The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1919-07-11
CHAPTER XVII.
On Board the SLAYER.

Inc terror or the two men as this
thought dawned upon them in all it's
horror was apparent enough. Nothing,
not even fire, was more TO be dreaded
than a visitation of this awful nature
on shipboard. Charnel ship though
this might be, 1t was safer by far than
the cockleshell towing alongside.
Let's find out the truth first, men,"
l said quietly. Hold your tongues.
There is no use giving up until we
know what the danger is. Will you
come with me?"
The terror In Sans eyes caused me
to laugh and my w courage came
back with q rush.
Afraid Of dead men, are you? Then
we'll face them together, my lads, and
have 1t over with. Come on, now, both
Of you. Buckle up; there is nothing
to fear, If you do what l tell you
this isn't the first cholera ship I've
been aboard"
1t was no pleasant job confronting
US, although W. had less dead men to
handle than l anticipated. Indeed, we
found only FIVE bodies on board. There
were only two on deck, a giant, coal
black negro, and q g~ray-bearded white
man, his face pitted with smallpox.
Determined on what was to be done. l
wasted no time with either body. The
two sailors hung back, terrorized at
the mere thought Of touching these
victims Of plague. l steeled myself to
the job and handled them alone, drag
ging the bodies across the deck and
launching them over the low rail into
the sea. I ordered Schmitt to cut the
lashings and, take charge Of the wheel.
"See here, Sam, and you too,
Schmitt, I am in love with that girl
in the boat. Do you suppose l would
ever have her come on this deck If /
believed she might contract cholera?
You do as l say and you are perfectly
safe. Now, Schmitt, remain at the
wheel, and you, Sam, come with me.
There will be a dead niger aboard
unless you jump when I speak"
He trotted close at my heels as 1
flung open the door leading into the
cabin. The air seemed fresh enough
and I noted two Of the ports wide
open. A tall, smooth-shaven man, with
an ugly scar down one cheek, lay out
stretched on a divan at the foot Of the
after mast, his very posture proclaim
ing him dead. His face was the color
Of parchment, wrinkled with age.
The negro crept up behind me and
stared at the upturned face.
my Gaud, sab, he wus de OIL cap
tain. Paradilla, sab damn his soul !"
In what was evidently the captains
room / discovered a pricked chart and
log-book, with no entry In 1t for three
days. Without waiting to examine
these I slowed them away in my peck
ct. Between us we forced the stiffened
form Of the captain through the open
after port and heard 1t splash into
the sea astern. There were two dead
seamen in the f~orecastle, both ,swarthy
fellows, with long Indian hair. ] never
saw a dirtier hole, the filth overpow-
ering, and once satisfied that both
AuCh "SLC uCyOLu hClp, i a OhlC
to lower the scuttle and leave them
there. God! 1t was a relief to return
once more to the open deck and breathe
in the fresh air. I hailed the boat low
ing below.
"Come aboard. Watkins" I called
sharply. pass the lady up first, and
turn the boat adrift."
I caught Dorothy's hands and aided
her over the rail.
"Why was the vessel abandoned?"
she asked. "What has happened7 Do
you known"
Quietly I told her the truth and as
sured her that If we staid on deck ane
used our own bedding and provisions
we were In no danger.
How can I help you7"
"Tell the men just what I have told
YOU" I said gravely. "They will be
ashamed to show less courage than
YOU"
We turned and faced them together
as they formed a little group against
the rail. Hallin was first to speak.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)