Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-02-28
CHAPTER VII.
THE CATAsTROPHE

And so these two fair women talSed,
making plans for the future as though all
things endured forever, and all plans
were destined to be realized. But even as
they talked, somewhere up in the high
heavens, the Voice that rules the world
spoke a word and the Messenger Of Fate
rushed forth to do its bidding. On board
the great ship was music and laughter
and the sweet voices Of singing women;
but above it hung pail Of doom. Not
the most timid heart dreamed Of danger
What danger could there be aboard of
that grand ship, which sped across the
waves with the Hghtness and confidence
of the swallow There was naught to
fear. A prosperous voyage was drawing
to its end, and mothers put their babes to
sleep with as sure heart as though they
were on solid English ground.
Presently Lady Holmhurst got up from
her chair and said she was going to bed,
but that, first Of all, she must kiss Dick,
her little boy, who slept with his nurse in
another cabin. Augusta rose and went
with her, and they both kissed the sleep
ing child, q bonny boy of 5, and then they
kissed each other and separated for the
night.
Some hours afterward Augusta woke
up, feeling very restless. For an hour or
more she lay thinking of Mr. Tombey and
many other things, and listening to the
swift clap, lap" Of the water as it slipped
past the vessels sides and the occasional
tramp Of the watch as they set fresh sails.
At last her feeling of unrest got too much
for her, and she rose and partially, very
partially, dressed herself-for in the
ole e6 I, II
and petticoat-twisted her long hair in q
thick ulster that hung upon the door-for
they were running into chilly attitudes
and slipped out on deck.
It was getting toward dawn, but the
night was still dark. AS she stepped on
deck Augusta found herself face to face
with the captain.
why, Miss SmithersI" he said, what
on earth are you doing here at this hour?
making up romancesf"
yes" she answered, laughing, and
with perfect truth. 1.-The fact Of the
matter is, could not sleep, SO l came on
deck; and very pleasant it ISL
Eyes, said the captain, '"if you want
something to put into your stories you
won't find anything better than this.
The Kangaroo is showing her heels, ism
she, Miss Smithers2 That's the beauty Of
her, she can sail as well as steam, and
when she has strong wind like this
abaft, it would have to be something very
quick that would catch her I believe
that we have been running over seven
teen knots an hour ever since midnight.
| hope to make Kerguelen Island by
o'clock, to correct my chronometers
Where is Kergue1en Island?" asked
Augusta.
'Ohl it is a desert place where nobody
goes, except now and then a whaler to fill
up with water. believe that the astron-
omers sent an expedition there few
years ago to observe the transit of Venus;
but it was failure because the weather
was SO misty-it is nearly always misty
there. Well, must be off, Miss Snithers.
Good night; or rather, good morning"
Before the words were well out Of his
mouth there was a wild shout forward:
ship aheadP' Then came an awful yell
from dozen voices: "Starboardl Hard
a-starboard, for Gods sakeP'
With wild leap, like the leap of q
man suddenly shot, the captain left her
side and rushed on to the bridge. At the
same instant the engine bell rang and
the steering chains began to rattle furi-
OOoAg OA VIC EO116Eo NJ LICK 4cCG 10 Gll0
steam steering gear did it's work. Then
came another yell:
Its whaler-no ightsw and an an
swering shrek Of terror from some big
black object that doomed ahead. Before
the echoes had died away, before the great
ship could even answer to helm, there
was crash, such as Augusta had never
heard, and sickening shock, that threw
her on her hands and knees on to the
deck, shaking the iron masts till they
trembled IS though they we're willow
wands, and making the huge sails flap
and for an instant fly aback. The great
vessel, rushing along at her frightful
speed of seventeen knots, had plunged
into the ship ahead with such hideous
energy that she cut her clean in two and
passed over her as though she were 8
pleasure boatl
Shrek upon shrek of despair came
piercing the gloomy night, and then, as
Augusta struggled to her feet, she felt
horrible succession of bumps, accom-
panied by crushing, grinding noise. It
was the Kangaroo driving right over the
remains Of the whaler
In very few seconds it was done, and
looking astern. Augusta could iuEs mako