The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-04-22

The decks grew more and more
steep. The liner was settling by the
head and to starboard. She was even
now twisting, falling over; and in
motion brought down thousands of
blocks of ice from the berg The en-.
gines had stopped long since. She
still held her head against the ice
wall; but it would give her no sup.
port. She was slipping away.-away
to her grave below.
Brownson gazed back over the
decks. He watched the crowd imper-
sonally, and it seemed strange to him
that so much valuable fabric should
go to the bottom so quickly. The
paint was so clean and bright, The
brass was so shiny. The whole struc-
ture was so thoroughly clean, neat,
and in proper order. 1t was absurd.
There he was standing upon that
bridge where he had stood so often,
and here below him were hundreds
OF dying people-people like rats in a
trap.
Good Heaven-it is real?"
He was sure he was not awake. 1t
must be a dream. Then the terrible
knowledge came back upon him like a
stroke; a blow that stopped his heart.
1t was the death of his ship he was
watching-the death of his ship and
of many of his passengers. Suddenly
| BrOwnson saw the boat of the second
mate, and that officer standing looking
| up at him.
| The master thought he saw the Off.
GERS lip move. He wondered what
the man thought, what he would say
He had insulted the officer, made him
Gown before the men. He knew the
second mate would not spare him. He
knew the second mate would testify
that he had given warning of ice ten
minutes before they struck. He also
knew that the man at the wheel had
! heard him, as had the steward who
brought up the coffee, and one or TWO
others who We're near.
No, there must be no investigation
of his, Brcwnson's, blame in the mat
ter. The master dared not face that
! He looked vacantly at Smith. Th'
officer stood gazing straight at him.
The liner suddenly shifted, Leaned
, to starboard, heeled far over, and he
bows slipped from the berg, sinking
down clear to her decks, clear dow
| until the seas washed to the foot o
, her superstructure just below Brown
; son. Masses of ice fell from her int,
the sea.
The grinding, splashing noise awok'
the panic again among the remaining
: passengers and crew. They strov'
with maniac fury to get the RATS ant
| other stuff that might float over thu
p side. Two boats drew away full tt
} the gunwales with people, The al
below began to make that peculia
whistling sound that tells of pressure
pressure upon the vitals of the ship
She was going down.
; Rrownson still stood gazing at hi
second mate
+ Smith met the masters eye with
! steady look. Then he suddenly forgo
himself and raised his hand.
ooh, you numbering rat, you COW
ardly scoundrel, you DEVIL" he roare'
out.
Brownson saw the movement of tn
hand. saw that it was vindictive, fur
Gus. and full of menace. He could no
hear the words.
He smiled at the officer, raised hi
hand, and waved it in reply. 1t seemed
to make the mate crazy. He gesticu
lated wildly, swore like maniac-bu
Brownson did not hear him, He onl!
knew what he was doing.
He turned away, gave one more
look over the sinking ship.
shes going now-and so am L. h
! bmutteTed.
} Then we went slowly into his char
room, opened a drawer and took GU
a revolver that he always kept there
He stood at the open door and cooked
the weapon. He looked into its mu2
: zle, and saw the bullet that would en'
his life when he pulled the trigger.
, He almost shuddered 1t was 81
, unreal He could not quite do it. He
= gazed again at the second mate. III
knew the officer was watching hin
l knew Smith would not believe he ha
the nerve to end the thing then an
! there. 1t amused him slightly in
grim sort of way. Why, he must die
? That was certain. He could never fac
his own family and friends after wha
3 he had done. As to getting anothe
e ship-that was too absurd to think o
The form OF a woman showed in tn
i boat. She had risen from the bottom
]. where the blow OF the officer had fel
ed her in her frenzy Brownson sa'
I hor rocogpigad har &C his npicp IN