New-York tribune., 1884-02-24
nrwyoRk DAILY TRIBUNE SUNDAY FEBRUARY ll-wE1yE

listened, not liking that sudden summons bu
! the call wac 40 quiet, and Daniels departure ~
tranquil that the Others appeared to ind nothing
@YOu have been sailor, Dir. Seymour sale
Aunt Damaris, in a low voice. 10 me. and can sn
swer nay question: Is Captain Thompson dong al
! sAll"
Is there nothing omitted by him which he ought
Nothing that | can imagine" replied: for thert
was no good telling her that. in my opinion. ht
! ought to try 70 make Sc. Paurs.
| ohe now teii to oatcchisng me: asked how long
| was at sea. what made me quit the life what my
! experiences were as a sailor. Suddenly. while IN
! the midst Of answering the last question stopped
dead short hearing the ringing eIank of the pump.
| on the main-deck. At any Other time that sound
would have passed nnnotced: but roc the first
note OF It seemed 20 roll through the cuddy like
bitter blast. striking deadly chill into every heart
IiaTk |" shouted Captain Jackson. sitting bolt
| upright. and lifting his hand they have manned
What does it mean ?" shreled Mrs. Marmaduke
! Mortimer
"GOd Almighty. we're sinkingw howled Mr
| Thompson Tucker. and. springing TO his feet, he
| boted like madman to the cOmpsniOn-ladder. In
breath his behavior created panic. SeiZIng hls
wite's hand, Captain Jackson rushed on deck with
her. and be was followed pell-mell by Mrs: OBrien
the Joyces, the MOrtimers and Mrs. and Miss Grant
tlorences hand was, on my arm. and her eyes
riveted on my face. Her aunt had jumped up, but
grasped her dress and detained her
!" For mercys sake be calm Miss Hawke, i
! kind shlpwreck would seldom be the horrible thing
| it's made. Those pumps are manned because they
nave found ont that water is running into the hold
bnt ycu may be sure that it slowly. Captain
/ Thompson would give orders 10 have the boats low
cred. There rs nothing TO terrify one in a leaky
ship so long rs the pumps act. and there are people
! enough 10 keep them going. Sailors have declared
To me that, Tor years at stretch, they have sailed
! in nothing but Ieaky ships. Until the bulkhead
gives way-and the chief mate saws il can't do that
| j shall consider the StratbmOre safe"
The poor old lady, trembling all Ol er, and direct
| ing giances full Of fright now at the companion
steps. now at the skylight, now at the windows in
the cuddy front, RESUMED her place muTmuring z,
I'm sure you would not deceive me, Mr. Seymour.
| for Florencc's sake"
tans permission to take you both under my special
charge. It's not a moment for bOasting. but ne
knows I'm not ignorant of the sea, and he would
not concede to such trust you two If he was
not weiI-assured of my Judgment"
on. Mr. Seymour, | am quite satisfied TO be IN
your charge; am sure you are clever sailor.
exclaimed the old lady, passing hr arm through
mine, and hauling herself hard and tight against me.
- Hear thaf, Florence. darlingi Miss Hawke
listen| cried, as the seamen who were working at
| the pumps broke into chorus that came rattline
! into the cuddy with hurricane note. Drowning
men don't sing" II was indeed. inspiritins to hear
| their voices.
y am 50 sorry" exclaimed Aunt Damaris holding
on tight 10 my arm on the other side. that did
not Know W 10 you were until thls evening How
Seymour As he did How easily he is 10 be de-
ceyed. Thank Heaven you with rs. Mr. Sey-
monr. Oh, II we are spared to reach Australia.
shall have long story to tell my stubborn. preju-
just then tho chief mate came into the cuddy
AS be approached the table to mix himself glass
of grOg he said You are wise TO keep under shell
ter ladies. Was it the sound OF the punps thai
sent the others hyingf They've been heard often
enough during the voyage"
" But water must be coming into the ship, sir. or
the crew would not be pumping" cried Aunt Da-
maris
why, yes. water is coming into the ship. GER
talniY, answered the mate holding up the glass 10
the light, to measure the quantity of brandy he
poured into it, " but IT'S being chucked out at the
same time. dye see, Miss Hawke, and so it don't
matter"
Where do you reckon it's coming from. Mr.
Thornton - | asked.
why through tho bulklIead. hope Better
there than anyW here else Mr.. EgertOn. Don't want
10 think anyJhings been started abalt, you know.
If the ships sound from where the bulkbead begins
b the stern post aud the bulkhaad don't cave in
and how IS It going To do that, with fourteen ham
drrd tons of cargo abaft TO shore il up why. the
pumps may be able 10 keep il water-tght so far as
are concerned, until we reach sydney.
There was a tCll-tale compass fixed tO . beam, Just
over the shippers chair at the table the mate stood
near it as he Conversed. and nv eye gong from his
face 10 IL. noticed something that caused me to
diScngage myself from Aunt pamariss arm and get
mp. A glance at that compass sufhced; the course
had been altered to east-sOuthcast. and the ship
lying as close to the wind rs she would sail. The
meaning Of this was, that Daniel was making for
st. Pauls Island ! returned to the sofa. the mate
looking at me hard.
u hope said Amt Damaris addressing him,
that You will not trouble Yourself to deceive u.s.
Certainly not. he answered qnictly.
At all events. this gentleman she continued,
meaning me- is not 10 be deceived. His name is
not EgcrtoD. but Seymour; he is an old sailor. and
knows exactly how We are situated, and what kind
of danger are in
1 .hed aud SAID 81 Ny old shipmate. the cap
tain. VIII ell you my story MIR. Thornton. Ny
name is Seymour, and had some years of service ia
this employ; and pretending 20 have something to
SAY 10 him about myself which did not want the
old lady to hear. | approached him aud whispered,
See the course has been altered. Does the captain
mean to try for It. Pauls''
He nodded.
Is the leakage heavy ?"
He nodded again.
She will have been strained by the blow abaft
the bulkhead T.
He whispered " She is like a sieve TO starboard
from on a line with the cathead TO abaft the fore
chains. The utmost can hope 10 do II to keep
her aioat till daylight. But pray. keep tins news
to yourself. If the passengers get panlc-stricken
IL may spread to the crew.
Why" replied you see it was necessary that
| should round on what you tcd him about me :;
hut there j. trctuasunry among sailors, and We
understand each other now.
| looked at Florence aS ! said this; but tho an-
swer clearly did not satisfy her. There was intense
wistfuness IN her beautiful eyes, and her face had
a marblc-ike gleam in the lamplight; yet she SAID
nothing; merely slipped her hand INTO mine, ~ sat
down between her and her aunt. and for awhile we
remained silent, listening 70 the clanillng and
puSing of the pumps on the main-deck. the yearn-
ing moan Of water washing and gurglIDg along the
lee bends and the cTeakiug OF buikheads as the
vessel relied on the SWELL which the shift Of the
helm had brought nearly abeau and pitched over
the surges which striking fnl against the
mutiiated starbOard bow
CHAPTER AAANIII.