would have risked II.
So far as | could Judge the whole crew
had become thoroughly corrupt. No. TO
abandon the ship was our only chance.
How Mistress Lucy had passed the
dragging, anxious hours of that awful
day you can better imagine than I can
describe. And my occasional visits had
scarcely treasured her greatly. Yet in
an emergency L have never known a
bear herself more couraReously, and !
never want to he so loyalty or efficiently
backed by any one as she backed me
But i have often observed that II Is the
waiting that is hardest. 1t is the stand
ing still and not knowing what is going
to turn up that takes IL out of a strong
man, and much more out OF nervous
woman.
She had left her noon meal practically
untouched and she was sitting there In
the cabin nervously clutching the pistol
frightened half to death. Poor girl.
didn't blame her. Whatever may have
been the cause of il, she was genuinely
glad to see me when [ came in and light
ed the cabin lanterns.
oh" she cried. II have been i'm agony
the whole day. Every sound has caused
me to seize this weapon. and when | have
not been watching the door 1 have been
on my knees praying for YOU and for my
self | do not think l can stand another
day like this
Please God, dear lady. you shall not.
| said smiling reassuringly at her.
TO be continued tomorrow