Las Vegas optic., 1912-10-23


Medicine chest" said Burgess, ex-
mining it. And rum bottles aplenty.
somebody's been sick. shouldn't won
der"
The minister opened the door Of one
Of the little staterooms. The light
which shone through the dirty and
tightly closed -bull's-eye" window
showed a tumbled bunk. the blankets
soiled and streaked. The smell was
sitting
Say. feIlers, whispered Thoph, 7
don't ike this much myself I'm for
gettin' on deck where the airs better.
somethins happened aboard the craft,
somethin' serious"
Charlie and Bill nodded an en-
5hatic Affirmative.
Hadn't we better look about lit
le more2" asked Ellery. There's an
sther stateroum there"
He opened the door Of it as he
spoke. Il was. If possible. in a worse
condition than the first. And the odor
Gas even more overp0wering.
Shippers room. observed Burgess,
peeping in. And that bunk amt been
slept in for weeks. See the mildew on
hem clothes. Phewl I'm fair sick
to nv stomach. Come out of this"
On deck. in the sunlight, they held
another consultation.
-Queerest business ever / see" OBJ
served Charlie. never"
Il see somethin like it once" inter
rupted Bill Down in the Gulf twas.
was on the old Fishhawk. Eben
Salters' dad from over to Bayport
skipped her. We picked up a West
Injy schooner. derelict abandoned
same as this one, but not anchored.
Of course. Yeller jack was the trou-
bic aboard her and Where you
bound. Thoph7@
Coin to take a squint at the fo'cas-
tler replied Theophilus, moving for.
ward The minister followed him.
The fo'castle hatchway was black
and grim. Ellery knelt and peered
down. Here there was practically no
light at all and the air was fouler
than that in the cabin.
See anything. Mr. Ellery2" asked
Thoph, looking over his shoulder.
NO, I don't see anything. But
thought
He seemed to be listening.
what did you think?"
Nothing. Il
Hold onl You amt goin' down
there, be you? I wouldn't. No tellin'
what you might find Well. all right
I amt curious. III stay up here and
you can report"
Ellery descended the almost perpen-
dicular ladder gingerly, holding on
with both hands. At the foot he
stopped and tried to accustom his eyes
to the darkness.
A room perhaps ten feet long, so
much he could make out The floor
strewn, like that Of the cabin. with
heaps Of clothing and odds and ends.
More shapes Of clothes hanging up
and swaying with the roll Of the brig.
A little window high up at the end.
black with dirt. And cavities. hunks
in rows. along the walls. A horrible
hole.
He took a step toward the center Of
the room, bending his head to avoid
hitting the fo'castle lantern. Then in
one Of the hunks something stirred,
something alive. He started violently,
controlled himself with an effort, and
stumbled toward the sound
what is it," he whispered. Who
Is it? Is anyone there?s
A groan answered him. Then a
voice, weak and quavering, said:
Gimme a drink Gimme a drink
Can't none Of you Godforsaken devils
give me a drink
He sttoped over the bunk. A man
was lying in ii, crumpled into a dread
ful heap He stopped lower, looked,
and saw the mans face.
There was a shout from the deck,
or, rather, a yell Then more yells
ard the sound OF running feet.
Mr.. Ellery!" screamed Burgess, at
the hatehway. Mr.. EHery, for the
Almighty's sake, come up herel Come
cut Of that this minute. Quiekl"
The minister knew what was COM
ing, was sure Of it as he stepped to the
loot Of the ladder, had known it the
instant he saw that face.
Mr.. Ellery!" s5rieked Burgess. Mr..
EIlery, are you there?"
Come upl" called Burgess. Hurry
It's the smallpox. The darned hook
er's rotten with it. For God sakes,
come quiek!"
He ran to the rail. yelling orders to
Bill and Thoph, who were frantically
busy with the dory. Ellery began to
climb the ladder. His head emerged
into the clean, sweet air blowing
across the deck. He drew breath to
the very bottom OF his lungs.
Then from behind and below him
came the voice again.
Gimme a drink" it walled. Gimme
drink of water. Amt one of you
cussed swabs got deeency enough to
fetch me a drink? I'm dyin' for a
drink. tell you. I'm dyin'l"
The minister stood still, his feet on
the ladder. The three men by the rail
were working like mad, their faces
livid under rha sunhurn and their.