The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-02-28

ward Into our very faces. I 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 third.
| leaped to my feet, realizing there was
no hope, nothing we could do but get
away alive-and, II we were even to do
this, every second was worth a kings
ransom.
"She's aflre forwardi" 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 toe these
falls below the after-hatch-that will
give us chance to get away, perhaps.
Jump now, the three Of you. No wait
Red and Leayord can rig the boat, and
I'll give you a hand when you hook
on. McCaDn, get beaker Of water In,
md some biscuits, wen have no time
for anything else. Hurry menl there's
flame breaking through now!"
There was; q red serpent, sticking
Its ugly head up the hatch opening. the
CHASTITY light glimmering In our faces
The men seemed fairly pa-alyzed at
this sudden outburst of new horror, but
I drove them, even using hands and
feet in my mad desire for action.
"Aft with 1t now-aft with II. All
will be a mass of flames amidship in
five minutes. Is there water In that
keg, McCanni Then throw 1t inl-now
the biscuits. Miss Carrington-vera 7"
"Yes, Captain Hollis"
"Can you hold to the wheel a few
moments longer?-till come for your
ayes"
"Call down the tube TO the engine
room; tell Masters and Olson to come
on deck at once-as quick as they can
foot the ladder"
"Yes, sir"
The cool quietness Of her voice
calmed me as though she had pressed
her hand on my brow In fever.
sprang to the help Of the others, as
sisted to hook the light dinghy onto
the falls, lifted II clear of the deck
and swung II outward over the rail-
The flame streaming up the main-hatch
by this time gave us light enough, and
helped hurry our movements. I saw
Masters and Olson emerge from the
shaft, stare Mt the red glare, and run
toward US. have vague impression
that McCann burst out Of the compan.
lon, a bag Of sea-biscults in his arms
and flung II into the stern-sheets Of the
dinghy. He must have done so, for
later the biscuits were there. But II
was impossible to think of these things
to see clearly, to realize Just what was
happening. Every second I expected
the ships deck to rend 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--nre there oarsT that's II
stow 'em. Olson, to the wheel with
you; take couple turns about 1t with
n ropes end, and help the girl down
Over the side Red, and ship the tiller
now lads. over with you. Masters, yor
and Leayord lay hold Of the ropes
don't lost your heads now and lowel
too fast. Here. Red, help the lady
step quick, dear; yes. I'll come-ar'
you all In? now where's McCannT