Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-02-02
BENEATH THE SEA.

Sunday afternoon for January.
BENEATH THE SEA.
BYP. HENRY DOYLE.
Out from the English harbcr, with al
sails set, came the packet Normandy
bound for the coast of France. A fairel
day had never with its sunshine kissed
land or sea.
! Slowly the trim vessel rode in it.
course, long line of light stretching
from its bow to the setting sun, making
it appear like some golden road tha
reached from earth to heaven.
A singular silence had come over the
bark and its living freight. The last
cheers of the people on the pier had dice
away in the distance, and those on the
deck, having ceased to respond, stood
leaning on the bulwarks gazing thought
fully shorewards.
Only as the breath of the fitful breeze
suffered some sail to flap against the mast
was the strange silence broken.
No engine pulsated down beneath the
well-scrubbed deck, for not yet had the
mind of man achieved that crownine
glory of invention. Time and space still
held their own on the waste Of waters
and the genius that was to make mock.
cry of them had not yet been born.
| So the passengers knew that even with
the most favorable winds the sun must
sink and rise again ere they can bid adieu
to the vessels wooden walls, and tread
the soil of France.
A momentary gliding of the wide
Channels breast with a glorious radiance
and twilight the vanguard of coming
gloom prepares to take the mastery.
John Heryey, pilot and captain
bronzed ana ern-faced-leaves the helm
to an under officer, and mingles with his
passengers.
A few courteous words here or there
and he addressed himself to lady sit
ting alone near the main cabin. She
raised her eyes at the sound OF his foot
steps, and revealed sweet girlish face as
beautiful as dream of morning.
"It's a good omen, Hester" was
his greeting, as he sat beside her
"that the first step in our new existence
should be 80 bright, so promising, and
let us pray to God it may never change
She only answered "Amen," hardly
audlbly, but with tone whose depths
and sweetness told the hope came from
her inmOst soul.
AS they walked about that evening en-.
joying the balmy air and the lovely pros.
poets, many who knew the truth saw the
couple and silently invoked the blessing
of Heaven on heron him.
! For to-day had seen the realization Of
the captains dearest aspirations. The
ship he stood upon was his own-paid fol
with the proceeds Of years of toil-and
the maiden was his wife, the bride of on.
ly day, but his love in manhood and
in youth.
! Darkness came, and only those whose
presence duty required remained above
The captain gave the necessary orders for
the night, and then, after an instructive
look at the sky, went below himself.
Ten o'clock or more, ana the breeze in
creasing. Occasional clouds obscure the
stars, and the waves, as they dash against
the prov or strike the sides, have hol-
low, echoing sound that seems like the
moaning of articulate speech.
! Midnight, and the heavens are com
pletely enveloped in a cloak of gloom.
Ay, worse even, for one of those sudden
thick fogs that come at times with speed
of the whirlwind in the Channel, hangs
around the vessel as though it were
coffin and its pail.
''Lieutenant!-M Mr.. LocarbY!"
The officer, who was near the main
mast, peering anxiously out into the
darkness, started and quickly walked
aft as he heard the nervous voice Of the
helmsman.
| "Well, what is 1T"
II have lost my reckoning. We were
to have the moon tonight, but this cursed
fog has upset my calculations. Hadn't
you better call the captain?''
Locarby is evidently about to make 8
sarcastic reply, when sudden lurch Of
the packet throws him against the taft
rail. The straining and stretching Of the
sails and cordage overhead also warn him
that the wind is blowing fresher every
minute. It will likely become gale.
With cry to the sailors to reef the
sails, he takes the tillcr himself, and bids
the other arouse the captain.
The def fingers of the tals soon relieve
the masts OF extra pressure, and the pack
ct eases. But moment later it needs
not the fierce, wilo cry of Captain Her.
vey to tell him of his danger:
"For Gods sake, portl''
And up he rushes and seizes the helm
from his subo1dinate's hands, his eyes
almost starting from their sockets as he
drags on the wheel.
The tiller-ropes have become wedged
in the groove, and will not move. The
Normandy is unmanageablel
| Like a mountain fromthe now dashing,
frothing waters rises huge black gian
OF gloom. 1t is not a cloud, for thu
quick trained sense of the skilled sailo
sees only too clearly the fearful truth.
| The ship is helplessly drifting toward,
| the Needless the most dangerous and fata
rocks in the English Channel. 1t is bu
the work of moment for the captain tc
seize an axe and with one blow sever tn,
ropes. The packet suddenly swing
round with fearful crash, but it is tot
late. With dull, rumbling groan tn,
ship strikes, and the curse that fails from
the lips of Captain Hervey is hardly los