The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-01-11
A SAILORS LOVE.


She was packet steamer in the employ
of great English company, and carried
many passengers. Among these, stand
ing on the promenade deck, forward, and
looking out across the broad expanse of
water before 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 was young, with a
bold, manly 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. He was only a sailor, and had
risen to his present rank from cabin boy,
but yet he dared to love the daughter of
the East Indian millionaire, Arthur
Vane.
He slowed her and he had no hope-loved
her as we worship star which is far be-
yond our reach. Nothing was further
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 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
it in the careless way of girlhood, and vet
he treasured it in his heart. Standing
there, watching the course of the ship,
and ready to give a word of warning to
the wheelman if 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 smoker"
'It comes from the galley"
Perhaps so but what are they burn
ing rosin in the galley for2"
"Rosin," cried Will, raising his head
| quickly and snuffing the air. He caught
the peculiar smell himself and leaped
down from the wheel house. 'Keep
steady" he whispered to the man at the
wheel. "There may be danger, but if
there is, for Gods sake, keep it quiet"
The man nodded quietly and took
frmer hold on the wheel. VIII Clay
crossed the deck without apparent haste
and yet with a terrible fear tugging at
his heart. He caught sight of the cap
tain coming out OF the gentlemen's cabin
and hurried up to him.
"There is something wrong" he whis-
pered. "Don't you smell burning rosin,
captainP"
The old sea captain suppressed a cry
of horror. With fifty passengers on
board, in the midst of the Indian ocean,
far from land, fire was one of the most
horrible things which could come upon
ship.
go forward and investigate, he said,
in low tone. eff you find that it is a
fire, you will know what to do. How
are the boats?"
Gan right sir; you may trust to them.
They had good cause for fear. The
entire forehold was filled with rosin,
in boxes and 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 firemen and coal passers, who
were rushing madly ON deck. Quick as
thought he seized the foremost and
hurled him back.
"Get back, you fools" he cried.
"Where are you running top
"Firel" whispered the man, hoarsely,
, 'Fire in the forehold"
"SupRose there is. Is it YOUR duty to
rush on deck and alarm the passengers,
, OF get buckets and try to put out the
fire2 Back, there, all of you, for 1 will
, brain the man who dares to finch a
hair now. Stand back, sayw
! The men cowed before his superior
will and saw that they might yet dc
, something to save the steamer.
! A guard was placed at the hatch, sc
that no one could come down, and the
7 scuttle which led into the forehold wa
opened. No sooner was this done than {
dense volume of black smoke rolled out
and the scuttle was closed again, foi
Will saw that nothing could be done il
that way. The men ran forward witt
axes, but had scarcely gone dozeI
Steps when they felt the deck trembl'
under their feet and saw small jets o
: flame shooting up through the planks
A moment more and there was a sort o
explosion, and the red flames leaped NJ
suddenly and caught the planks above
There was no hope of concealing thu
t danger from the passengers now, for tn
I
/. cries from the deck announced that tn
/ danger was known. They must fac
the most terrible danger known to tn
sea, the danger of all others the mos
t feared the danger of 6Tel Womei
Il shrieked and tainted, strong men trem
bled and could not move hand or foot
o and others ran wildly about the decks
rendering no assistance. Mabel Vant
utterly bewildered by the sudden horror
felt strong hand clutch her arm, an
saw VIII Clay, blackened by smoke an
. singed by flame.
go aft" he said, hoarsely, Stan
on the port quarter and wait for me, an
Twill save you or die trying Obey me
girl; am your master now"
She looked at him In mute wonder an
obeyed him in silence. lie sprang ava
and began to fight the fire as he could
aided by the officers and crew and som
few of the passengers who kept the
heads. Among these was Arthur Vanl
a handsome old gentleman, with an Ell
gaging face.
'You are man, William Clay" /
said, as the two hurled the contents Of
great water cask down the open hatch
'If we ever escape, the company sha
know that they have got a man in thei
employment. If we don't, it is all th
N same. Have you seen my daughter?
y 81 sent her aft just now, and told he
: that / would save her or lose my lif'
And I'll do it, too, because / love her."
"Love her, your
'Just now you said was a man, sal
win, quietly. Lay hold on that casl
- you. What are you shirkiug fori can
we talk and work, too?'
~ A strange smile came over the face (
the old merchant, and they hurled n
aaak intn tha water. and assisted q