Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1912-10-03

| the hatchway. "Mr. Ellery, for the
| Almighty's sake, come up here! CONS
suit of that this minute. Quick!"
The minister knew what was com
Ing, was sure of it as he stepped to the
foot Of the ladder. had known 1t the
instant he saw that face.
"Mr. Ellery!" shrieked Burgess. "Mr.
Elery, are you there?"
Come up!" called Burgess. Hurry!
It's the smallpox. The darned hook
er's rotten with it. For God sakes,
come quick!"
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 drink" it walled. Gimme
drink of water Amt one of you
cussed swabs got decency enough to
| fetch me drink? I'm dyin' for a
drink, tell you. Pm dyin'!"
The minister stood still, his feet on
the ladder. The three men by the rail
were working like mad, their faces
livid under the sunburn and their
hands trembling. They pushed each
| other about and swore.
| Thoph and Bill sprang over the rail
into the boat. Burgess turned and
beckoned to Ellery.
Come ont" he called. what ara
you waitin' for?"
The minister remained where he
was.
Are you sure" he faltered.
Sure! Blast it all! found the
log. 1t amt been kept for fortni't,
but there's enough. It's smallpox
tell you. Two men died of it three
weeks ago. The skipper died right
afterwards. The mate No wonder
them that was left run away as soon
as they sighted land. Come on! Do
you want to die, too?'
From the poison pit at the foot Of
the ladder the man in the bunk called
once more.
"Water!" he screeched. 'swateri
Are you goin' to leave me, you d-1
cowards?"
for Heaven sakss!" cried Burgess,
clutching the rail. what's that?"
| Ellery answered him. "It's one Of
Them" he said, and his voice sounded
odd in his own ears. TITS one Of the
crew."
The minister turned. "Hush!" he
called, in answer to the voice, "hushI
Ill bring you water In q minute. Bur
gess," he added, you and the rest 60
ashore. shall stay"
You'll stay? Youu ltaJf WIN
that? You're crazy az loon. Don's
be fool, man! Come on! Well send
the doctor and somebody else-some
one that's had it, maybe, or amt
/. afraid. I am and I'm goin'. Don't be
a fool"
Thoph, from the dory, shouted to
know what was the matter. Ellery
climbed the ladder to the deck and
walked over to the rail. AS he ap-
preached, Burgess fell back few feet.
"Thoph," said the minister, address
ing the pair in the dory, there is
sick man down in the forecastle. He
has been alone there for hours, sup
pose, certainly since his shipmates ran
away. II he is left longer without
help, he will surely die Some one
must stay with him. You and the rest
row ashore and get the doctor and
whoever else you can. I'll stay here
till they come"
Thoph and his companions set up .
storm Of protest. 1t was foolish. 1t
was crazy, the man would die anyhow,
and SO on. They begged the minister
to come with them But he was firm.
The oars dipped, bent, and the dory
moved of. The sound of the creaking
thole pins shot chill through Ellery's
veins. The water butts stood amid
ships, not far from the open door Of
the galley. Entering the latter he
found an empty saucepan. This he
filled from the cask, and then, with It
In his hand, turned toward the black
hatchway. Here was the greatest test
| OF his courage. To descend that lad
der, approach that bunk, and touch
the terrible creature in 1t, these were
the tasks he had set himself to do, but
could he?
The sick man was raving In delirium
when he reached him. but the sound
OF the water tapping the sides Of the
saucepan brought him to himself. He
seized Hllery By the arm and drank
and drank. When at last he desisted..
the pan was half empty.
The minister laid him gently back in
the bunk and stepped to the foot Of
the ladder for breath. This made him
think Of the necessity for air in the
place and he remembered the little
window. It was tightly closed and