The Argosy, Vol. XXV, No. 3 — page 92: what you’re looking at

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

476 THE ARGOSY. Turning on me savagely, I believe he would have struck me had I not swung him on one side. Macshiel poked his ugly little face over the rail, and I saw that it was hideously livid with excitement. ‘‘Take that fool below,’’ he cried out sharply. ‘‘I’ll speak to him presently.”’ But Hayling, who seemed half mad with horror and excitement, con- tinued to say some extremely foolish things. I saw the captain’s eyes harden, and judging his movements, guessed what was coming. Nor did I draw Hayling aside a moment too soon. The bullet, which spent itself in the deck a few yards away, would certainly have gone clean through him. ‘‘For God’s sake, Hayling,’’ I implored, ‘‘ come aft and try to contain yourself. You can dono good here, and they are in no mood to brook interference.’’ He looked at me, and a strange smile played in his eyes. ‘‘T admit it, old man; I am an infernal fool. But I could have gone for an army then.’’ By this time we were well abreast of the engine room skylight, and con- sequently in no immediate danger from the captain, who, fortunately for us, had other work just then. As the Pulo Way began to move slowly towards the wreckage, we saw that those who had not been carried down with her, or who had not been blown up, were clinging to the promiscuous bits of timber which were float- ing about. Some even had their life belts on, and as they bobbed up and down they frantically waved to us, and called for help in the most heart- rending fashion. I think I must have counted some eight or nine persons in the water, and I was beginning to wonder what Captain Macshiel would do with them, when I saw the two nearest us let go the spar to which they were clinging and begin to swim*towards us. ‘They were two white men, the young ofhicer who had recognized Hayling being one; the other was a pale faced fellow, who looked like a fireman or a greaser. On they came in gallant fashion, though encumbered with their clothes, until they were within some twenty yards of us, and I could already see the alternate flashes of hope and despair which swept their faces. ‘Then of a sudden two shots rang out almost simultaneously. The pale faced man clapped his hand to his face, and the moment before he sank I saw. the red blood trickle through his fingers. The young officer wildly threw up his arms, and half rose out of the water. As he did so he showed a crimson mark on his throat. What followed was horrible beyond words. Shot after shot rang out, and one after another the poor wretches let go their hold andsank. Unable to ' bear the sight any longer, I turned away and hid my face in my hands. But though I might shut out the actual sight, I could not ¢.ut out the memory of it; and I°*knew not which was the harder to bear, the seeing or the imagination. Hayling came across to me and dragged me back to the side, and, without speaking, pointed to an object which floated some little distance ahead. Eomicbooks (E@)