Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1879-09-12
NO. 22O.
Gales ano Skettbes.
THE BOAT, BABY AND PILOT.
BY CHARLES BARNARD.
Continued from Yesterday

"Oh. John! the baby. They have left
the baby!n
"Good heavens! What do you mean?''
They have left the child in cur room.
It's asleep in my bed. The woman-must
have left it in the confusion, and
The rest of the sentence was lost in the
roar of the steam whistle. The captain
sprang to the speaking tube and shouted
to the engineer:
"Give it to her wider'
The wheel went round with rush, and
the boat keeled over in the water.
Call Jack, Jane. Tell him to out the
flag. and run her up Union down"
The stokers in their cave shoveled their
glowing caverns full The feed-pumps
clattered in angry fury. The rusty boilers
seemed to strain and hiss with pent-up
frenzy. The engine roared. The quiver-
ing hand of the steam-guage rose among
high figures. On deck the men ran hither
and thither in hot haste. The wife stood
with fluttering dress and hair streaming in
the wind, clinging to the rail of the vessel.
'.Haul in the line"
"Aye. aye, SIR" came up i'm jolly chorus.
The l'Oat quivered and shook with the
strain of her engine. The water boiled
under her stern, and she plunged forward
straight to the sea. The forts swept past
in the mist The waves struck her bows.
and showers of spray flew over the woman
clinging to the rail. and streamed from her
waterproof cloak. She crept slowly down,
and. with hand on the rail at every step,
made her way along the flooded deck.
The water hissed and seethed in bubbles
as it swept past, and the rain blew cold in
her face. She opened door and stepped
into the engine room. For moment she
stood gazing at the cylinders and the
shining pistons sweeping up and down in
rhythmic energy.
as this the best she can do?'' she asked
anxiously.
The gray old engineer opened his eyes
wide
"She new did the like o. that before!
What's the matter. mum? Has the steamer
had trouble?''
mo. It's only baby-left behind"
1t lay with one rosy hand doubled up
under its head. asleep. The wife sat down
by the berth and lifted its clinging curls
with tender care. Then she stopped and
kissed it,
''Poor baby! 1t shall see its mother
when it wakes-if we catch them.''
The engine throbbed in ceaseless energy
The boat reeled and plunged over the sea,
and the lamps swayed in the motion.
I'VE must be ont in the bay; wonder
where the steamer isp"
| She rose, and opening the upper half of
the door, gazed long and anxiously at the
steamship so far ahead.
'Ah. they see us. They are blowing Off
steam.'
A faint cloud of white hung over the
steamship, and the wife noticed as they
rose on wave that the white waters at
the stern had disappeared.
"Where is the childp" said the captain,
as he appeared at the door.
"Come in and see.''
| They both entered the chamber and stood
watching the pretty one asleep.
''lt was fortunate you found it. What
could we have done with it?''
1T isn't that, John; | was thinking Of
the poor mother"
Hearing the voice the babe awoke, and
gazed with blue-eyed wonder at the stran-
gers. Then it began to cry softly. and the
woman took it to her breast and comforted
it with motherly tenderness.
"llave it all ready, Jane. when we come
along side. Those Englishmen will swear
like mad when they find what has kept
them"
Hush, my baby. Mother will come to
her soon.'
The engine made strange lullaby, and
the child slept.
The giant steamship lay rolling lazily
on the huge waves that marched in from
| the Atlantic. Every available spot on
deck was occupied by an eager multitude,
gazing down on the tow-boat that. with
bursting safety-valve, struggled up along
side.
A red-faced officer stood on the bridge,
angry and impatient.
whats the matter?"
| The captain of the Jane touched his hat
respectfully, and shouted back his reply
above the roar of the storm and engines
Passengers left. SIR
"Send him aboard quick now.n
AVE, aye, SIR
The wheel-house door opened, and the
wife stepped out with the baby wrapped
in a shawl in her arms.
"Give her ladder there
There was Il murmur of excitement on
the steamer. Why did this woman de-
tain the ship? Why was she so stupid as
to be lefto The towboat man was a fool
to stop the steamer for one passenger. Let
The wife held out the child as if she
wished to put it on board. The officer
shook his head.
"Come aboard with it,
The Jane rose to the crest of wave and
for moment the frail bridge was level.
The wife darted across, but at the instant
the ladder broke and she was thrown for
ward upon the deck of the steamer sense
less, and with the babe still her arms. . -
"Was 1t your childp"
"No. sir; but it was somebody child"
| She looked about the bare cabin and ex-
amined the hard wooden berth on which
she lay in kind of dazed surprise. There
were two men, officers OF the steamship,
one young man who seemed to be ships
surgeon; and the steerage stewardess.
She felt the ship roll in the sea, and knew
that it must be moving. She must get up
and go to her husband.
you had better lie down aud keep
quiet" said the little doctor.
She looked at the boy OF a fellow in a
kind of amused surprise.
Continued ON Fourth Psgs.)