The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1879-02-05
BENEATH THE SEA.
BY p. HENRY DOYLE.


sails set, came the packet Normandy
bound for the coast of France. A faire1
day had never with its sunshine kissed
land or sea.
Slowly the trim vessel rode in its
course. long line of light stretching
from its bow to the setting sun, making
it appear like some golden road that
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 died
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 GRO wing
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 vet 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 Hervey, pilot and captain
bronzed and 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 so bright, so promising, and
let us pray to God it may never change
She only answered "Amen," hardly
audibly, but with tone whose depths
and sweetness told the hope came from
her Utmost 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 O,
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 fol
the night, and then, after an instructive
| look at the sky, went below himself.
| Ten o'clock or more, and the breeze in
creasing. Occasional clouds obscure the
stars, and the waves, as they dash agains
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 cloak of gloom
Az, worse even, for one of those sudder
thick fogs that come at times with speed
of the whirlwind in the Channel, hang!
around the vessel as though it were {
coffin and its pail.
"Lieutenant!-Mr. LocarbY!'
The officer, who was near the main
mast, peering anxiously out into thu
darkness, started and quickly walked
aft as he heard the nervous voice of tn,
helmsman.
! swell, what is it,"
~ have lost my reckoning. We wer
to have the moon tonight, but this cursed
fog has upset my calculations. Hadn'
you better call the captain2''
Locarby is evidently about to make
sarcastic reply, when sudden lurch o
the packet throws him against the taft
rail. The straining and stretching of the
sails and cordage overhead also warn hin
that the wind is blowing fresher ever,
minute. 1t will likely become gale.
With cry to the sailors to reef tn,
sails, he takes the tiller himself, and bid
the other arouse the captain. .-.
The def fingers of the tals soon reliev,
the masts of extra pressure, and the pack
ct eases. But moment later it need
not the fierce, wild cry of Captain Her
vey to tell him Of his danger:
"For Gods sake, portv'
And up he rushes and seizes the helm
from his subordinate's hands, his eye
almost starting from their sockets as h,
drags on the wheel.
The tiller-ropes have become wedgec