Sioux County pioneer. (Fort Yates, Sioux County, N.D.) 1914-1929, 1918-02-21

ward into our very faces. dropped
upon my knees, shading my mouth as
best might, and sought to peer down
into the black void between decks.
Away forward red eye winked out of
the darkness. then another, and u third.
lcaped to my feet, realizing there was
no hope, nothing we could do but get
away alivc-and if we were even to do
this, every second was worth kings
ransom.
"Shc's alire forward!" I exclaimed,
striving to control my voice. "That is
where the fellow was, and he's done
the Job; there's no stopping her now"
"There's plenty of hose forward"
"But the donkey engine is not con-
nected, and we dare not take chances
with all those explosives below. Heav-
ems, man, we may go Sky high any sec
ond. Don't stand talking; get over the
dinghy. it's the only boat we have
haul her aft and swing her to these
falls below the after-hatcl-that will
give us Il chance to get awav. perhaps.
Jump now, the three of you. No! wait !
Red and Lcayord can rig the boat, and
I'll give you hand when you hook
on. Mccain. get benker of water in,
and some biscuits, We'll have no time
for anything else. Hurry men! there's
flame breaking through n0w!'
There was; a red serpent. sticking
its ugly head up the hatch opening, the
CHASTITY light glilnmering in our faces.
The men seemed fairly paralyzed at
this sudden outburst of new horror, but
drove them, even using hands and
feet in my mad desire for action.
aft with it now-,lft with 1t. All
Will be mass of flames amidship in
five minutes. Is there water in that
key, McCann? Then throw it in!-now
the biscuits. Miss Carrfngton-Vera I"
eyes, Captain Hollis"
"Can you hold to the wheel a few
moments longer?-till come for you?"
| Eyes"
Call down the tube to the engine.
room; tell Masters and Olson to come
on deck ut once-as quick as they can
foot the ladder"
eyes, sir"
The cool quictness Of her voice
Gained me as though she had pressed
her hand on my brow in fever. 1
sprang to the help Of the others, as
sisted to hook the light dinghy onto
the falls, lifted it clear of the deck,
and swung it outward over the rail.
The flame streaming up the main-hatch
by this time gave us light enough, and
helped hurry our movements. 1 saw
| Masters and Olson emerge from the
shaft, stare at the red glare, and run
toward us. have n vague impression
that Mccain burst out of the compan-
ion. q bag of sca-biscuits in his arms,
and flung it into the stern-sheets of the
dinghy. He must have done so, for
later the biscuits were there. But it
was impossible to think Of these things,
to see clearly. to realize just what was
happening. Every second expected
the ships deck to rcnd asunder under
our feet. blowing every human being
aboard into, atoms.
"Overhaul those pulleys, Leayord {;
no, We'll load Mt the rail, and lower the
boat itself-are there oars? that's 1t {;
stow 'em. Olson. to the .wheel with
you; take couple turns about it with
a ropes end. and help the girl down.
Over the side Red. and ship the tiller I;
now lads, over with you. Masters, you
and Leavord lay hold Of the ropes
don't lost your heads now and lower
too fast. Here. Red, help the lady
step quick. dear; yes, I'll come-are
YOU all in? now where's McCann?"