Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-08-14
to my own small actions when

|
ing Miss Robertson cam on deck
swathed in big warm overcoat and
fur cap.
ais the water still coming into the
ship" she asked.
1.-THE bosom has reported to me that
eight inches deep have come into her
since half-past nine" gxS
"Is that muchP' SssSSV
"More than we want"
81 don't like to trouble you with my
questions, Mr.. Roylei but [ am very,
very anxious.
"Of course you are; and do not sup
pose that you can trouble. Ask me
what you will Ipromise to tell you
the truth"
eff you find you can not pump the
water out as fast as it comes in, what
will you doP'
leave the skip"
"HowP" she exclaimed. looking
around her.
by that quarter-boat there
''But it would fill with water and
sink in such waves as these"
''These waves are not going to last,
and it is quite likely that by this time
tomorrow, the sea will be calm"
"Will the ship keep afloat until to-
morrowp''
IF the water does not come in more
rapidly that it does at present the ship
will keep afloat so long as we can
manage to pump her out every hour.
And so," said l, laughing to encour-
age her, "we are not going to die all
at once, you see."
She drew quite close to me, and said:
~ shall never fear death while you
remain on board, Mr.. RoyIe. You
have saved me from death once, and
though / may be wicked in daring TO
prophesy, yet 1 feel certain-certain,"
she repeated, with singular emphasis,
that you will save my life again"
II shall try very hard, be sure of
that, l answered.
II believe-no, it is not so much a
belief as a strong conviction, with
which my mind seems to have nothing
to do-that, whatever dangers NAV be
before US, you and will not perish"
She paused, and saw that she was
looking at me earnestly.
you will not think me superstitious
if tell you that the reason of my con-
viction is a dreamP My poor father
came and stood beside me; he was so
real! l stretched out my arms to him,
| and he took my hand and said: 'Darl-
| ing, do not fear! He who has saved
your life once will save it again. God
will have mercy upon you and him for
the prayers you offered to Him. He
stopped and kissed me and faded
away, and started up and heard the
men pumping. l went to look at him,
for thought thought he had really
come to my side: Oh, Mr.. Royle, his
spirit is with us!'
sudden lurch; she put her hand on my
arm to steady herself and left it there.
Had 1 dared 1 should have bent my
head and kissed the little hand. She
could not know how much she made
me love her by such actions as this.
"Che boatswain has told me-" she
said, after a short silence, ''that you
want to save the ship. 1 asked him
why. Are you angry with me for be-
ing curiousP''
7'Not in the least. What did he an
| swerP"
HE said that you thought the own
ers would recompense you for your
fidelity. and promote you in their serv-
ice."
"How could he know thisp l have
never spoken such thoughts to him.
''It would not be difficult to guess
such wish. "
"Well, don't know that have any
right to expect promotion or recon-
pense of any kind from owners who
send their ship to sea so badly pro-
visioned that the men mutiny."
"But if the water gains upon the ship
you will not be able to save her."
mo, she must sink. -
"What will you do thenP"
''Put you on shore or aboard another
ship" L replied, laughing at my own
evasion, for knew what she meant
ooh, of course, if we do not reach
the shore we shall none of us be able
to do any thing" she said, dropping
her head, for she stood close enough to
the binnacle-light to enable me to see
her movements and almost catch the
expression of her face. II mean what
will you do when we get ashoreP"
II must try to get another ship"
ITO commando"
"Oh dear, no! as second mate, if
they'll have me-"
''If command of ship, were given
you would you accept it?"
eff could, but can't"
She asked, quickly, ''Why notP"
because 1 have not passed an ex-
animation as master"
All at once it flashed upon me that
her father owned several ships, and
that her questions were preliminary to
her offering me the command of one of
them.
A momentary emotion of disappoint-
ment, resentment whereof 1 knew
not the meaning, through lacking the
leisure or the skill to analyze it, made
me turn and say:
would you like me to mand
one of your ships, Miss Robertson"
yes" she answered, promptly.
''As a recompense for my humane
| off RI HI,nW
ingP"
She withdrew her hand from my
J arm and inclined her head to look me
} full in the face.
'Mr. Royle, 1 never thought you
would speak to me like that. -
a want no recompense for what
have done, Miss Robertson"
Il have not offered you any recon-
pense."