Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1890-12-17
A SAILORS LOVE


pany, and carried many passengers,
Among these, standing on the oynA
enade deck forward, and lookflE koQt
across the broad expanse of water be-
fore her, was a beautiful girl in the
flush of her youth and beauty.
In the wheelhouse stood a young
man, second mate of the ship, looking
at Mabel Vane. He had bold, manly
face, curling brown hair and beard.
and speaking gray eyes-a man. in
grace of person, manly beauty, and
pure healt--a man worthy of the name.
He was only sailor, and had risen to
his present rank from cabin boy, but
vet he dared to love the daughter of
the East Indian millionaire, Arthur
Vane.
He loved her and he had no hope
loved her as we worship a star which is
far beyond our reach. Nothing was
further from his thoughts than to in
suit her by telling her that he loved
her; but to be near her, to see her
often, perhaps to do her some service
which would win a smile from her
that was reward enough for Will 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 il in the careless way
Of girlhood, and yet he treasured 1t
i'm his heart. Standing there, watching
the course of the ship, and ready to
give word OF warning to the wheel
man IL it were needed, he never 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 smoke ~
:. 1t comes from the galley
Perhaps so; but what are they
burning rosin in the galley for ?n
Rosin ?'' cried Win, raising his
head quickly and snuffing the air.
He caught the peculiar smell himself
and leaped down from the wheel
house. Keep steady,n he whispered
to the man at the wheel. "There may
be danger, but if there is, for God $
sake, keep quiet %
The man nodded quietly and took
crossed the deck without apparent
haste, yet with a terrible fear tugging
at his heart. He caught sight OF the
captain coming out of the gentlemens
cabin and hurried up to him.
"There is something wrong,' he
whispered. "Don't you smell burning
rosin, captain P''
The old sea captain suppressed cry
of horror. With fifty passengers on
board, in the midst of the Indian
ocean, fire was one OF the most hor-
rible things that could happen ship.
eco forward and. investigate" he
said. in low tone. If you find that
It is a fire you will know what to do.
How are the boats ?'
"All right, siro
They had good cause for fear. The
forehold was filed with rosin in boxes
and casks, and if a fire started there
it might as well be in a nest OF lat
pine.
Will ran down to the lower deck,
where he was met by a crowd OF ex-
cited fremen and coal pasSers. who
were rushing madlv on deck. Quick
as lightning he S, lied the foremost
and hurled him back, crying
Got hack vosl fools Where are
you making for ?o
q sFire-in-the-fore 70 whis-
pered the man, hoarsely.
Suppose there is Is it your duty
to rush on deck and alarm the pas
sengers, or get buckets and try to put
out the fire? !? Back there. all of you.
/ will brain the man who dares finch
a hair now. Stand back, say p
The men covered before his superior
will. and saw that they might yet do
something to save the steamer.
A guard was placed at the hatch so
that no one could come down, and the
scuttle which led into the torehold
was opened. When this was done q
cloud of black smoke rolled out, and
the scuttle was closed again, for Will
saw that nothing could be done in that
way.
The men ran forward with axes,
hut had scarcely gene dOzeE steps
when they felt the deck tremble under
their feet and saw small jets of flame
shooting up through the planks. A
moment more and there was sort OF
explosion. and the red flames caught
the planhs above.
There was no hope of concealing the
danger from the passengers now,
for the ship was full Of smoke, and
wild cries from the deck announced
that the danger was known. They
must face the most awful peril known
AZ sea-fire The women tainted,
strong men trembled, and some ran
wildly about the decks. Mabel Vane,
utterly bewildered by the sudden hor-
ror. felt q strong hand clutch her arm,
and saw Win Clay blackened by
smoke and singed by fame.
"Go aft 20 he cried. Stand on
the port quarter and wait for me. |
viii save you or die trying. Obey me,
girl %
She looked at him in mute wonder
and obeyed him in silence He sprang
away and began to fight the fire as he
could, aided by the officers and crew
and some few Of the passengers who
kept their heads. Among these was
Arthur Vane, handsome old gentle
man, with an engaging face.
"You are man, William Clay he
said, as the two hurled the contents OF
q great water cask down the open
hatch. " If we ever escape, the COM
pany shall know that they have got
4 man in their employment. IL we
don't. it is all the same. Have you
seen my daughter 2''
sent her aft just now, and told
her that I would save her or lose my
life. And I'll do it, too, because l
love herr
Love her, you 2''
Just now You said / was a man. ?
said WIN, quietly. 9 Lay hold on that
cask. you. What are you shrinking
for can't we talk and work. too ~
A strange smile came over the face
Of the old merchant, and they hurled
the caSk into the water, and assisted