The Delta independent., 1913-03-14

Or, rather, yell Then more yells
and the sound of running feet.
Mr. Ellery!" screamed Burgess, at
he hatchway. "Mr. Ellery, for the
Almighty's sake, come up here! Come
,ut of that this minute. Quick!"
The minister knew what was com.
.oot of the ladder, had known it 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.
sr'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
nto the clean. sweet air blowing
icross the deck. He drew breath to
he very bottom of his lungs.
Then from behind and below him
came the voice again.
Gimme a drink!' it walled Gimme
drink of water. Amt one of you
,ussed swabs got decency enough to
'etch me a drink? I'm dyin' for
/ rink, l tel! you. I'm dyin'!"
The minister stood still, his feet on
he ladder. The three men by the rail
we're working like mad, their faces
ivid under the sunburn and their
hands trembling. They pushed each
other about and swore.
| Thoph and Bill sprang over the rail
nto the boat. Burgess turned and
,eckoned to Ellery.
Come on!" he called. What are
Fou waitin' for?"
The minister remained where he
vas.
Are you sure" he faltered
Sure! Blast 1t all! l found the
og. 1t amt been kept for fortnit,
out there's enough. It's smallpox, l
ell you. Two men died of 1t three
weeks ago. The skipper died right
afterwards. The mate No wonder
hem that was left run away as soon
rs they sighted land. Come on! Do
Tou want to die. too?"
From the poison pit at the foot OF
he ladder the man in the bunk called
lnce more
"water!" he screeched. Water
Are you goin' to leave me. you d-n
cowards?"
For Heaven sakes!" cried Burgess,
| clutching the rail, what's that?'
Ellery answered him. Its one OF
them" he said. and his voice sounded
odd in his own ears. IT'S one OF the
crew."
The minister turned. "Hush!" he
called. in answer TO the voice. hush!
I'll bring you water in a 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 fool, man! Come on! Wen send
the doctor and somebody else-some
one that's had 1t. maybe. or amt
afraid. / am and I'm goin'. Don't be
fool"
Thoph. from the dory. shouted TO
know what was the matter Ellery
climbed the ladder to the deck and
walked over 10 the rail. As he ap-
preached, Burgess fell back a few feet.
"Thoph." said the minister. address
| ing the pair in the dory, there Is a
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. III stay here
| till they come"
Thoph and his companions set up a
storm of protest. 1t was foolish. it
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 off. The sound of the creaking
thole pins shot a 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
filed from the cask. and then, with 1t
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 Il, 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 Ellery 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. 1t was tightly closed and
rusted fast. He went up to the deck
found marlin spike. and, returning