New-York tribune., 1884-02-24
CHAPTER XXXYH.
AITINGi.

So now the murder vls out: Amt Damaris. 1t
last thanks TO Daniel. knew who | was; but II Was
like confessing the brink of the grave. What
significance had my lo~c-chaso my courtship. my
naso ueradr ia the face of the tremendous celaniy
that had oyertaken the ctratimCre lille Amt
Dainari. sat rocking upon the sofa with her face
buried and Florence leaned against me. within the
embrace of my arm. Mrs. Grant and her daughter
followed by Mr. and Mrs. Joyce, The nnrse and chill
drcn came below and seated themselves. Ii made
one sorr0wful to see those little oucs-whcn the
nurse and the parents lifted aud hushed them ia
their arus-looking wondcringly aud drowsiy
around as if they could not understand why they
had been snatched from their beds and 4" ny they
were not laid down again.
4" Yon are wise to come below" ! said addressing
Alr. joyce. "ln trcube OF thf kind passengers
never can give sailors too clear deck 60 run about
upon"
Il had no idea that you had been s. sailor" re-
sponded Mr.. Joyce.
YES SAID f. hanging my head, " / vas at seq for
some years
sOuc should lave supposed 80 from thc~nanucr
in whic Won rescued nay darling. Ar. Egcrton' cy-
claimed MIR. Joyce. hugriug the child to her aud
giving iae the name had sailed under. though this
reference to my having been 10 proved they had
taken notice of Daniels exclamation t. me- and if
hurry and anxiety.
" if the ship SINKS and So saved by the boats.
suppose all that we have must 5r len behind us ,r
said poor old Mrs Grant who sat hand in haud with
her daughter speaking with an ur of resignation
sob don't talk Oi che ship sinking" cried ont
Aunt DamariS.
@Not vet. anyway said |. PITY it j. not the
other end of tne night. Bat. listen, do Won notice
there is no cianking sound OF pump,' lhc carpoa-
ter you may be sure Is standing over Inc wei "irh
the sounding rod. and while those pump, arc silent
you may know thai no water has penetrated the
bulkhead and that the ship remains perfectly safe.
-. It. does me good to hear you talk said Aunt
pamarls Pm SIRE you would not deceive u~.'
would not. indeed answered
How long were YOU at sel, Mr.-Mr. seymour y
I told her You must know AL ahoul it, she eX-
claimed edgng up 10 nae. 50 10 ~p'ak. in her
manner.
Il know enough t. keep a faithful ana vigilant
eve on you ana your niece safety. and to place ny
f at your service if nay liic can help YOu SAID J.
She turned her face aside aud sad. God bless
Won :" IN a voice that wa, like that "i woman of
= If we have TO take t. the hoats. they must NO,
secarat. ~, jack exclaimed Florencr. loud enough
for her aunt. but lot Ioc Ire others, 70 hear.
could not bear taGt .
Well not speak of the boats yet. lIy darling !
replied. We may never ucca tAe..' AZ ne 'H'>-
leI holds
will not hinder Ms iiOm grhdin2 our way '"u-'3
enonph into sydney harh"r T4
But though spoke TINS. had small hope. me-
Strath was a stoutly butt ship cut Trough yer
frames were OfiFDn the two buls.sads with WGich
she was ftted--One forward and Que ait yea t'us
the hold a long, clear Spacewere ot wood as io'o
fittings usually were n sallngtAip> in those az, T.
These buikhrads were formed oi vertical IlahE'
tongucd and tir-b0itea. rs 10 i called, and
chuiscd" very lightly cauil;ci, 80 that a
watrr-tIght divisions they cOnld not be reckoned
perfectly trus; worthy though now and again thrv
had hved a ship There was, indeed the clanc, OF
the pumps beng able 10 keep the ship atoat ,houd
the bulkhead oniB leak; but after such 20 blow a.
tho steamer had dcat us, apparently cutting rho
stlrhOard bow right down, carrying away splr. am
libhooms forward, and cauSlng the shp 10 heel over
# the COllng vessel would steam rg,t over nor
there was no telling the strain % which the luIE'
head bad been subjected. so that az any moment thc
weght of wafer IN the tore cOmlHrtigrut f,.r,n,
during heavc up Of the bows burst through t1e
hulkhcad. flood the hold IN a breath and seud th4
ship. deep the water as she already wa, with
many hundreds Of tons Of freight to the hctfotn
like stone. This wiz Daniels feHr as ne had sd
mltted. but my own Judgment IN tins Respect hardly
needed tbe continuation OF oven his large pro
fe-sonal knowledge.
Miserable it was 60 eager restless man like nv
SELF tO be sitting III that ouddy inactive and wnit-
ing for something tO happen. Yet was but a
passenger; / had been as i,ed 20 set example. 1
could do good on deck, for there were hands and
10 spare for such Work as wac 10 In done IN tho
blachneSs. and, haply, could nave been more III
employed than in striving 10 keep up the spirits of
the poor women and IN chcrlshlng and encouraging
my darling who had turned 90 me IA this supreme
moment even as wife might turn 10 Der husband,
knowing him to be Ler bost friend under cod.
Many time since then have rcad of collisions i
have recalled that dreadful night and Thought that
II there is kind of worE IN this world INTO winch "A
man engaged In it should put tho full honesty OF
his soul. knowing that hundreds OF lives may de-
pend upon every blow OF las hammer. evcry far
ryothee. every sound fastening. II Is that Of tho
shipwrght You must g. through u ~ know what