A Queer Race: The Story of a Strange People — page 47: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A4 A QUEER RACE. body chose to volu:teer, that would be another matter; and the two men who did so should receive, over and above their share of the salvage, fifty pounds apiece. Were any of them disposed to volunteer on these condi- tions? The question was answered bya shout, and at least two thirds of the crew volunteered on tlie spot. “Didn’t I tell you?” said Peyton, turning to me with asmile. ‘* All right, lads! But I only want two; can- not spare more, aud two will be quite enough. We must draw lots. Mr. Bucklow, wnte down the name of every man who is willing to undertake the job ona slip of paper, put the slips into a hat, and then Mr. Hrle will, perhaps, oblige us by drawing two at random, and the names on them will be those of the two lucky ones.” Lucky ones, indeed! The uames were written. I drew two slips, and an- nounced, amid the breathless attention of the crew, that the winners were Harry Smithers and Jack McKean. Both threw up their caps with delight; the others looked bitterly disappointed, and the curses they vented on their ill-luck were loud and deep. After this a couple of hawsers were passed from the stern of the Diana to the bows of the Lady Jane; the for- lorn hope (very forlorn, | feared), amply provided with water and provisions, went on board the derelict, and the fever ship was taken in tow. I have already mentioned that the Diana had an auxil- lary screw. It was, however, very small, and seldom used —only, in fact, when there was a dead calm or excep- tionally bad weather. So far,it had not been used at all, and our coal supply being unusually low (owing to our carrying a full cargo of merchandise), Peyton would probably not have put the Diana under steam at all had we not fallen in with the fever ship. But as it is ex- tremely difficult for a vessel under sail to tow another, heordered the screw to be slipped ana steam to be got up. It was, however, quite evident that our progress in any circumstances would be slow, and that if a gale of wind sprung up we should have to abandon our prize. Nobody knew this better than Peyton. ‘‘ What will you do with the Lady Jane when you get her to Nassau?” I asked him. Gomme JOO cS (E(0) m