Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1934-08-24
CHAPTER VII

me-I'm freezing"
He was hauled into the captains
cabin and smothered in blankets. A
steam-heater was still functioning
and he Rugged it tight; little by little
the bitter cold thawed out of his It's
sues. Then he discovered the SWIM
had helped him-his brain functioned
with astonishing clearness.
He said to the Bolsover's captain
a mean-faced man with shifty eyes:
"You want to abandon, them"
THAT'S right, Cap'n. We've been
thinking we were billed for Davy's
cupboard this long time"
"Ship scuppered, is she?"
"All adrift everywhere" Seymour
suddenly choked back hint.
"Then you'd better get busy with
your abandoning" he advised.
"We're doing just that, Cap'n. If
you're all right I'll see to it now.
I'm coming along fine; how about
some dry buds" The eagnerness OF the
Bolsover's Captain to oblige was most
pathetic. But for his eyes Seymour
might have believed him sincere; but
he never fairly met Jacks gaze.
"You with the mails, and ALL" he
said, rummaging in hastily-opened
drawers.
Again Seymour choked back a SEN
tence. He hadn't the mails aboard
and so certain obligations were multi
fled. Carrying the mails he could
save life but could not attempt sal
wage; that was the contract. But
without the mails! He got again the
impression that all this had been
previously arranged for his advan-
tage. Even if he only towed the Boil
sover into shoal water so that she
could be raised with a minimum of
trouble at later date he'd be in a
position to claim handsome reward.
The ship didn't feel like sinking
ship. Captain Jason was the sort of
man who'd throw in the towel long
before the actual knockout.
"The quicker the better" said Sey-
mour. "That is, if you're determined
to leave her."
Since Captain Jason stood to pocket
a cold thousand pounds for safely
putting his ship down, he wanted no
time wasted. He threw masses of
inch-thick underwear at Seymour.
'I'll tell the Chief to open the val
YES so she'll not be menace to navi-
CATION" Jason said; though she's
going as fast as she can anyway"
(That would sound quite all right at
the Inquiry-here was a man who,
having fought his ship to a finish,
considered other folks. An unnamed
hulk, difting in close waters, without
lights, might imperil scores of better
ship than herself.) Seymour COM
mitted that declaration to memory,
as he scrambled into the donated buds.
If only Captain Jason had shown
single sailorly quality he might
even then have relented. But the Boil
sover's master was intent only on the
safety of his own leathery hide. AS
Jason went away, Seymour moved out
on deck. The Minotaur was as close
as safety allowed; already a stout
rope with an improvised breaches buoy
was stretched between the two YES
sells. A man was going across-dip-
ping down into the blight, with big
water snatching at him, but he was
whirled clear. At the aftcr-end of the
bridge-deck was an unoccuped space,
and here Seymour climbed and way
ed his arms vigorously-not merely
for exercise. 1t was quite a while
before Morgan distinguished his ges-
lures, however. Two more dock rats
had crossed the shaky safety ferry
before the Minotaur's mate waved
back.
"Stow rescued men below" sema-
phored Seymour, his arms dark again
st a background of white paint.
80. H." acknowledged Morgan who
made good play with his one sound
arm.
Prepare to take in tow" ordered
Seymour.
80. H." signaled Morgan again.
Fill Captain Jason full of liquor
was Seymour's next message.
Consider him bung-full!" sema-
phored Morgan.
Seymour came away from his
white background and met Jason re-
turning from below. With the latter
was the engine room crew.
'Wait bit; that rope doesn't look
safe to me-" Seymour yelled to Jason.
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