Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-08-18

laC x NttTu was submerged, IHc gan WIFI
Che ensign hanging dead at the pea k,
thj main-yard presently only the
main-top-mast cross-tree was visible,
a dark cross upon the water; they van
ished. At the same moment the sun
disappeared behind the horizon; and
now we were alone on the great, breath
ing deep. with all the eastern sky grow
ing dark as we watched.
les all over" said the bOatswain,
breaking the silence, and speaking in
a hollow tone. mo liyin' man'll see
the Grosvenor again.
Mary shivered and leaned against
me. | took up n rug and folded it
around her, and kissed her forehead.
Darkness came down very quickly,
and, that we might lose no chance of
being seen by any distant vessel, l
lighted the ships lantern and hOisted
it at the masthead. l also lighted the
bulls-eye lamp and set it in the stern
sheets.
MARY" whispered, 81 will make
you up a bed in the bottom of the
boat. While this weather lasts, dear
est, we have no cause to be alarmed
by our position. 1t will make me happy
to see you sleeping. and be sure that
while you sleep there will be watchful
eyes near you"
Il will sleep as I am. here, by your
side; ! shall rest better So" she an
swcred. Il couldn not sleep lying down"
1t was too sweet a privilege to fore
go; | passed my arm around her and
held her close to me; and she closed her
eyes like a child, to please me.
She fell asleep at last, and sat for
nearly two hours motionless, that l
should not awaken her. The steward
slept with his head in his arms, kneel-
ing-a strange, mad posture. The
boatswain sat forward, with his face
turned aft and his arms folded. l adj
dressed him once. but he did not an
swer. Probably L spoke too low for
him to hear, being fearful of waking
Mary; but there was little we had to
say. Doubtless he found his thoughts
too engross ng to suffer him to talk.
Being anxious to take a star" as
we say at sea, and not knowing how
the time went, l gently drew out my
watch and found the hour a quarter to
eleven. in replacing the watch l
aroused Mary, who raised her head and
looked around her with eyes that
flashed in the lantern light.
where are we?" she exclaimed,
and bent her head to gaze at me, on
which she recollected herself. Poor
have kept you supporting my weight.
You were more tired than |. But it is
your turn now. Rest your head on my
shoulder"
mo. it is still your turn, " answered,
"and you shall sleep again presently.
But since you arc awake, l will try to
find out where we are. You shall hold
the lamp for me while l make my cal
culations and examine the chart"
Saying which, drew out my seXtant
and got across the thwarts to the
mast, which l stood up across-side of
to lean on; for the swell, though mod
crate enough to pass without notice on
a big vessel, lifted and sunk the boat
in such way as to make it difficult to
stand steady.
| was in the act of raising the sen
tant to my eye, when the boatswain
"What do you hear?" | asked.
"IIush! listen nowr' he answered, in
a breathless voice.
! strained my ear, but nothing was
audible to me but the wash of the water
against the boats side.
Don't you hear it, Mr.. ROyle?" he
cried, in kind of agony, holding up
his finger. ''Miss Robertson, don't you
hear something's"
There was another interval of silence,
and Mary answered: II hear a kind OF
throbbing."
cit is sou l exclaimed. 81 hear it
now! 1t is the engines of a stcamcr!'
"a steamer? Yes! heard it! where
is she?" shouted the boatswain, and he
jumped on the thwart on which stood.
l dashed the lamp by the ring of it to
an oar and waved it to and fro. Mean
while the boatswain had got hold of
the masthead halyards. and was rum
down the mast. MARY" | exclaimed,
lift up the scat behind you, and in
the left-hand corner you will find d
pistol
Il have it," she answered, in a few
moments.
''Point it over the stern and fircr'
cried.
She lcvclod the little weapon and
pulled the trigger; the white flame
leapcd, and a smart report followed.
Listen nowr' l said.
held the oar steady, and the boat
| swain ceased to dance the lantern. For
the first few>Seconds l heard nothing,
| then my ear caught the throbbing sound
81 see hers cried the boatsw ain;
and, following his finger (my sight be-
ing keener than my hearlng,) L saw
| not only the shadow of a vessel down
in the southwest, but the smoke from
her funnel pouring along the stars
Mary" l cried, fire again!''
She drew the trigger
Again.
The clear report whizzed like bul.
let past my ears.
simultaneously with the second re-
| port ball of blue ire shot up into the
sky. Another followed, and another.
A moment after a red light shone
clear upon the sea.
She sees us!'' I cried ''God be
praised! Mary, darling, she secs us!'
| waved the lamp furiously. But
there was no need to wave it any
longer The red light drew nearer and
nearer; the throbbing of the engines
louder and louder, and the revolutions
| of the OrOpollpr Soundo1 like n Du1Se