Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-08-06

cHAPrER XVIII,
M LorrERY oF DEArH

CHAPTER XVIII,
THE LOTTERY OF DEATH
TAME Porter had been the nrst Of thos
81 IN the lifeboat to awaken the mornini
after the wreck Of the Lady Alice. Th
other members Of the party were asleel
upon the thwarte or huddled In crampc'
positions in the bottom Of the boat.
When the girl had realized that thel
had become separated from the other
boats she was filled with alarm. Th'
eenbe OF utter loneliness and helplessness
which the vast expense Of deserted ocean
aroused I'm her was so depressing that
from the first, contemplation Of the fu-
ture held hot the slightest ray o. promise
for her. She was confident that they
were lost-lost beyond possible succor.
Presently Clayton awoke. 1t was Sow
efal minutes before he could gather his
senses sufilcently to realize where he was.
or recall the disaster Of he previous
night Finally his bewildered eyes fell
upon the girl
Janet he cried. THANK God that we
are togetherl"
Look" said the girl duly. indicating
the horizon with an apathetio gesture
1--WE are all alone
Clayton scanned the water In every
direction.
where can they be7" he cried. "They
cannot have gone down, for there has
been no sea, and they were afloat after
the yacht sank-T saw them all"
He awoke the other members OF the
party and explained their plight.
"Its Just as well that the boats are
scattered, SIR" said one Of the sailors,
"They are all provisloned, 90 that they
do not need each other on that score, and
should storm blow UP they could be OF
no service to one another even " they
bttf uraftpTPd about the
ocean there is a much better chance that
one at least will be picked UP, and then
a search will be at once started for the
others Were we all together there would
be but one chance OF rescue, where now
there may be four"
They saw the wisdom OF his philosophy,
and were cheered by II, but their Joy was
short-lived, for when It was decided that
they should row steadily toward the east
and the continent. II was discovered that
the sailors who had been at the only two
oars with which the boat had been pro-
vided had fallen asleep at their work, and
allowed both to slip into the sea, nor were
they in sight anywhere upon the water
During the angry words and recrimina-
tlons which followed the soldiers nearly
camo to blows. but Clayton succeeded In
quieting them though moment later
Monsieur Thuran almost precipltated an
other row by making q nasty remark |
and especially English sailors.
"Come, come, MASTER" spoke UP one OF
the men, Tompkins, who had taken no |
part in the alteration "shootin' hon hour |
bloomln' mugs won't get uF nothin. Has |
Spider 'ere said afore, well hall bloody |
we'll be picked hup, hanyway, SEE e, 50
wot's the use Of squnbblln'? Let's heat.
seq l."
"Thnt's not bad idea," said Monsieur
Thuran, and then, turning to the third
sailor, Wilson, he said Pass one OF
those tins aft, my good man."
Fetch II yerself." retorted Wilson sui
lenly. ~ amt a-takin no orders from
no-furriner-you amt captain o. this
ship yet"
Tho result was that Clayton himself
had to get the tin. and then another
angry alteration ensued when one of the
sailors accused Clayton and Monsieur
Thuran OF conspiring to control the pro-
visions so that they could have the lions
share
Some one should take command of this
boat" spoke up Jane Porter. thoroughly
disgusted with the dlsgraceful wranglng
that had marked the very opening OF a
forced companionship that might last for
many days 1T is terrible enough to be
alone in n frail boat on the Atlantic,
without having the added misery and
danger of constant pickering and brawl-
ing among the members OF cur party
abide by his decisions in all matters
There Is greater need for strict discipline
here than there is upon a well-ordered
ship"
She had hoped before she voiced her
sentiments that II would not be necessary
for her to enter into the transaction at
ALL for she believed that Clayton was
amply capable to cope with every emer-
gency, but she had to admit that SO far
az least he had shown no greater promise
OF successfully handling the situation !
than any OF the others, though he had at Il
least refrained from adding In any way +
TO the unpleasantness. even going so far h
as TO give up the tin to the sailors when 8
they objected to It's being opened by him
The girls words temporarily quieted t
The men, and finally 1t was decided that
the two kegs OF water and the four tins | /
Of food should be divided into two parts. t
one-half going forward to the three safl- {
ors to do with as they saw best and the s
balance aft to the three passengers. {
Thus was the little company divided into g
wo camps. and when the provisions b
had been apportloned each inmedInteIv 9
set to work TO open and distribute food q
and water. The sailors were the first to
get one OF the tins OF food open and Y
heir curses OF rage and disappointment =
'aused Clayton 10 ask what the trouble z
night be-
Trouble" shreiked Spider. "TroubIei =
rs worse than trouble-lt's DEATH This - -
= tin Is full of coal olll' q
Hastily now Clayton and Monsieur !.
Thuran tore open one OF theirs, only To =
earn the hideous truth that 1t also CON a
hlned not food, but coal oil. One after
mother the four tins on board were
pened And as the contents of each he o.
anne known howls of anger announced u
ne grim truth-there was not an ounce d.
I food upon the boat c
Well thank Gawd It wasn't the 81
'ater'" cried Tompkins. Hits easier no h
ct halong without food than hit his with "a
ut water We can heat hour shoes II IN
'orse comes to worst. but we couldn't c
rink EN-"
As he spoke Wilson had been boring a -,