American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-01-01

fDhb RdA AAt sun Dttn WilDPNa
into rags, and a canvas shirt substi-
tuted. One man was on his knees ball
Ing furiously. and Tony had an arm In
a sling. SO intent was l In this en-
deavor to decipher the details of the
tragedy through the glass, / was I'M
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 them7"
YES 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 a bit, Mr.. LeayordT"
81 can try, sir"
Miss Darlington. would you mind
giving the mate a hand?'
She fought her way across to him
without a word, leaving the glass on
the deck.
Good hold her as she is, and have
Masters slow down. 1t Is going to be
a ticklish job to get those fellows on
board has anyone a suggestion7"
"A running moose from the lower
main-yard, sir" said Olson.
THAT will take only one at a time"
1.-Two. If they're quick enough about
II; but it's the only way, 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 a strong cord and see that
I fits the pulley block. I'll keep to the
leck, and Ease them In. Pass the end
Town 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 a 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 gap between
US slowly closed, l could see their
faces clearly, upllfted in agonlzed ap-
peal. They were haggard, crusted with
salt, plteous enough In their silent
pleading to make me forget the past.
BOAT ahoy!" I roared. Keep we'll
away from the side wen whip you In
from the main yard. Have you oarsf"
"One pair, sir"
1t was Liverpool, and l was glad to
note the o n of respect In his answer.
"Then hold her back, and drift In
slowly stern first you get the idea.
Are those dead menu"
zone of them Is; Dubois has his leg
broken"
Wen send a sling down; put Du-
bois in first, and the rest Of you stand
by. Are you ready nowT"
aye, aye, sir"
Olson Joined me at the rope. Dugan
remaining outstretched on the yard.
the ship held motionless except for the
rise and fall Of the waves. The boat
drifted cautiously In stern first, held
by the two oars In the hands Of Liver
pool and White. The former roughly
assumed command.
"Get up there. Mccain; on your
knees now for heavens sake don't
miss that rope, and hold on hard take
a turn around that thwart amldships-
no don't make fastl Give Tony he
end he has one hand yet. Now get
Dubois into the sling; d you, man,
you've got to; we can't leave these
oars. Take a grip there, Dubois, and
help yourself. That's better" He lift
cd his arm In signal. "All right, sir.
swing away Z"
II was a good half hours Job, and n
hard one; twice the boat nearly
swamped. and went down. Liverpool
was the last to leave the boat. already
half filled with water. AS he rose slow
ly, gripping the rope with his hands.
unable to get foot In the moose. the
deserted craft foated away. the dead
body of Watson half covered with
water.
The four of them made a sorry look
ing bunch on the deck, but now that
they were safe. my feeling Of SYM
patty had vanished. l could only re-
call their treatment Of us, and the dan
ger we still ran In having them once
again aboard. Nothing was to be
gained by soft words with such as they.
l stepped across to front them, and Oh
son and Dugan Joined me.
"Now, look here" I said grlmly
We've taken you aboard because
we're human beings but there's going
to be no mistake as to your exact
status on this ship. You'll take o nj
orders from me. and I'll kin the first
man-tack Of you who shows a sign OF
t~reachery. What became Of SachsT'
Mccain was still gasping from his
drop Into the sea. and could not an