Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-02-07

WaTQ INTO our very IdC6S. QIOppcu
upon my knees. shading my mouth as
best 1 might, and sought to peer down
into the black void between decks.
Away forward red eye winked out of
the darkness, then another, and a third.
/ 1eaped to my feet, realizing there was
no hope, nothing we could do but get
away alive-and, If we were even to do
this, every second was worth a kings
ransom.
"She's affre forwardi" I exclaimed,
striving to control my voice. 'sThat 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-hatch-that will
give US a 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 hand when you hook
on. Mccain, get beaker of water in,
and some biscuits, We'll have no time
for anything else. Hurry men! there's
flame breaking through now!"
There was; a red serpent, sticking
it's ugly head up the hatch opening, the
CHASTITY light glimmering 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-aft with it. All
will be a mass of flames amidship in
five minutes. Is there water in that
keg, Mccain? Then throw it in now
the biscuits. Miss Carrington-Vera!"
eyes, Captain Hollis.''
"Can you hold to the wheel a few
moments longer?-till come for your"
Eyes"
"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"
Eyes, SIR
The cool quietness Of her voice
Gained me as though she had pressed
her hand on my brow in fever. I
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 1T 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 at the red glare, and run
toward us. I have a vague impression
that Mccain burst out of the compan-
ion, a bag of sea-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 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 at the rail, and lower the
boat itself-are there oars? that's it /;
stow 'em. Olson, to the wheel with
you; take a couple turns about it with
ropes end, and help the girl down.
Over the side Red, and ship the tiller
now lads, over with you. Masters, you
and Leayord 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 McCann2"