Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-09-05
THE CALTFORNTANS,
BY JULES VERNE.
Copyright 1901 by the Authors Alliance.

trip across the bay.
AS the launch steamed away Molly's
gaze remained rivet d upon the Flying
Cloud. The anchor was up, the sails
caught the 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 Capt
Willis as she might choose.
The steam launch shot along rapidly.
The houses of the city perched upon
the different terraces of the picturesque
amphiJheater stood out more and more
plainly. 1t was only quarter of mile
further to the wharf.
Look out!" 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 the little bridge
in front of the smokestaclz.
AS she heard this cry Mrs. Allaire
looked toward the port side of the
launch, where they were running out
a 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 Roadway. This schooner-brig
was right in front of the steam launch,
and so near that it became absolutely
necessary to let her pass, and for this
reason the man at the bow had warned
the hclmsman.
A grave anxiety now came upon the
passengers, an anxiety the moro iuSti-
fable in that the bay was filled with
vessels anchored here and there, and
hence 1t was very natural that there
should be 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 a number of
fishing smaclls darling hither and
thithcr in the stiff breeze.
"Looll out!' repeated the man at the
bow.
"All right" answered the man at the
helm; there's no danger. l have room
enough!"
But hampered by the sudden appear
ance of a large steamer in her wake,
the tug unexpectedly changed her
course, veering round to the port.
There was loud cutlery, in which the
crew of the brig Joined, for they were
trying to be of assistance to the tug by
steering in the same direction. The
tug and the steam launch were not
twenty feet apart.
Greatly alarmed, Mrs. Barker had
sprung to her feet, while Molly had in
stinctively reached out for little Walt,
whom she held tightly pressed to her
bosom.
"Starboard, starboard your helmr'
cried the captain of the tug to the man
on the bridge of the steam launch, but
this officer needed not directions; he un-
derstood what was necessary to do, and
in order to keep out of the tugs way he
threw the head of the steam launch
around with considerable violence, fol-
the brig was already under good head
way and hence the tug would have beer
in danger of being run down if it ha6
Stacked its pace.
So suddenly and vigorously had the
helm of the launch been put to the star
board that the craft gave a violent
| lurch, and as an inevitable result many
| of the passengers were thrown off theil
feet.
| SllSo IllSlb llO" "C4lO up "SIN
those of terror, for it seemed as if the
steam launch were about to capsize.
At this instant Mrs. Allaire, who wa
standing near the railing, not being abb,
to recover her balance was thrown
overheard with her child. The bril
grazcd the steam launch in passing he
and thus ended all fears of a collision
''Molly! Molly!'' shricked Kate
| VIII o. Io
threw her arms, as she was about t,
spring after her cousin.
Suddenly one of the sailors of tn
launch leaped overheard and struck GU
for Mrs Allaire, who, buoyed up by he
clothing, was floating a few yard
away. With her babe clasped Tight
in her arms she was on the point @
sinking, however, when the sailo
reached her.
AS the launch had been stopped i'm
mediatcly it was not difficult task fo
this sailor, a strong man and an exec
lent swimmer, to rescue Mrs. Allairt
Unfortunately at the very moment tn
man reached out to lay hold of the cal
tain's wife her strength failed her, he
hold upon her child relaxed, and littl
Walt slipped out of her arms and dil
appeared.
In an utterly unconscious condition
Molly was lifted on board the launc
and tenderly cared for. Again the fea,
less sailor-hc was man about thirt,
Zach French by name-disappeare
over the side of the launch and dive
repeatedly in search of the child.
r was all in vain, however. Little Walt
n body had been swept away by SON
lower current.
All this time, the passengers, aided /
4, Kate and the nurse, both of them Wi
with grief, were making every possib
= effort to bring Molly back to consciou
ness. They were successful at las
Her lips moved, she murnured IL
namc of Walt, as her eyes opened al
!, her bewildered gaze rested upon IL
strange faces
my child!' she gasped. Then 81
recognized Zach French, who had ju
clambcred up the side of the launch.