Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-12-17

then; later-now-well, | think that I'd
do in cold blood what did because of a
girls sigh that morning on the Christina.
hope so, anyway. But why risked my
life then, for horse that was nothing to
me, because of girl barely knew and
would probably never know any better
think that my unhappiness had much
to do with it. To do something that
would gain me favor in some ones eyes
| really can't explain it. l only know that
the Kernans have always acted upon I'M
pulse and rarely counted the cost before
hand. And, needless to state, did none
of this self-analyzing as | rushed toward
the makeshift stall where Vivandiere,
teeth barred her throat emitting that al
most human shrek of terror, strained at
her halter.
She knew me. The scream became
whimpering whinny; her velvet eyes
rolled; and her teeth were no longer
barred. 1t was as if, reaching across the
gulf that separates man from his animal
servants, she spoke to me and called me
friend and told me that she knew had
come to play friends part
Well had But glance around made
me almost despair of playing the part
through to the finish. For Vivandiere
could never climb the stairs l had de-
scended stroked her and spoke to her
soothingly. "Don't you worry, old girl,
| said to her. "If you don't go clear,
won't"
And | believe | meant it; and that she
understood me. For when | left her she
did not scream, although still tied in her
stall. For, of course, l did not dare re-
lease her yet. Panic might come to her at
being penned between-decks. She might
60 mad, and dash herself to pieces on the
Christmas iron plates. Before | united
her l must find way of escape-if the
raging sea might be termed that. Still,
that sea was better than the Christina.
A jet of water spurted through the
Christmas side and soaked me. l saw
that the steel sliding doors that closed the
port gangway were slightly ajar, shaken
open by the tremendous waves that
pounded her. An AK was lying on the
floor, and also bar of steel-dropped,
perhaps, by some one fleeing from the
engine-room. 1t would be easy to pry
those doors wide apart; and in my excite
ment l had started to do so, when real
lied that this was the port side, the side
that faced the rush of the storm. 1
ceased my just begun labors. To spring
into the sea from that side meant to be
lifted by the first wave and dashed to
death against the Christmas iron sides.
l crossed the slanting deck.
nIRECTLY opposite was another gang
way. | tried to figure how far below
the saloon deck the waves had seemed
to be. | placed my ear to the ships side.
But could not learn whether or not the
starboard side of the Christmas slanting
between-decks was below sea-evel. The
roar of the wind, the grooming of the
stricken ship, the pounding of the waves,
We're too much for my unsailorlike ear to
tell. But knew that the deck could not
be much below the surface of the water
few feet at the most And-there was
nothing else to do. | remember that as
/ walked-ran, rather-back to VIVIAN
dieres stall, thanked God that the mare
was not down in the hold. For then res
cue would have been absolutely impossi-
BILE. AS it was
,p4;oJ how ,,,b;epo,;,~ T ,o,lI,, o,;oJ