The morning call., 1891-06-28

the mate ordered enough sail to be set to
carry the vessel with the help Of the tide to
her dock
The steam launch was now about to cast
off. and gave shrill whistle to call her pas
sengers, two or three of whom qulckened
their pace coming up the point in front Of
the hotel.
Mrs. Alaire, Kate Barker and the nurse
took seats on one of the starboard benches,
while the other passengers, about twenty in
all, rambled about the deck. A final blow
of the whistle was sounded, the screw be-
gan to move and the Launch put out across
the bay
1t was only half-past eleven and Mrs.
Allaire would reach the house In Fleet
street in time, for quarter Of an hour was
all that was required to make the trip acress
the bay.
As the launch steamed away. Molly's gaze
remained riyeted upon the Flying Cloud.
The anchor was up, the sails caught the
breeze and the ship began to move ahead.
Once in her place alongside the wharf
| Molly would be able to pay as many visits
| to Captain Willis as she might choose.
The steam launch shot along rapidly.
| The houses of the city, perched upon the
different terraces OF the picturesque amphi-
| theateT, stood out more and more plainly
1t was only a quarter of a mile farther to
| the wharf.
Look outr suddenly cried one of the
hands posted at the bow of the launch. as
he turned to the man at the wheel. who was
| standing on q little bridge in front Of the
| smOke-stack.
As she heard this cry Mrs. Allaire looked
| toward the port side of the launch, where
they were running out vessel which was
! also attracting the attention of the other
| passengers, most OF whom had gone for
ward. A large schooner-brig, which had
| pulled out from the line of vessels lying at
the docks, was making ready to go to sea-,
w RI I'd 81 Dni nt
| She had been taken in tow by tug, and
was pretty we'll under Roadway. This
| schOoner-brig was right in front of the steam
| launch and SO near tlrat it became absolutely
| necessary to let her pass, and for this rea-
| son the man at the bow had warned the
| helmsman.
A grave anxiety now came upon the pas
sengers, an anxiety more justlfiable in that
the bay was filled with vessels anchored
here and there. and hence it was very nat
ural that there should be rush made
| toward the stern Of the launch. Every one
saw that it would be necessary for the
steam launch to come to standstll in order
| to let the tug and the brig get by, the course
being also incumbered by a number of fish
| ing smacKS darting hither and thither in the
| stiff breeze
Look out p repeated the man at the
bow.
All rightv' answered the man at the
helm, There's no danger. l have room
enoughw
But hampered by the sudden appearance
Of large steamer in her wake, the tug I'M
eXpeetedly changed her course, wearing
round TO the port. There was a loud out
cry, in which the crew of the brig Joined.
for they we're trying TO be Of assistance to
the tug by steering in the same direction
The tug aud the steam launch were now not
twenty feet apart.
Greatly alarmed, Mrs. Barker had sprung
her feat vNbila NfOIIy had in Ia
reached out for little Walt whom she held
tightly pressed to her bosOnr
"StaTbOard, staTboard your helm" cried
the captain of the tug to the man on
the bridge Of steam launch. but this
officer needed no directions; he under
stood what it was necessary to do, and in
order to keep out of the tugs way he threw
the head OF the steam launch around with
considerable violence, for the brig was al
ready under good Roadway aud hence the
ting would have been in danger of being run
down if had Stacked its pace.
So suddenly and vigorously had the helm
OF the launch been put to starbOard that the
| craft gave violent lurch, and as an inc
vltable result many OF the passengers were
| thrown off thefr feet
Tho cries that now went up were those of
| terror, for It seemed as if the steam launch
were about to capsZe.
At this instant Mrs. Alaire, who was
standing near the railing, not being able to
recover her balance, was thrown overheard
with her child The brig grazed the steam
launch in passing her and thus ended all
fears of a collision.
Molly Mollyw shrieked Kate, around
whom one Of the passengers threw his arms
! as she was about to spring after her cousin.
Suddenly one Of the sailors of the launch
leaped overheard and struck out for Mrs.
AlaTe, who, buOyed up by her clothing, was
floating few yards away. With her babe
eIasped tightly in her arms she was upon
the point OF sinking, however, when the
sailor reached her.
AS the launch had been stopped immedi-
ately it was not difficult task for this sailor,
4 strong man and an excellent swimmer. to
rescue Mrs Allaire. Unfortunately, at the
very moment the man reached out TO lay
! hold of the captains wife her strength failed
| her, her hold upon her child relaxed and lit
! tie Walt slipped out Of her arms and disap-
! peared.
In an utterly unconscious condition Molly
was lifted on board the launch and tendeTly
| cared for. Again the fearless sailor-he was
! a man about 30, Zach French by name-dis-
appeared over the side OF the launch and
dived repeatedly in search Of the child. 1t
| was ali in vain, however. Little Waits
| body had been swept away by some lower
| current.
All this time, the passengers aided by
! Kate and the nurse, both Of them wild with
grief, were making every possible effort to
Drlng molly Dack 10 CONSCIOUSNESS. 11ey
! were successful al last. Her lips moved.
she murmured the name OF Walt, as her
| eyes opened and her bewlldered gaze rested
| upon the strange faces.
My chlldl" she gasped. Then she rec
| ognized Zach French, who had just clam
bered up the side of the launch.
His arms were empty.
my child? she burst out In a pteOus
! tone. Then with sudden movement she
| sprang up, repulsed those who endeavored
| to restrain her and darted toward the stern.
| She would certainly have thrown herself
| overheard had not number of strong hands
! been stretched out TO prevent 1t became
necessary to restrain the unfortunate
woman by main force, as the steam launch
| resumed her course toward her wharf.
With distorted features and clenched
! hands Mrs. Affairs now sank back motion
| less into her cousins arms. few minutes
| later the launch reached the wharf. and
Molly was taken up quickly but tenderly
| and transported 20 her cousins house. Lew
Barker had just reached home. lie ordered
| the servant to summon physician.
Although the latter answered the sum-
| mons at once, it was not until after pro.
| longed efforts that he succeeded in restoring
| Molly to consciousness.
Looking about her with wild stare, she
| exclaimed:
"What is it? What has happened? All,
| yes-I know" and then as a sweet smile
spread over her face she added: "ifs John
| He's coming; he's cOmlngi He's coming
hack to his wife and his child. John, John
| is herev'
The captains wife had become insane.
To De continued.
Copyright, 1891