The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1913-04-24

~ o. (H~hF'7' ~
He forgot his English, and muttered
broken sentences in his mother
tongue. Then he snarled like a wild
BEAST at the two, and uttered fierc-
er menace, lurched toward them with
MS thin hands appraised like enormous
claws
The mate raised his rifle a few
inches and fired. The lean figure
cr2mpled and slid to the floor.
The others of the foremost hands
pulled themselves upright. For the
most part they were muttering. One
man began to speak He paused aft
/ er every few words to regain his
/ strength
"Cap'n, we're all goin to die, an
/ we know it. Cockney's gone-he
amt comm back. We've watched two
/ weeks for him. He can't come back
alive, Give us one good feed and let
us die on full stomachs-if w're goin',
/ we may as well have one good feed
fore we 60"
There was a burst of savagely as
senting voices following this speech,
and the other threats took up the cry
OF Give us the grubl Give US the
grub"
The captain and the mate kept their
rifles pointed toward the starved
mob. But they swayed menacingly
forward. She savage strain crept
through them all like fire and those
IN the rear stumbled heavily against
those OF the inner circle and the crowd
lurched toward the couch The captain
and the mate were covered by the
rolling bodies and the rifles were
swept from their hands.
The floor became a mass of arms
and legs and squiTming bodies They
moved slowly and painfully as if their
owners were drunken. They were
without purpose, however. and so
weak that little damage was done. 1t
was an unreasoning, crazed, mutter-
! ing pile of figures which had little ap-
! pearance Of being human.
! 1t was the barking Of dogs and
shouts and cries which disentangled
! this hunger-crazed lot of men. Hear
ing this, they were stilled Even the
muttering-mad ceased to mouth mar
ticulate sounds The captain and the
mate heard and they were the first
to their feet
It's Cockney and HALL" some
hoarse voice announced feebly.
Then the hubbub OF muttering be-
/ gan again. though in a wilder differ
/ ent strain. Barbaric laughs mingled
with frenzier cries. Every man crawl
| ed, pulled, pushed or stumbled to-
ward the passage which led to the
/ deck
The captain and the mate, men OF
stronger minds, had more control over
their emaciated bodies. They reached
the side and peered over. The sled
lay against the side of the vessel,
piled with the carcasses of the carl.
bou. A great figure, frozen, was lash
/ ed on the pole. Standing motionless at
the Gee pole was Cockney His sight
J less eyes stared ahead and his frozen
/ lips were making an effort to form
words He remained where the dogs
had stopped the sled. His mind had
gone long before, and he knew not
that he had reached the ship. The
muscles long worn out, could not
move another inch.
One dog lay dead in the traces.
His body had been dragged by the 9TH
/ ers over the last two miles of the
Journey. Another dog shifted as
! the halt was made Only one remain
ed with his head up. That was the
leader, who had followed the trail
without a guiding hand.
How the captain and the mate and
/ the others got Cockney and the meat
over the side of the boat they were
too frenzied to be able to remember
afterward.
Three days later Cockney came
slowly to life in the captains cabin
AS his eyes opened he muttered for
moment. Four words were repeated
several times. vaguely. while his face
lapsed into cruel strain.
Il must do it, l must do it,"
Whisky was forced between the
| darkened lips when the signs of re.
turning life became evident The cap
! tain and the mate had watched beside
| the bunk since they recovered their
strength.
! These three men spoke no word to
! enc another What was in the hearts
| of all each man knew. But the cap
| tain. strong as he was of heart and
used to perils and death, could not
check the tears when he uncovered
! Cockneys feet and found them black.
He turned and walked away The
mate, too, turned, filled with uncon-
/ trollable emotion. Cockney read it in
/ their faces and the numbness told him
| how far they were frozen.
But he smiled family and whis,
pered;
Well, I'm glad I'm Twin anyway"
The captain took the chloroform
from the medicine chest. The mate
administered it while the captain pre-
pared his crude instruments.
Though deep under the influence of
the drug. Cockney screamed when the
meat-saw (the only thing aEailable)
severed the bones of his instep.
When the bandages had been sue
cessfully placed and Cockney slept,
the others of the crew came in I'M
| covered, and looked silently and re-
! specially at the heroic little form.
-~~-~~-~-o~~~0~oo
! Unfortunately, it comes easily, often