Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1915-09-24
Continued from Yesterdays capital.l }

From the eastern cliffs, which re-
ceived the onslaught of the open sea.
Tommy and Celestia walked to those
lower western cliffs whose feet are
washed by the less strenuous waters
which flow between Gull Island and
the mainland, and here, sheltered
from the wind, they seated them
selves, ostensibly to admire the view,
but really to admire each other.
The view consisted of gray water.
a vast expanse of it, in commotion,
and of vast expanse of small gray
sky; and, many miles distant, small
schooner beating slowly up to the is
land.
They must be cooking a bonny
breakfast" said Tommy, Judging
from the smoke
Judging by the SMOKE" said Ce-
lestia, they've got more than one
stove"
by George you are right" said
Tommy. Then, a moment later, with
excitement: shes on fire. That's
why the davits are swung outboard.
They are waiting till the last moment
to lower a boat. Thank the Lord
they've got one! l suppose they want
to get into the lee of the island. It
must be pretty rough out there for a
skiff. They're not making much
headway, though. She looks very low
in the water. Probably leaks like
sieve, and the fire keeps them from
getting to the pumps"
Cant we do anything to help?"
Not unless the launch has come
back from Bartells. She went over
early for newspapers and supplies.
Let's go see."
So they raced off to the landing.
The launch had not yet returned. and
there was neither sight nor sound of
her. A catboat without even a mast
was drawn up on ways, and the only
other craft at the landing was a fat
bottomed skiff, so low in the water
that she could not have lived in the
rough water outside of the harbor.
I'VE can't do any good" said Tommy
with great deal of regret in his
voice. Let's hurry back and see the
end of it."
They stopped at the house for field
glasses, of which there were several
pairs in a drawer of the hall table, and
hurried back to the western cliffs.
In his explorations of the night be
fore Gunsdorf had noted the sacks of
lime raised from the floor of the hold
to keep them from any chance water.
And it dawned upon him it was his
own fault that they had got wet,
and generated enough heat to set the
ship on fire.
Captain Nye had kept his courage
up, and held grimly to the task of
trying to make head against the fire
and against the water rising in the
hold.
Through what remained of the
night, and through all the long, anx-
ious morning, he and his two men, aid
ed by Barclay, Semmes and Sturte'
want, had fought like heroes against
the fire and water.
It was discouraging to have to cart
into the burning after-hold so much OF
the water that they blistered their
hands pumping it out of it. At one
time it looked as if they were going
to get the fire under control In that
event they could have kept the vessel
afioat indefinitely.
Captain Nye had suggested bringing
Gunsdorf on deck and putting him
to work, and the effort had been made
The man was disarmed as he came
up. wet to the knees and choking with
smoke. But at the sight of Barclay
all his hate returned He would not
work; they couldn't make him.
"Why the hell should l." said he
when took the trouble to bore the
holes that are sinking her and to start
the fire that's burning herr"
All regarded the man with a hor
TOR that was akin to awe. Anger sue
ceeded this.