The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-02-26
A SAILORS LOVE.

a SAILORS LOVE.
The GRAY Eagle went on her course,
parting the waves Of the Indian ocean.
She was packet steamer in the employ
of great English company, and carried
many passengers. Among these, stand
ing on the promenade deck, forward, aud
looking out across the broad expanse of
water before her, was beautiful girl, in
the flush Of her youth and beauty.
In the wheel house stood young man.
second mate ofthe ship. looking at Mabel
vane. lie was young. with bold, man
ly face, curling brown hair and beard and
speaking gray eyes-a man, in grace Of
person, manly beauty, and pure heart
"a man worthy of the name lie was
only sailor, and had risen to his pres
ent rank from cabin boy. bat yet he dar-
ed to love the daughter of the East In
dian millionaire. Arthur Yane.
He loved her and he had no hope
loved her as we worship star which is
far beyond our reach Nothing was fur
ther from his thoughts than to insult her
by telling her that he loved her; but to
be near her, to see her often, perhaps TO
do some service which would win from
ner smile-that was reward enough for
win Clay.
She never dreamed of his alteration
and he had heard her say to her friends
that she liked him better than any other
officer on board the Gray Eagle She said
it in The careless way of girlhood and
yet he treasured il in his heart, standing
there, watching the course OF the ship,
and ready to give word of wrning 10
the wheelman if were needed, he new
er took his eyes from her long.
"Mr Clay" said the man at the wheel,
as he gave it half turn and rested there,
don't you smell smoker
1t comes from the galley
Perhaps 50, but what are they burn
ing rosin in the galley, for?"
Rosinl" cried Will, raising his head
quickly and snufhng the air. He caught
the peculiar smell hi nself, and leaped
down from the wheel house. Keep
steady" he whispered, to the man at the
wheel. There may be danger, but
ifthere is, for Gods sake keep it very
quiet"
The man nodded quietly, and took
firlner bold on the wheel. Will Clay
crossed the deck without apparent haste,
and yet with terrible fear tugging at his
heart. He caught sight of the captain
coming out of the gentlemen's cabin and
hurried up to him.
There is something wrong" he whis-
pered. /" Don't you smell buring rosin,
captain p
The old sea captain suppressed a cry
Of horror. With fifty passengers on
board, in the midst of The Indian ocean,
far from land, a fire was one of the most
horrible things which could come upon
ship.
go forward and investigate" he ssid,
in low tone. IF you find that it is a
FIRE, you will know what to do How are
the boats ~
~AlI night, sir; you may trust to
them
They had good cause to fear. The en-
tireeforehold was filed with rosin, in
boxes ana casks, and if fire started
there it might as well be in a nest Of fat
pine. Will ran down to the lower deck,
where he was met by crowd Of excited
fremen and coal passers, who were rush
ing madly on deck. Quick as thought
he seized the foremost, aud hurled him
back.
Get back, you fools - he cried.
"Whore are you running to ~
Fire" whispered the man, hoarsely
Fire in the forehold :"
Suppose there is. Is it your duty to
rush on deck and alarm the passengers,
or get buckets and try to pu; outthe fire
Back, there, all of you, for | will brain
the man whe dsres to finch hair now
stand back, say.'
The men cowed before his superior
will, and saw that they nigh; yet do
something to save the steamer.
A guard sas placed at the hatch, 50
that no one could come down, snd the
scuttle which led into the forehoId vas
opened. No sooner sas this done than
dense volume Of black smoke rolled out
and the scuttle wss closed again, for Will
saw that nothing could be done in that
way. The men ran forward with axes,
but had scarcely gone dozen steps when
they felt the deck tremble under their
feet and saw small jets of fame shooting
up through the plsnk.- A moment more
and there was sort Of explosion, and
the red flames leaped up suddenly and
caught the planks above.
There was no hope Of conceaIing the
danger from the passengers now, for the
steamer was full of smoke, and Wild cries
from the deck announced that the danger
was known They must face the most
terrible danger known to the, sea, the
danger of all others the most to be fear
ed-shc danger Of fire womez shrieked
and tainted, strong men trembled and
could not move hand or foot, and others
ran wildly about the deck, rendering no
assistance. Mabel vane, utterly bewil-
dered by the Sudden horror. fsis 4 strong
hand clutch her arm, and saw VIII Clay,
blackened by smoke, and singed by
iiame-