New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-20

in the afternoon and there whizzed ont of the mud
overhead such flash of Lightning rs never saw
the like of since. 1t put the whole sea on fire. SIR
II rs if all creation had been plunged into the
internal regions We'll, when the thunder was
gone,-and it must have, taken long hyye minutes
for the echo Of that crashing boom to roll away ont
of hearing over the slippery smoOthness; not
BREATH mind you-we saw the pinnacle card
spinning round like n teetotum. Its sensibility
was killed, sir. 1t was never afterwaTd worth
dump. Fortunately, we had q spare compass on
board, We should have had to steer by the stars
for il came on thick that night, and remained so
u whole fortnight" And our friend looked
triumphantly around. as he usually did when he
spun marine yarn just as though no experience
that ever befell him was to be matched by what
anybody else had seen or suffered. 1t was never
my policy at that time, to appear to have any
should have liked TO tell Captain Jackson that the
effect of his thunderstorm was not so extraOrdi-
narily uncommon as he supposed, myself having
been i'll ship during magnetic 0utburst; when
reversed the poles of tho compass so that when the
officer of the watch went to see how the vessel was
heading he could not believe his eyes; the compass
pointed north by east and our course was south by
west There regular Outcry the man al the
wheel was abused, and he swore he had never
shifted the helm: the sailors thought the ship
bewitched, for did any one hear of ship suddenly
Slowing around sixteen points without anybody
taking any notice Of the change, the vessel having
Storage way at the timer The causc was DIS
covered after n bit, but the general Consideration
was very fine while it lasted.
Strange things happen at sea-" sand Mr.. Thornton.
" | was once IN q snip tIlI sprung Il ltth anu NV
do you think it was caused Why. by the sound
ng-rod. sir. We had tried the pump-well so often
that, hang me- Captain jackson; # at last the rod
had not passed slick through the ships bottom"
"That's nothing said Captain Jackson. " If
you're fond of wonders, listen to this. was IN IA
tengnn brig and left Hong Kong for toocn lloIc
of wind and in the middle of the storm we struck
something with such force that all hands thought
we were ashore and must go to pieces we sounded ia
without finding bottom. and the land was INVISIBLE.
What could it be! Well, sir. the brig began to
make water, and gangs were sent t. the pumps;
We managed to reach Foochoo. and when the vessel
was surveyed, what do You think was discovered
Why, sir, that sword-fiSh had pierced the solid
oak and shcathng with its sword, that was three
ihromrh Which, ii the water lowed" Ana with that
he cast another triumphant look round.
little Of such nautical talk went long way
with me when Florence was in sight: and, our walk
to and fro regularly bringing me abreast of her and
her aunt, | dropped Captain Jackson and Dir.
Thornton to address myself to the ladies'.
Well. Miss Hawke" said to the aunt, here Is
fine weather at last; almost, perhaps, more than we
this (" and seated myself on the edge of the sky
light close beside her. Florence closed her book
and looked up at me with smile. ., IT,, NJ.
81 like wind to blow us along. replied MISS
Damaris " but not great waves which throw one
n ones balance. and make eX lStcnce quite horrible
Pray, Mr.. Egertou," sinking her voice, what was
the chief mate talking to you ABOUT just now
before Captain Jackson joined yonE
About his profession, madam about ships,
Oh, | thought a. yOU passed, tnat over lcdIu
one of you mention the name of the person who, as
told YOU SO far as am concerned, has no further
existence"
Won that his name was never mentioned :: and.
Struggling to think for moment what could nave
made her imagine that the chief mate and had
been talking about that man. the recOllection OF Il
phrase Thornton had used flashed upon me, ana
/ burst into u laugh. III tell you what yon
heard exclaimed, the chief ofncer was contrast
Ing this ship with another he bad sailed in, and SAID
that her floor had more cOmbc than THIS meaning
as ho explained. that it was higher III the middle
than at the stem and stern th2t' the phrase 20"
She peered into my face a. if she would read me
through and said, with deal OF acldlty III her
voice: Well, you see have ears dont mind .,,-o
indeed can't hclp-,others talking; but you have
given me your word
And am keeping it," exclaimed flushing mp a
bit for did not at all relish her utterly unfounded
aunt. You are unnecessarily sensitive. am sur
priSed that you should question Mt. Egerton pam
Insurance" said Florence bringing out Egerton
with a little struggle, but speaking with warmth
aFi5rencc. how dare you! lam not questioning
Mr.. Egcrton's plain assurance. believe what he
saws Mr. Egcrton." turning to me, and giving mo
a very gracious bow of her head. /" fully believo
YOU sir, and beg your pardon IL
"Oh pray. Miss Hawke began.
"I'nneceSsarily sensitive. Florence! she whipped
ont. interrupting me and rounding again upon hef
niece; how is il possible that You can consider me
so Didn't tell you that that horrld young man
had told Mr.. Egcrton some odous stories about us
when he was intOXicated-l don't mean you. Mr.
EpcrtOn-dcar me! | am quite tinttcIed! ana 90
YOU think am unnecessarily sensitive because de-
sre that his wicked exaggcratlOns shomld NOT III
known to tho passengers; least of al ;. said she.
lowering vet the rather hoarse whisper in which she
was speak king aud eycing Captain Jackson grlmly
as he passed by with Thornton, Z" that dreadful
naval person there, who roarS like bun when no
talks DO uOa think me unnecessarily sensitive,
Il don't madam" replied with great emphasis,
and just one peep at my darling eyes, Win wrT
and sincerely
deem me capable of betrayhg the trust You nave
honOred me with c,. ~
| honor as u gcnteman' said she, unbcndlng her
manner into the suggestion Of IL complete apology
| " hone Won will forgive mo-"
| Oh madam . said l. Z" YOU cmbarraSS mc-forgive
| a ladyp and | ilOuriShed my hand and bowed. ana
| She bowed, and Florence. who c0ud not conceal her
merrment dropped EGr UooM a m =" at ms
ONT of his coil of rope No doubt he wondered what
was making this old lady and me so deucedly polite
"Yom talked, Mr.. Egorton," said Aunt Damaris.
soothnrlv and very graciously, =" of returning III
this ship. perceive Therefore, you VIII stay ABOUT
| three months in sydney
. About that time, | believe" replied beginning
to breathe short for even when she and were alone
this sort of questions al"ayS bothered me tSrrDy
| but they were scarccly endurablc when Florence
was near for did not dare venture upon a ND III
my Swcch hearts presence.
1t will give me much pleasure 10 see you ~ my
house when YOU are in sydney, sad the on lady
IOu are extremely good" | answered " Nothlhs
| will give me more happiness"
THAT, very long invitation. aunt said Flor
| cncc. laughing. -. 49, +,
Nr, Egcrton has been exceedingly polite to me. y
responded Aunt Damaris, d" and if There should he
anythug colonial in what you call the length OF tins
invitation my dear, hope he VIII pardon my Aus
traiian manners" ,.
There was something in tho manner in which she
said this that caused my darling 70 give ihe one Oh
tLos Intensely meaning chances which swcethcarts,
whether they have beautiful eyes or not. have "A
knack of casting at one another. had not up To
t,,II pOfllI
have Guessed the true state of hearts from any
single sign between MS when she was present on pre-
yious occasions; but 1t happened when Florence
lifted her eyes to my face IN the manner nave
mentioned that her aunt was looking at her full
and the erect upon her was shown by the speed
with which she whipped round her sharp on IIco 10
st,re M me | galed mildly into her grecnish eyes
until She removed them to Florence again. Well,
thought l. she'll be stumbling on the truth sooner
mr. later. and then she II be finding ont who am,
and thcn~and was musing in this fashion while
in tbc nnuso tuat fell upon us. watched the opera