The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1912-02-11
CHAPTER III.


CHAPTER III.
Ga THx sxssrx.
Awo days passed. and Sheldon
felt that he could not grow
any weaker and live. much
less make his four daily rounds
ef the hospital The deaths were aver
aging four day. and there were more
new cases than recoveries. The blacks
wee in funk. Each one. when taken
aiek, seemed to make every effort to
de. They believed they were going
70 die. and yet. believing this with
absolute conviction. they somehow
lacked the nerve to rush the frail
wrath Of q man with the white skin
and escape from the charnel house by
the whale boats. They chose the lin
gating death they were sure awaited
them rather than the immediate death
they were very sure would pouncs
upon them II they went up against
the master That be never slept they
knew. That he could not be conjured
TO death they were equally sure-they
had tried it. And even the sickness
that was sweeping them of could not
KIN him.
With the whipping In the compound
discipline had improved. They cringed
under the iron hand Of the white man.
They gave their scowls or malignant
locks with aYerted faces or when bis
back was turned. They saved their.
mutterings FOR the barracks at night.
where be could not hear. And there
were no more runaways and no more
night providers on the veranda4
Dawn " the third day after the
whipping brought the Jessiea white
sails In sight. His partner was on
board. vigorous and hearty from six
weeks recruiting In Malaita. He could
take charge now and all would be well
with Berandss
Sheldon lay IN the steamer chair and
watched the Jessie's whaIeboat pun In
Cor the beach He wondered why only
three sweeps were pulling. and be
wondered still more when. beached.
there was 90 much delay In getting out
ofsfhe boat Then he understood. The
three blacks who had been pulling
Etafted up tie beach with a stretcher
on their shoulders. A white man.
whom he recognized rs the Jessie's
captain. walked IN front and opened
the gate. then dropped behind to close
st. sheldon knew that It was Hughie
Drummond who lay In the stretcher.
and q mist came before his eyes. He
fen an overwhelming desire to die
The disappointment was too great. In
his own state Of terrible weakness be
felt that It was impossible to so on
with his task Of holding Berande
plantation tight gripped In his Ast.
Then the win Of him named up again.
and be directed the blacks 70 lag the
stretcher beside him on the door.
Hughis Drummond. whom he had last
seen in health. was an emaciated
skeleton.
"BIack water fever" the captain
said. Hes been Ike this for six days.
unconscious. And we've got dysentery
en- board. What's the matter with
your
Pm buryfng four . day" Sheldon
answered. as be bent over from the
steamer chair and inserted a Their
mometer under his partners tongue.
Captain oleson gwore blasphemously
and sent house boy to bring whiskey
and soda. Sheldon glanced at the ther.
mometer.
zone hundred and ssven." he said.
HPoor Hughie."
Captain Oleson offered him some
whiskey.
-Couldnt think OF APPROPRIATION.
you know" Sheldon said
he sent for boss boy and ordered
= grave to be dug: also. some OF the
packing cases to be knocked together
into a conn- Having given the orders.