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

the interest that made navigation safe,
in the hope that Smith would leave
and let his relative get the berth.
He wondered if Smith knew lie
stood there with the revolver in his
hand watching for some sign from his
second officer. Smith gazed at him in
fury, apparently not noticing the girl
whom he had just before knocked into
the boats bottom to keep order She
stood up. Smith roughly pushed her
down again. Brownson was sure now
he felt that Smith knew all
But he put the revolver in his poe.
ket. He would not fire yet.
The ship was listing heavily and
the cries of the passengers were dying
out All who had been able to get
away had gone, somehow, and only
a few desperate men and women, who
could not swim and who were cool
Ienough to realize that swimming
would but prolong an agony that was
better over qickly, huddled aft at the
taffrail. They would take the last
second left them, the last instant of
life, and suffer a thousand deaths
every second to get it. 1t was absurd
Brownson pitied them.
Many of these women we're praying
and talking to their men, who held
them in a last embrace. One young
woman was clinging closely to
young man, and they were apparently
not suffering terror A look of peace
fulness was upon the faces of both.
They were lovers, and were satisfied
to die together; and the thought of it
made them satisfied. Brownson won
dered at this. They were young
enough to make a fight for life.
A whistling roar arose above all
other sounds. The siren had ceased,
and Brownson knew the air was rush
ing from below The ship would
drop in a moment. He grasped the
pistol again. He dreaded that last
plunge, that drop into the void be
low. The thought held him a little
4 The ocean was always so blue Out
= there, so clear and apparently bottom
,' less, a great void of water. He won
dered at the depth, what kind of g
dark bed would receive that giant fab
i mic the work of so many human
hands And then he wondered at his
; own end there. His own end? What
j nonsense. 1t was unreal Death was
always for others. It had never been
+ for him. He had seen men die II
D was not for him yet He would not
believe it. He would awaken soon
and the steward would bring him his
3 coffee.
Then he caught the eye of Smith
l again in that boat waiting for the end
out there. His heart gave an immense
D Jolt, began beating wildly. The shiI
T heeled more and more. The ice crash
ed and plunged from her forward
e Brownson was awakened to the rea
}. at last. He felt it in those extra
heartbeats knew he must hurry it
5 Then he wondered what the papers
would say; whether they would cal
him a coward, afraid to face the IN
I evitable. He hoped they would not
But, then, what difference would it al
= make, anyhow-to him? He was
dead His interest was over. What
difference would it make whether he
e was a coward of not? Men knew him
/ for what he was, but he was no long
t err. He was dead.
While he stood there with these
S thoughts in his mind, his nerve hall
1 lacking to end the thing, it seemed to
l. him it was lasting for an eternity. He
t was growing tired of it all. He turned
away again and entered the chart
room.
e His cat crawled from somewhere
and rubbed it's tail and side against
e his leg. Then the animal jumped to
the table, and he stroked it; actually
t stroked it while Smith watched him
t and swore at him for cold-blooded
. scoundrel.
The ship sank to her superstruc
: ture. Her stern raised high in the
air. 1t was now impossible to stand
on deck without holding on. Some
0 of the remaining passengers slid of
e with parting shrieks. They dropped
e into that icy sea
l. Brownson felt the end coming now
d and turned again to the doorway
d looking straight at his second mate
a Smith was trying to quell the move
;. ment among his crowd which was en-
e dangering his boat again.
It The captain clutched the door jaml
# and watched. Then the ship began L
f sink. He could not make up his minC
@ to jump clear There was Smith look
q, ing at him. He dared not be savec
/, when hundreds were being killed. No
W he could not make that jump ant