Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1912-12-06

= '46 "a AZ "a ullp4eQ INTO a dread
tul heap. He stopped lower, looked,
and saw the mans face.
There was shout from the deck.
or, rather. yell. Then more yells
and the sound OF running feet.
Mr.. Ellery!" screamed Burgess, at
the hatchway Mr.. Ellery, for the
Almighty's sake, come up here! Come
out 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.
Ellery, are you there?"
Come up" 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 a breath to
the very bottom of his lungs.
Then from behind and below him
came the voice again.
Gimme drink" 1t walled. Gimme
a drink of water. Amt one Of you
eussed swabs got decency enough to
fetch me a drink? I'm dyin' for a
drink, tell you. I'm dyin!"
The minister stood still, his feet on
the ladder. The three men by the rail
We're 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 on" he called. What are
you waitin' for?"
was
Are you sure" he faltered.
"Sure Blast 1t all | found the
log. 1t amt been kept for a 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! Dc
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. Water!
Are you goin' to leave me. you d-n
towards ?"
For Heaven sakes!" cried Burgess,
clutching the rail, whats that?"
Ellery answered him. ITS one OF
them" he said, and his voice sounded
odd in his own ears. ITS one Of the
crew"
The minister turned. "Hush!" he
called, in answer to the voice, hush!
I'll bring you water in minute. Bur-
CESS" he added. you and the rest go
ashore. shall stay"
You'll stay? You'll stay? With
that? You're crazy as a loon. Don't
be a fool. man! Come on! Well send
the doctor and somebody else-some
one that's had it, maybe, or amt
afraid. | 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 ana
walked over to the rail. AS he APP
preached, Burgess fell back few feet.
"Thoph." said the minister, address
ing the pair in the dory, there Is a
sick man down in the forecastle. lie
has been alone there for hours, | sup
pose. certainly since his shipmates ran
away. If he is left longer without
helm 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
10 come with them. But he was firm.
The oars dipped, bent, and the dory
moved off. The sound OF the creaking
thole pins shot a chill through Ellerys
veins. The water butts stood amid
ships. not far from the open door or
the galley. Entering the latter he
found an empty saucepan. This he
filed 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 II, 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
NJ the water tapping the sides Of the
saucepan brought him to himself. He
seized Ellery by the arm and drank
and drank When al last he deststed.
the pan was half empty.
The minister laid him gently back In |
he bunk and stepped to the foot OF
the ladder for breath. This made him |
-bink of the necessity for air in the
Mace and he remembered the little |
window. 1t was tightly closed and |
-usted fast. He went up TO the deck, |
,ound a marlin spike, and, returning, |
broke the glass. A sharp, cold
5rausht swept through the forecastle,
stirring the garments hanging on the !
nails.
An hour later, two dories bumped |
gainst the side OF the San Jose Men,
-aIking in low tones. climbed over the |
rail Burgess was one OF them; |
ashamed OF his panic, he had returned
70 assist the others in bringing the
,r;oantine into a safer anchorage by |
he inlet.
Dr Parker, very grave but business
Ike. reached the deck among the first.
"Mr Ellery," he shouted. where |