Evening journal., 1891-03-09

clouds in the west, sending forth one fiery
| CLEAN, then had sunk beneath the hori-
zon.
| Night descended almost on the instant
| for the whole face Of the water by this time
was covered with mist.
The captain told Mark he could not spare
the time or the men to send him ashore
| but that they would take him to New Lon
don, for which port they were pressing all
SAIL and which they hoped to reach by day
| light.
Mark could only accept the situation.
lie took supper with the captain and his
httle daughter, girl of IL.
she was delicate, pretty creature, with
great shy eyes, and uttered not a word.
her father told Mark she had been very
III IN the spring, but that the long voyage
IN the Aurora with him had quite made
her over
They were already fifty-six days out from
Galveston, having been driven off t1leir
course by cyclones rs they rounded the cape
there had been anxious hearts ut home
no doubt, the captain said, looking at his
liotle girl, who smiled back; but please
tIou, they would be safe and sound in New
London tomorrow.
Mr.. Briggs kept his post generally at the
BOWS, but occasionally walked the length
OF the schooner, and finding Mark leaning
against the rail, stopped and flung him a
word
"A black night. Lucky know every
men q the sound from He'll Gate to Point
judith, or again:
Ihe captain always says have eyes like
2 ca, and can see better in the dark than
in the Light
a steam launch had kept along with the
An fftrtCI .
twice crowding on all steam and passing
them, then falling back
Once or twice it had approacbed IN n ,,,a,,
which made MIR. Briggs use strong Ian
guage. Here it was again altering its
course, and apparently bearing down 1pon
them, ready TO try to cut them in two.
W hat does the fellow mean?n screamed
Mr. Brlggs Port your helmr' he cried 10
the man at the wheel. Port, SAW,
The launch SKINNED past their bow. al
most, as 1t seemed, grazing them At the
same instant Mark heard sound which
made him turn with a sickening apnre-
hensioD
A sudden fash struck his eyes. which |
seemed to come almost from the zenith. |
below was huge lighted mass which was |
advancing upon them with tremendous !
speed.
Mr.. Briggs was still gazing wrathfully
after the steam lannch
"StarbOarl your helml" shouted Mark
IN voice he did not recognize rs his own |
Hard to starboardr'
The order was heard on the deck of the
steamer as well. There was a Shrek OF the
whistles, the engines slackened.
The Two vessels almost touched then tho
Aurora caught the wind, and in another
instant they were yards apart.
The captain had heard the word of com
mand, the rushing Of feet and the sbarn
turn of the wheel, and was already on the
Mr. Briggs" he shouted, in a voice of
herce accusation, I'VE were very near that
1--WE saw her." said Mr. Briggs.
by dawn they were off New London. and
ihe mate himself offered to row Mark
ashore that he might catch the early train
As they neared the wharf Mr. Briggs took
)R his gold watch and chain and handed II
20 Mark
What is that" inquired the boy.
Il should like to present it to you" said
Mr.. Briggs.
Il should not like to take it, said Mark.
thanking you all the same"
But you did me good service" said
Mt. DflgkS
81 don't know what you mean.n
II mean that we should have been run
Town by the steamer if you hadn't spoken
n time. We would not have had the ghost
# a chance. We were burning no lights on
'ur lee side. / feel grateful to you for nv
'wn sake, but you probably saved the cap
aims life his little girls life, everybody's ,
life on board, perhaps"
III did, said Mark, "then certainly I
iced no present. Ishall have something to |
hank God for all my days"
And the tears rose to his eyes as he ,
bought Of the captains little daughter
leeping in her berth.
He babe AR. Briggs good-by, took the
arly train and reached Littleport at 10 z
icloek.
It was wet day, with a gale Of wind. As
lie neared the inlet he saw TO his surprise
nd relief one of the fishermen putting in
With Ben Flyers skiff in tow.
The tremendous tide OF the night before '
lad carried it quite unhurt high up on the
,reen slopes Of the lighthouse promontory.
Since the boat was safe Mark could hard
y regret his adventure, although his moth
r had been terribly anxious. Ellen Olney
Sirke in Boston Globe.