Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1917-10-18

by the head already could perceive
the list, the deck underfoot was tilt
ing; the engines had ceased to throb,
as though the inflow of water had
reached the boilers. Feet scrambled
along the dack, overhead voices yelled,
and could hear the creaking Of boat
tackle.
Working desperately in the dark,
scarcely able now to keep feet on the
slanting planks, hastily drew on what
bits of clothing I could find at hand,
and felt my way blindly to the door.
1t was damned, but kicked it open,
and stumbled forth into the main cab
in, clinging to the door frame in order
to retain my feet. The stateroom
doors stood wide open, but no living
being was visible. All who survived
that first shock must have fled to the
deck in mad struggle to escape. Ay,
and there was desperate need for me
to join them. The Esmeralda was go
ing down; already her forward hold
was filled with water, the bulkheads
alone keeping her afloat; once they
gave way, she would sink like a stone.
I crossed the cabin on hands and
knees, clawing my way desperately
through the litter until I attained the
stairs. These no longer led up, but
forward. Beyond was utter blackness,
silence; and through the shattered door
drops of rain splashed.
1t was not until I had made my way
to the outer deck, and felt the night air
and rain on my face, that truly awoke
to the danger. The tilt of the yacht
forward was so sharp, I dare not re-
lease my grasp of the rail. could
scarcely see anything; not a light
burned, not even a distant star glim-
mered; the driving rain blinded me,
and soaked through my shirt to the
skin.
scarcely dared move, for to release
my grip was to slide down into the
black water, into the rifle of spars
and ropes forward. 1t was all horror
and death that way, but from aft, IN
der the awning, a sound of excited
voices reached my ears, and the rasp
of boat tackle. No doubt all on board,
who lived, were there, seeking to
escape. They had sprung for the open
deck at the first alarm, not even wait
ing to dress, and, If would join them,
there was not an instant to lose. The
after bulkhead could not hold long /;
any moment, any unusual roll of the
sea, would rend it asunder, and the
Esmeralda would sink. Life hung on
seconds; nor would those frightened
wretches wait to learn the fate of any
others on board.
Clinging to every projection of the
cabin, 1 attained the port rail, but
even as 1 attempted the first step, a
voice called to me from out the black
depths below, and I hung there, star
~
thing, excepting a litter of tangled
wreckage.
Don't leave mel Give me a hand"
'Who are your"
Mccain; you are Hollis, amt your
Eyes; are you hurt?"
"No; bruised C bit, no doubt; my
foot is caught under a SPAR
"Alone?"
soThe second mate fell with me; he's
down below-dead, I guess
1t was no small job getting to him,
using the slippery rail for a ladder,
and / was knee deep in water when
| I finally found foothold in the rifle,
and rolled the spar off the imprisoned
limb. He was lying fiat on the deck,
his head barely free of the waves, but
| was able to clutch the nearest STAN
chion and haul himself up to the pro-
lection of the rail. His face was but
a blurred outline, although I could
perceive the glimmer of a white shirt
stared beyond him into the black
| silence.
"You say Seeley is down thereT
ST fell on top of him." the words
scarcely audible. HE was trying to
get into the cabin, when he lost his
grip. tried to catch him, and he took
me along. Say" he was breathing
hard, 'do you know if there was girl
on board?'
Eyes, there is. I met her night be
fore last ON deck. Did Seeley tell you
where she was hiddenf'
I'm a storeroom, next to the stew
ards pantry; he said the door was
locked"
Desperate as our own situation was
all thought of personal danger lef
me In a sudden realization of the awful
horror fronting her, almost under oul
very feet. I gripped Mccain by thu
arm.
I'VE must get her out Of there"
j cried sCome on with me-"
u "Where? Downtown therer