Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-03-14
CHAPTER XII.
SOUTHAMPTON QUAY.

winds. The Harpoon shaping her course
for Norfolk, in the United States, had
made but poor passage of it. She got
into the southeast trades, and all went
well till they made st. Paul's Rocks,
where they were detained by the doldrums
and variable winds. Afterward she passed
into the northeast trades, and then,
further north, met series of westerly
gales, that ultimately drove her to the
Azores, just as her crew were getting
very short of water and provisions. And
here Augusta bid farewell to her friend
the Yankee skipper; for the whaler that
had saved her life and Dicks. after reft-
ting once more, set sail upon it's almost
endless voyage.
She had had quite enough of the Har-
pooh, and yet she was loath to say fare
well to her; for her days on board had in
many respects been restful and happy
ones; they had given her space and time
to brace herself up before she plunged
once more into the struggle of active life.
Besides, she had throughout been treated
with that unvarying kindness and consid-
Grafton for which the American people are
justly noted in their dealings with all
persons in misfortune.
But Augusta was not the only person
who with sorrow watched the departure
of the Harpoon. First, there was little
Dick, who had acquired fine Yankee
drawl and grown quite half an inch on
board of her, and who fairly howled when
his particular friend, remarkably fierce
and grisly looking boatswain, brought
him as parting offering a large whales
tooth, patiently carved by himself with
spirited picture of their rescue on Ker-
ruelen Land Then there was Mrs.
Thomas herself. When they finally
reached the island of st. Michael, in the
Azores, Augusta had offered to pay fifty
pounds, being half of the hundred sover-
eigns given to her by Mr. Meeson, to
Capt. Thomas as passage fee, knowing
that he was by no means overburdened
with the goods of this world But he
stoutly declined to touch farthing, say
ing that it would be unlucky to take
money from castaway. Augusta as
stoutly insisted; and, finally, compro-
mise was come to. Mrs. Thomas was
anxious, being seized with that acute
species of homesickness from which Suf-
folk people are no more exempt than
other folk, to visit the land where she
was born and the people midst whom she
was bred up. But this she could not well
afford to do. Therefore Augustus prof
fered ESQ was appropriated to this pur-
pose, and Mrs. Thomas stopped with
Augusta at Ponta Delgada, waiting for
the London and West India Line packet
to take them to Southampton.
So it came to pass that they stood to-
gether on the Fonda Delgada breakwater,
and together saw the Harpoon sail O., to
ward the setting sun.
Then came soft, dreamy fortnigH., in
the fair island of st. Michael The Hie-
lish consul there most Hospitality enesr-
tanned them-with much more personal
enthusiasm, indeed, than he generally
considered it necessary to show toward
shipwrecked voyagers-a class of people
of whom consular representatives abroad
must get rather tired with their eternal
misfortunes and their perennial want of
clothes. Indeed, the only drawback to
Augustus enjoyment was that the consul,
a gallant ex-naval officer with red hair,
equally charmed by her adventures, her
literary fame and her person, showed
decided disposition to fall in love with
her, and red haired, and therefore ar
dent, naval officer is, under those circum-
stances, a somewhat alarming parsonage.
But the time went on without anything
serious happening; and, at last, one me IN
ing after breakfast man came rum tng
up with the information that the tail
was in sight.
And so Augusta took an affectiotiate
farewell of the golden haired consul, who
gazed at her through his eyeglass and
sighed when he thought of what might
have been in the sweet by and by; and
the ships bell rang and the screw began
to turn, leaving the consul still signing
on the horizon, and in due course Augusta
and Mrs. Thomas found themselves stand
ing on the quay at Southampton, the
center of an admiring and enthusiastic
crowd.
The captain had told the extraordinary
tale to the port officials when they boarded
the vessel, and on getting ashore the port
officials had made haste TO tell every liv-
ing soul they met the wonderful news
that two survivors of the i'll fated Kan
garoo@the history of whose tragic end
had sent thrill of horror through the
English speaking world--were safe and
sound on board the West India boat.
Thus, by the time that Augusta, Mrs.
Thomas and Dick were safe on shore,
their story, or rather sundry distorted
versions Of it, was flashing up the wires
to the various press agencies, and running
through southampton Like wildfre.
Scarcely were their feet set upon the
quay, when with rush end O bound,
wild men, with note books IN their hands,
sprung upon them, and beat them down
with rain Of questions. Augusta found
it impossible TO answer them all at once,
SO contented herself with saying Eyes"
Eyes, Yes" to everything, out Of which
nonosyuable she afterward found to her
surprise these fierce and active pressmen
contrived tomake up q sufficiently moving
tale.
However, at last they found themselves
in first class carriage, ready to start, or
rather starting Tho interviewing gen.
tlemen. two Of whom had their heads
jammed through the window, were forcibly
torn away-still asking questions-by the
officials of the company.
Augusta sunk back with sigh Of relief.
On the seat opposite to her somebody had
thoughtfully placed a number of the days
papers. She took up the first that came
to hand and glanced at it idly with the
idea of trying to pick up the thread of
events Her eyes fell instantly upon the
reports of the probate divorce and admir-
atty division of the high court. The first
report ran thus:
BEFORE THE RIGHT HONORABLE THE
PRESIDENT, IN THE MATTER OF NEE
SON, DECEASED.
This was application arising out of the
loss of the R. NJ. S. Kangaroo on the 18th
of December last. 1t will be remembered
that out of about thousand souls on
board that vessel the occupants of one
boat only-twenty-f five people In all
were saved. Among the drowned was
Mr.. Meeson, the head of the well known
Birmingham publishing company Of Nee
son. Addison, Roscoe & Co. Qimited), who
was at the time on visit to New Zealand
and Australia in connection with the bust
ness of the company.
Mr.. Fiddlestick, Q. c.. who with Mr..
Pearl appeared for the applicants land
who WAS snrnaIuhat irnraarfactlu haardN