Part 32 (2/2)

With a clang the iron shutter was rushed into its place, and when the sailor was rescued the Trinity boat steamed away to try and secure the raft.

So joyous hope gave way once more to dark foreboding, and the only comfort was the faint one to be extracted from the parting signal:

”Will try again next tide.”

CHAPTER XIII

BEFORE THE DAWN

Discipline slackened its bonds that night. For one thing Mr. Emmett fell ill. Although inured to hards.h.i.+p in the elemental strife, being of the stocky mariner race which holds the gruff Atlantic in no dread, he had never before been called on to eat sodden bread, to drink condensed steam flavored with varnish, and to chew sustenance from the rind of raw bacon. These drawbacks, added to the lack of exercise and the constant wearing of clothes not yet dry, placed him on the sick list.

Again, there were ominous whispers of unfair division in the matter of food. It was not within the realm of accomplishment that the purser, Constance, Enid, and others who helped to apportion the eatables could treat all alike. Some fared better than others in quality if not in quant.i.ty. The unfortunate ones growled, and talked of favoritism.

A crisis was reached when the second officer mustered the night watch.

When one sheep leads the others will follow. A stout German from Chicago asked bluntly:

”Vere's de goot of blayin' at moundin' gart? Dere is bud von ting to gart, und dat is der kidchen.”

Community of interest caused many to huddle closer to him. Here was one who dared to say what they all thought. Their feet shuffled in support.

The officer, faithful to his trust, was tempted to fell the man, but he thought the circ.u.mstances warranted more gentle methods.

”Why are you dissatisfied?” he sternly demanded. ”What do you suspect?

Are you fool enough to imagine that you are being cheated by people who are dividing their last crust with you?”

”How do ve know dat? Dose girls--dey are chokin' mit Mr. Pyne all der day. Dey can'd do dat und be hungry, like us.”

”You unmitigated a.s.s!” said the disgusted officer. ”There is food here for three people. They have fed eighty-one of us for two days and will keep us going several more days. Can't you figure it out? Isn't it a miracle? Here! Who's for guard and who not? Let us quit fooling.”

And the doubters were silenced for the hour.

The hymn-singer endeavored to raise a chorus. He was not greeted with enthusiasm, but a few valiant spirits came to his a.s.sistance. A couple of hymns were feebly rendered--and again--silence.

”Say when,” observed Pyne calmly when he entered the service-room to find Brand tr.i.m.m.i.n.g the spare lamp.

”Not tonight,” said Brand.

”Why not? h.e.l.l may break loose at any moment downstairs.”

”What has occurred? I heard something of a dispute when the watch mustered at eight o'clock.”

”Things are worse now. One of the men found a gallon of methylated spirit in the work-shop.”

”Good Heavens! Did he drink any of it?”

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