The Tucumcari news and Tucumcari times. [volume] (Tucumcari, N.M.) 1907-1921, 1916-11-30

she was relieved from holding the
turn, crying!
1T worksl II worksl Wen trust
our lives to III"
Then she assumed a rueful express.
sion.
ITS not over the hole,' sho said.
"will you have to begin all over7"
| smiled In superior fashion. and
Stacking away on the b~oom.tackle,
brought the butt OF the mast into posi-.
tion directly over the hole In the deck.
Then | rave Maud careful instructions
for lowering away and went into tho
told to tho step on the %schooner's
bottom.
| called to her, and tho mast moved
easily and accurately. Square fitted
into square. The mast val stepped.
raised a shout, and she raj down
to see. In the yellow lantern light
we peered at what we had accom-.
plished. We looked 1t each other,
and our hands felt their way and
clasped. The eyes OF both OF US, |
think. were moist with the Joy OF sue
cess.
1t was done so easily after ALL" |
remarked. An the work was In the
preparation"
And all the wonder in tho compile
tion," Maud added. IL Fan scarcely
bring myself to realize that that great
mast Is really up Lnd in; that you
have lifted IL from the water, swung
1t through the air, and deposited 1t
here where II belongs. II Is a Titan's
task"
And they made themselves many
Inventions" | began merrily. then
paused to snif the air.
| looked hastily at the lantern. 4
was not smoking. Again | shifted.
Something is burning" Maud said.
with sudden conviction.
We sprang together for the ladder,
but ] raced past her to tho deck. A
dense volume OF smoke was pouring
out the steerage companionway.
The Wolf Is not yet dead" NUT.
tered to myself as | sprang down
through the smoke.
The source OF the smoke must be
very close to Wolf Larsen-my mind
was made up to this, and | went
straight to his bunk. As | felt about
among his blankets. something hot fell
on the back OF my hand. II burned
me. and | jerked my hand away. Then
understood. Through the cracks
In the bottom OF the upper bunk he
had set fire to the mattress. He still
retained sufficient use OF his left arm
to do this. The damp straw OF the
mattress. fired from beneath and de.
MED air. had been smouldering all the
while.
As | dragged the mattress out of
the bunk It seemed to disintegrate In
mid air, at the same time bursting
remnants OF straw IN the bunk, then
made a dash for the deck for fresh
air.
Several buckets Of water uficed To
put out the burning mattress in the
middle OF the steerage floor; and ten
minutes later, when the smoke had
fairly cleared, I allowed Maud to come
below. Wolf Larsen was unconscious
but II was a matter OF minutes for the
fresh air to restore him. We were
working over him, however. when ht
sighed for paper and pencil.
Pray do not interrupt me-" he
wrote. 81 am smiling"
Il am still a bit OF the ferment. yoi
see," he wrote a little later.
Il am glad you are as small a bit
as you are | said.
Thank you" he wrote. But Jus
think OF how much smaller | shall
be before | die"
And yet | am all here, Hump" HI
wrote with a final flourish. II cal
think more clearly than ever in m!
life before. Nothing to disturb me
Concentration is perfect. am al
here and more than here"
I II was like a message from tn,
y night OF the grave; for this man
body had become his mausoleum. Ant
there, IN so strange sepulture, hi
Q spirit tiuttered and lived. II woul'
3 iiutter and live TIL the last line o
communication was broken, and ate
that who was to say how much longe
II might continue to flutter and live