Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1913-04-24

pIoheH sentences IN MS mother
tongue. Then he snarled like a wild
beast at the two, and uttered a f1erc-
er menace, lurched toward them with
his thin hands appraised like enormous
claws.
The mate raised his rife a few
inches and fired. The lean figure
crumpled 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 mis-
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 burst of savagely as
senting voices following this speech
and the other threats took up the cry
! OF Give US the grub 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 mass of arms
and legs and squirming bodies They
| moved slowly and painfully as if their
owners were drunken. They were
| without purpose, however, and Sc
/ 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
Its 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
Cd hnd hi
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.
! 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
] 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 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
L must do it. | 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
one 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
Cockney's feet and found them black.
He turned and walked away. The
mate, too, turned, filed with uucon,
trollable emotion. Coekney read it IN
their faces and the numbness told him
how far they were frozen
But he smiled family and whis-
pered;
We'll. I'm glad In 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 availablel
severed the bones Of his instep
When the bandages had been sue
cessfully placed and Cockney slept,
the others of the crew came in IN
covered. and looked silently and re-
specially at the heroic little form.
Unfortunately. it comes easily, often
unknowingly and attains its growth
before we are fully aware Of the