Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-06-28

ions to the replies to which Molly Ii stenet
attentively, although her eyes were turned
! seaward-tovard the distant horizon.
sOn that day." continued Captain Willis,
'fhc weather happened to be very favor.
able. and the Dreadnaught was scudding
! along with every sail set Captain John
was on the quarter deck, glass in hand. He
had shifted his helm to come alongside OF
me, for 1 couldn't change my course, being
already so close to the wind that my sails
were almost fiapping."
1t was evident that Mrs. Allaire did not
understand the precise meaning of these
terms made use of by Captain Willis, but
she was sure of one thing-that the man
standing in front of her had seen John, had
conversed with him for an instant.
Gas we passed each other" said the
captain, "your husband waved his land to
me and shouted: Everything is going all
right, Willis; the moment you reach San
Diego give my love to my dear wife Then
the two ships separated and soon passed out
of each others sight.
"What day was it that you fell in with
the Dreadnaught?" asked Mrs. Allaire.
"March 2S," replied Captain Willis, Sat
11:2J a. NJ"
Mrs. Allaire was so particular about these
details that the captain sent for the chart,
and designated the exact point at which the
two vessels had to pass each other. 1t w.s
1850 longitude west from Greenwich, and
200 north latitude. In ether words, LOO
miles west of San Diego. If the weather
should continue favorable, and there is
every reason to believe that it would at this
season of the year, Captain John would
surely make quick and agreeable passage
across the waters of the North Pacific
And, further, as he was to find a cargo
awaiting him at Calcutta, his sojourn in the
capital of the Indies would be very brief
and his return to America would be accom-
plished without any delay.
AT this moment the mate made his ap-
pearance on the quarter deck, and informed
the captain that they were ready to get un-
der way. The sailors standing on the fore
castle were only waiting the signal to break
anchor Captain Willis offered to send
Mrs Allaire ashore unless she preferred to
remain On hoard. In that case, she could
cross the bay on the Flying Cloud and so
reach tie city. 1t would take about two
hours for the ship TO make her docks.
Mrs Allaire would have been very glad
to accept the captains invitation, but she
was expected at luncheon at H. She felt
confident that Eate, after what the mulat-
tress had said, would be very anxious to
reach home by the time her husband did,
and she therefore requested Captain Willis
to put them ashore so that they might be
in time 10 catch the steam launch.
The necessary orders were given, and Mrs.
Allaire and her cousin took their leave Of
the captain, who kissed both Of little Waits
rosy cheeks.
While waiting for the steam launch to
start, Molly sat watching with deep interest
the movements of the FLYING Cloud. Keep
ing time with the rude song of the boat
swain, the sailors began to break anchor and
the chain to creak on the hawse, while the
mate ordered enough sail to be set to carry
the vessel with the help of the tide to her
deck.
The steam launch was now about to cast
of, and gave shil1 whistle to call in her
passengers, two or three of whom quickened
their pace coming UP the point in front of
Coronado Hotel Mrs. Al1aire, Kate Bar
kcr and the nurse took seats on one of the
starboard benches, while the other
passengers, about 20 in all, rambled about
the deck. A fEal blow of the whistle was
sounded, the screw began to move and the
launch put out across the bay.
1t was only 11:3O, and Mrs. Allaire would
reach the house in Fleet street in time, for
a quarter of an hour was all that Was re-
quired to make the trip across the bay. As
the launch steamed away, Molly's gaze re-
mained riveted upon the Flying Cloud.
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 amphitheater
stood out more and more plainly 1t was
only a quarter of mile farther to the
wharf.
Look outv' 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 little bridge in front of the
smskestack.
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 forward.
A large schooner brig, which had pulled out
from the line of vessels lying at the docks,
was making ready to go to sea with her bow
turned toward Island Point She had been
taken in tow by a tug, and was already
pretty well under headway. This schooner
brig WIS right In front of the steam launch
and so near that 1t became absolutely neces-
sary to let her pass, and for this reason the
man at the bow had warned the helmsman.
A grave anxiety now came upon the pas
sengers, an anxiety the more justifable in
that the bay was filled with vessels anchored
here and there, and hence it was very
natural that there should be o rush made
toward the stern of the launch. Everyone
saw that it would be necessary for the steam
launch to come to a standstill in order to let
the tug and the brig get by, the course being
also encumbered by q number of fishing