Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-11-15
MR.. NELSON'S WILL.
BY Il. RIDER HAGGARD.

I'd CUulu OI41J JuoJ L1dAC Oub I0c outlines
of the huge bellying sails, for the Kanga-
roo was rushing along before the westerly
wind under full head Of steam, and with
every inch of her canvas set to ease the
screw. There was something very exhiL
arating about the movement, the fresh.
ness of the night, and the wild sweet song
OF the wind as it sang among the rigging.
Augusta turned her face toward it, and,
being alone, stretched out her arms as
though to catch it. The whole scene
aWoke some answering greatness in her
heart; something that sIumbers in the
bosom of the higher race of human beings,
and only stirs-and then but family
when the passions move them, or when
Nature communes with her nobler chill
dren. She felt that at that moment she
could write as she had never written yet.
All sorts of beautiful ideas, all sorts Of
aspirations after that noble calm and pur-
1ty of thought and life for which we pray
and long but are not allowed to reach,
came flowing into her heart. She almost
thought that she could hear her lost Jean
MES voice calling down the gale, and her
strong imagination began to paint her
lowering like sea bird upon white wings
high above the mainmast's taper point,
Lfl1
soul of her she loved Then, by those
faint and imperceptible degrees with
which thoughts fade one into another,
from JEANNE her thought got round to
Eustace Meeson. She wondered if he had
ever called at the lodgings at Birmingham
after she left. Somehow, she had an idea
that he was not altogether Indifferent to
her; there had been a look in his eyes she
did not quite understand. She almost
wished now she had sent him line or a
message Perhaps she would do so from
New Zealand just then her meditations
were interrupted by step, and, turning
round, she found herself face to face with
the Captain.
''Why, Miss Smithers,' he said, "what
on earth are you doing here at this hour?
making up romances?'
Yes" she answered, laughing, and
with perfect truth. ''The fact of the mat
ter is, could not sleep, so I came on deck;
and very pleasant it isp'
Eyes" said the Captain, eff you want
something to put into your stories you
won't find anything better than this. The
Kangaroo is showing her heels, isn't she,
Miss Smithers? That's the beauty of her,
she can sail as well as steam; and when
III
would have to be something very quick
that would catch her. L believe that we
have been running over seventeen knots
an hour ever since midnight. L hope to
make Kerguelen Island by seven o'clock
to correct my chronometers
"What is Kerguelen Island?" asked Au-
gusta
''Ohl it is q desert place where nobody
goes, except now and then whaler to fill
up with water. l believe that the astron-
omers sent an expedition there few years
ago to observe the transit of Venus; but it
was failure because the weather was so
misty-it is nearly always misty there.
Well, must be off, Miss Smithers. Good.
night or rather, good-morning. Before
the words were well out Of his mouth there
was Wild shout forward-"Ship dheGdm
Then came an awful yell from u dozen
voices 'Stdrboard! Hard d-Stdr6oard,
for Gods SGltc"
With wild leap, like the leap of a man
suddenly shot, the Captain left her side
and rushed on to the bridge At the same
instant the engine bell rang and the steer.
ing chains began to rattle furiously on
the rollers at her feet as the steam steer
ing gear did its work. Then came another
yell
''Its q qUhdIeF-nO lightSn and an an
swering shrek of terror from some bis
black object that doomed ahead. Before
the echoes had died away, before the great
ship could even answer to the helm, there
was a crash, such as Augusta had never
heard, and a sickening shock, that threw
her on her hands and knees on to the deck,
shaking the iron masts till they trembled
as though they were willow wands. and
making the huge sails flap and for an in
slant fly aback. The great vessel rushing
along at her frightful speed of seventeen
knots, had plunged into the ship ahead
with such hideous energy that she cut
her clean in two-cut her in two and pass
ed over her as though she were q pleasure
boat!
Shrek upon shrek of despair came
piercing the gloomy night, and then, as
Augusta struggled to her feet, she felt a
horrible succession of bumps, accompanied
by crushing, grinding noise. 1t WAS the
Kangaroo driving right over the remains
of the whaler.
In very few seconds it was done, and
looking astern, Augusta could just make
out something black that seemed to float
for a second or two upon the water, and
then disappear into its depths. 1t was the
shattered hull of the whaler.
Then there arose a faint murmuring
sound, that grew first into a hum, then
into a roar, and then into clamor that
rent the skies, and up from every hatch
way and cabin in the great ship, human
beings-men, women, and children, came
rushing and tumbling with faces white
with terror-white as their night gear.
Some were absolutely naked, having
slipped off their night dress and had no
time to put on anything else; some had
put on ulsters and great-coats, others had
blankets thrown round them or carried
their clothes in their hands. Up they
came, hundreds and hundreds of them,
flor there were thousand souls on board
the Kangaroo,) pouring aft like terrified
spirits flying from the mouth of Hell, and
from them arose such a hideouS clamor as
few have lived to hear.
Augusta chung to the MEETINGS to let the
rush go by, trying to collect her scattered
senses and to prevent herself from catch
ing the dreadful contagion of the panic.
Being brave and cool-headed woman,
she presently succeeded, and with her re-
turning clearness. of vision she realized
that she and all on board were in great
peril. 1t was clear that so frightfu1 q col
lsion could not have taken place without
injury to their own vessel. Nothing short
of an iron-clad ram could have stood such
81 shock. Probably they would founder in
few minutes and all be drowned. In a
few minutes she might be dead! Her
heart stood still at the horror of the
thought, but once more she recovered her.
self Well, after all, life had not been
pleasant; and she had nothing to fear from
another world, she had done no wrong.
Then suddenly she began to think of the
others? Where was Lady Holmhurst?
and where were the boy and the nurses