The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1917-09-13
CHAPTER XVII.
Dead Man In the Cabin.

A Dead Man In the Cabin.
The glimpse was but for IN instant,
the boat disappearing as it dropped
into the hollow. ,l.......
"It's our own quarterboat," I an.
nounced shortly, endeavorlng to keep
my glasses trained on the right spot
'N1cCann, and those devils with him."
'Then, shall we stand by, sir?" asked
Leayord. "Why should we be picking
up that scum?"
I glanced aside at him.
"Why, Mr.. Leayord? Well, one req
son Is, we are American ,seamen. Those
fellows can scarcely hurt us now, and
a hand or two more aboard will help
us to make port. We've got to have
firemen below. and Rapello would be
able to spell Masters in the engine.
room. look on their coming as God
J send. Let your helm off another point
there, steady now; hold her JUS: as
she is." '~ IS '-.
Again I caught the boat in the focus
u tAC lCNClCu SINSSCS IL wac AACuSuA a
bly, nearer now. but I could only see
four men aboard the craft, the other
two being White and RapellO. The
filler was gone. the man at the stern,
Jim White. steering by means Of a
long oar; the sail had been whipped
into rags, and a canvas shirt substi-
tuted. One man was on his knees bail
ing furiously, and Tony had an arm In
a sling. So intent was I In this en-
deavor to decipher the details Of the
tragedy through the glass, i was un.
aware that Vera had climbed the lad
der. and now stood beside me, clinging
to the rail. Her voice aroused me to
her presence.
"Why, there are only four Of them?''
Eyes; they must have passed through
Hades last night" I answered. "Here,
take the glass; there are two bodies
lying in the bottom Of the boat"
"Can you manage the wheel alone
for bit, Mr.. Leayord?'
II can try, sir"
Miss Darlington, would you mind
giving the mate hand?'
She fought her way across to him
without a word, leaving the glass on
the deck. st+.,
"Good; hold her as shesis, and have
Masters slow down.. 1t Is going to be
a ticklish job to get thosesfellows on
board; has anyone a suggesthnT
"A running moose from the lower
lnain-yard, SIR" said Olson.
"That will take only one at time"
1.-TWO, If they're QUICK enough about
It; but it's the only why, sir. That
boat wouldn't live a second close in
alongside" :
"Right you are; you and Dugan lay
out on the yard and get the whip
rugged; pick strong cord and see that
It fits the pulley block. FIJI keep to the
1eck. and ease Them in. Pass the end
1own to me; lively now"
Those in the boat saw what we were
attempting, realizing at once that we
meant to take them aboard. The re-
lief felt was Instantly expressed by
the waving Of hands, and faint cry
reached us across the water. Mccain
even endeavored to stand up. but was
jerked down again. No doubt the rec.
ognition Of the ship had left them in
total despair Of rescue, their one
thought being that we would permit
them to drift by, rather than take
them aboard again. The CUP between
US slowly closed, l could see their
faces clearly, uplifted in agonized APP
peal. They were haggard, crusted with
salt, piteous enough in their silent
pleading to make me forget the past.
BOAT ahoy!" roared. keep well
away from the side; wen whip you in
from the main yard. Have you Oars?'
'"One pair, SIR"
It was Liverpool. and I was glad to
note the tone Of respect In his answer.
'''Then hold her back, and drift in
slowly stern first; You get the idea.
are those dead men?"