The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-03-13

| great shy eyes, and uttered not word.
| Her father told Mark she had been very
i'll 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 theil
course by cyclones as they rounded the cape
| There had been anxious hearts at home
! no doubt, the captain said, looking at hi:
I little girl, who smiled back; but, please
God, they would be safe and sound in New
London tomorrow.
| Mr.. Briggs kept bis post generally at the
bows, but occasionally walked the length
! of the schooner, and finding Mark leaning
| against the rail, stopped and aung him a
word.
"a black night. Lucky I know every
| Judith" or again:
''The captain always says have eyes like
cat, aud can see better in the dark than
in the light"
A steam launch had kept along with the
Aurora for some time in an irritating way,
twice crowding on all steam and passing
them, then falling back.
Once or twice it had approached in way
which made Mr.. Briggs use strong Ian
guage. Here it was again altering its
course, and apparently bearing down upon
them, ready to try to cut them in two.
''What does the fellow mean?" screamed
Mr.. Briggs. Port your helm!' he cried to
the man at the wheel. pert, sayl"
The launch SKINNED past their bow, al.
most, as it seemed, grazing them. At the
same instant Mark heard sound which
made him turn with q sickening appre-
hension.
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 launch.
'Starboard your helmW shouted Mark,
in voice he did not recognize as his own.
Hard to starboardr'
The order was heard on the deck of the
steamer as well. There was shrek of the
whistles, the engines slackened.
The two vessels almost touched, then the
Aurora caught the wind, and in another
instant they were yards apart.
The captain had heard the word of COM
turn of the wheel, and was already on the
companionway.
'Mr. Briggs" he shouted, in a voice of
fierce accusation, 1--WE were very near that
steamerW
1--WE saw her," said Mr.. Briggs.
By dawn they were off New London, and
the mate himself offered to row Mark
ashore that he might catch the early train.
As they neared the wharf Mr.. Briggs took
off his gold watch and chain and handed it
to Mark.
What is that?" inquired the boy.
81 should like to present it to you," said
Mr.. Briggs.
81 should not like to take it," said Mark,
thanking you all the same"
But you did me a good SERVICE" said
Mr.. Briggs.
81 don't know what you mean"
81 mean that we should have been run
down by the steamer if you hadn't spoken
in time We would not have had the ghost
of chance. We were burning no lights on
our lee side. l feel grateful to you for my
own sake, but you probably saved the cap
tain's life, his little girls life, everybody's
life on board, perhaps"
eff did," said Mark, ''then certainly
need no present. Ishall have something to
thank God for all my days.
And the tears rose to his eyes as he
thought of the captains little daughter
sleeping in her berth.
He babe Mr.. Briggs good-by, took the
early train and reached Littleport at 10
o'clock.
1t was wet day, with gale of wind. AS
he neared the inlet he saw to his surprise
and relief one of the fishermen putting in
with Ben Flyers skiff in tow.
The tremendous tide Of the night before
had carried it "uite unhurt high up on the
green slopes 0. the lighthouse promontory
Since the boat was safe Mark could hard
ly regret his adventure, although his moth
er had been terribly anxious.-Ellen Olney
kirke in Boston Globe.