The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1913-06-01


There was smothering dampness OF
escaping steam.
If they were abandoning the Medora
| was caught like rat in trap. The
next time I coasted to the foot Of the
stairs | caught the lower one and
climbed up. | fairly tumbled through
the door and gained the deck.
Captain and crew were in strug-
Cling group around solitary boat
swinging at the port davits. Far
astern the remaining three boats float
ed bottom upward. All around US Yves
the dark fury of the storm, and straight
ahead doomed the large bulk of palm
covered island Between us and a safe
harbor there ran a hungry, snarling.
white toothed reef with one narrow
opening.
took in the scene at a glance-land.
sea. sky and the deck of the steamer,
where two opposing forces met, on
one side the ugly mates and mutinous
black crew and ranged against them
the fiery little captain and the hulking
engineer. Sandy McAlpin.
IF the old tubs going down give
us the money" threatened Blake, -four
ishing an iron bar.
Have your choice-stay here and
sink with the money or take the boat
and cast off," screamed Captain Sayles.
The mutineers hesitated. The wheel
was dashed. and the gale was driving
the Medora straight toward the ugly
reef. Perhaps they We're thinking that
If the Medora broke ON the reef they
would still have chance at whatever
treasure they had in view OF it had
no inkling
A large wave came hurtling along,
and the second mate .sprang into the
boat Come on, lads" he yelled,
We'll come back and get the money
when the sea goes down."
With one accord his mates followed
him into the boat and lowered away.
The chains swung free again as the
boat rode on the crest Of q wave and
disappeared in the tumult Of water.
"Aha!' yelped Captain Sayles. slant
Ing cold blue eye in my direction.
why didn't you go along too? Don't
you know we're sinkingY
It'll take a chance with you," said
grufiy, and knew It was long
chance. because couldn't swim q
stroke.
Without further parley Captain
Sayles leaped up the ladder to the
wheelhouse and grasped the wheel.
The Medora was headed toward the
opening In the reef. 1t struck me then
that, no matter where the Medora was
wrecked, the mutineers might reach
her unless she sank to the bottom.
There her mysterious treasure would
be lost to all.
Sandy came running from below.
..All readyv' he sang out. "I'll stand
by with line!'
"RaftY roared the captain.
AYE; come, lubber," said Sandy to
me, and | went
Another five minutes and the Medora
shot through the opening in the reef
into water churned into froth by the
gale. Through smoky spume lifted by
her bow | caught glimpse Of land
edged with mangrove swamp. Just
then Sandy rushed me over the side
on to the lettering raft. As we broke
away from the steamer saw the cap
tain's weather beaten face at the rail
and a lump rose In my throat.
Cant he come with us?" protest.
ed angrily.
STOW that. growled Sandy. bending
to the single oar. The captain II be
KNOWN what he's ABBOTT"
watched the Medora as we drew
away from her. Little by little she
was settling In the water. The waves
washed her main deck. splashed the
cabin windows. and then. as If tired
Of playing with It's victim. the sea sent
q heavy swell into the harbor and
pushed the tired little steamer down
under the waves.
The captain leaped wide as the yes
sci swirled down. a wet line whistled
toward him from Sandy's hand. he
caught it deftly, and l helped Sandy
pull the plucky little fellow aboard.
held my pocket flask to his blue lips,
and he growled thanks.
When ! turned my head the Medora
had vanished and the raft to which we
chung was spinning about in the wbirl-
pool of her suction. All at once wind
and waves sent up heaving shoreward
among the mangroves Abandoning
the raft. we floundered through the
swamp among the tangled roots and
circled to the left. where we found a
crescent of snowy beach washed with
creaining combers. 1t was good to be
upon land once more.
We flung ourselves down on the sand,
and the captain pulled from water
proof box tobacco, matches and pipe.
Sandy and produced our own pipes,
and soon we were comforted in clouds
of smoke that whipped to and fro In
the wind.
do you know where we are, cap
tain?" asked presently.
'Palm island" be said shortly.
Sandy laughed "CaDtafn'S knawin'