Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-09-24

Copyrlght 4. Q. No CluFs b o.

them negroes. They worked silently,
and then shuffled forward, without ex-
hibiting the slightest interest in my
presence, or giving glance aft. Evil
IDENTIFY something unusual had oc-
cured, but just what was the nature
Of the accident to the Indian Chief I
was unable to decide. climbed the
F.! few steps, and Joined the red.facet
man waiting me on the poop.
II am very glad to welcome you or
board the Indian Chief, captain-Cap
/ tain"
Hollis" I answered shortly. "And
your name?"
"Masters-Gideon Masters"
"In commando"
| "Well, yes, in way. I reckone6
you'd want the whole story, an tibet
things he'd better be explained afore
yer went below"
! "Of course; but first a question or
two, Mr.. Masters. What has become
Of my companions?"
1.-THE lady was sent into the cabin,
could fix herself up Bit" he answered
soberly. 1.-THE other Teller had heap
Of lot to say, an seemed to have
some sorter grudge against you. J
hadn't any time to listen to his yarn,
so I naturally turned him over to the
bosum, ter have tibet eye dressed. He
must have got peach O. swipe, SIR"
II had to hit him-yes; but we can
talk of that later. Where Is he now?'
"In the galley, sir, where they're
heating some water. After they get
him fixed up. Is he to 60 aft, or for
rard?"
aft, If you have room to spare; he
is no sailorman, but millionaire from
New York; he has money to burn"
The fellow looked at me with his
mouth wide open. his glistening eyes
almost laughable.
"The devil you say. sir; he don't look
the part to my notion. You was oil
part of yacht party?"f
Eyes, the Esmeralda, a steam yacht,
owned BY Gerald Darlington Of New
York, We were run down about u
hundred miles east of Montauk by a
big liner. which must have been out of
her course. She cut US square in two,
but, excepting us three, all living on
board got away In the boats. BY acct
dent we were left, and escaped later In
the dinghy"
"Whnt hecnmn of the liner?"
''She picked up the boats, und, tl,trlA-
ing they had all the survivors, went
on. She was mail boat, likely. The
yacht went down five minutes after
we left her; we've been afloat ever
since. Now, Mr.. Masters, that's our
story in brief. What's the trouble
here?.
I'll tell yer enough to make 1t clear,
sir he said slowly, although there is
others on board who can explain more
in detail. You're seaman-or was
once-so you'll see easily the sorter
fix we're In. I'm the only officer left
on the hooker, an couldn't navigate
ship if you'd give it to me. I'm only
the chief engineer, an my assistant is
in the fo'castle with = broken leg. You
see tibet rifle for-rard, sir? Well, 1T
wus lightning did that. Two bolts. so
the crew says, fer ! wus down below,
an never knew whut happened till the
electrics all went out. Then shut of
steam, and clumb out on deck. Lord,
but it wus black night. raining cats
and dogs, but no wind to speak Of. 1t
wus the rain what saved US, for fire
started yonder-yer can see where IT
burned-but it died out of itself. When
morning come we saw what we was up
against; it looked lot sight worse
then than it does now. Them bolts of
lightning he'd knocked the foremost
into smithereens, killed the wheels
man. and put the steering gear plumb
out O. commission. Then the top
mast an spars just naturally wrecked
the bridge. and charthouse, an the
whole mass caught fire. The second
officer was In the wheelhouse, sir, an
never knew what hit him. an both the
captain an the first officer wus q
standin' tergether on the bridge. The
top mast crushed the life out Of EN-
There wus six sailormen hurt the same
way, an four Of 'em died. 1t wus the
darndest mess I ever saw ut sea, SIR
"Bad enough, surely; when did this
happen?"
might afore last; we've cleaned ur
bit since, but the crew won't work
much under me- an we're short.
handed. rugged up this wheel aft, SC
as to keep an engine going, and hung
on, waiting for something to turn up
There wasn't nothing else could do.
mo, I presume not" and my eyes
rested thoughtfully on the scene for
ward. "How is the hull-sound? You
seem sunk deeply"
THAT'S cargo, sir; full to thu
matches. The ships dry as a bone
have had the well sounded every three
! hours"
"And what about the crew."
"Just 80, SO; a crimp brought then
aboard drunk, an we were not at SEES
long enough for the mates to whiI
them into shape when this thing hap
pened. Tn no deck officer, Mr.. Hollis
and they don't take orders from mt
very well. call 'em q ID hard
lot"
l made no comment. endeavoring u
turn NIL these facts over In my mind
and reach some decision. 1t was evi
dent enough what was wanted, ant
how could best serve but would the.
be satisfied with tho offer which ! Eel