The Opelousas courier., 1892-05-21

say. Sse1 We IS goiiS oieS'ty A01 ooI'
Thing what it might 90 ina fog? Lane
routes! Pure luck, | call IT."
siWilI we signal to her, Mr.. Spin
neri" gently asked the young lady from
Boston.
"Oh, certainly" answered young
Spinner. "See, there's our signal flying
from the masthead now. That shows
them what line we belong to-" ~
"Dear me, how interesting" said the
young lady. "You have crossed many
times, l suppose, Mr.. Spinner"
"Oh, l know my way about"
answered the modest Spinner.
The captain kept the glasses glued to
his eyes. Suddenly he almost let them
drop.
"My Godi Johnson" he cried.
"What is it, sir?"
"She's flying a signal of distress, too!'
The two steamers slowly approached
each other, and when nearly alongside
and about a mile apart the bell of the
Adamant rang to stop.
Oh, look! look! look!" cried the en-
thusiastic indianapolis girl who was 60
ing to take music in Germany.
Everyone looked aloft and saw run
ming up to the masthead a long line OF
futtering, many-colored flags. They re-
NAMED in place for a few moments and
then futtered down again. only to give
place to a different string. The same
thing was going on on the other steamer.
Chow just too interesting for any
thing" said Mrs. Assistant. II am
just dying to know what it all meeus. l
have read of it SO often but never saw it
before. l wonder when the captain
will come down. What does it all
mean2" she asked the deck steward.
"They are signaling each other,
madam"
"Oh, / know that. But what are they
signalinga" .
~ don't know, madam"
ooh, see! see!" cried the Indianapolis
girl, elapping her hands with delight.
1.-THE other steamer is turning round"
It was indeed SO. The great ship was
thrashing the water with her screw, and
gradually the masts came in line and
then her PROV faced the east again.
When this had been slowly accomplished
the bell on the Adamant rang full speed
ahead, and then the captain came slowly
down the ladder that led from the
bridge.
"Ob, captain, what does it all mcan2'
els she going back, captain2 Nothing
wrong, [ hope"
"What ship is it, ~captain2"
"The ship" said the captain slowly,
''is the Vulcan, of the Black Bowling
Line, which left Queenstown shortly
after We left New York. She has met
with an accident. IRAN into some wreck
age, it is thought, from the recent storm.
Anyhow there is a hole in her, and
whether she see Queenstown OF not will
depend a great deal on what weather we
have and whether her bulkheads hold
out. We will stand by her till we reach
Queenstown"
care there many on board, do you
think, captain"
"There are thirty-seven cabin pas
sengers and over 800 steerage pas
sengers," answered the captain,
ooh, the poor creatures" cried the
sympathetic Mrs. Second Adjutant.
"Think of their awful position. May be
engulfed at any moment. | suppose they
are all on their knees in the cabin. How
thankful they must have been to see the
Adamant."
On all sides there was the profoundest
sympathy for the Vulcan. Cheeks paled
at the very thought of the catastrophe
that might take place at any moment
within their W sight. 1t was a realis-
tic object lesson on tue ever present dan
gers of the sea. While those on deck
looked with new interest at tine steam
ship plunging along within a mile OF
them, the captain slipped away to his
room. As he sat there, there was a tap
at his door.
.tCome in" shouted the captain.
The silent Englishman slowly entered.
"What's wrong, captaiu?o he asked.
"Oh, the Vulcan has had a hole stove
in her and / signal"
eyes, | know all that, of course, but
what's wrong with us2'
With us2" echoed the captain
blankly.
eyes, with the Adamant2 What has
been amiss with the Adamant for the last
two or three days7 I'm not a talker, nor
am / afraid any more than you are, but /
want to know
Certainly, " said the captain. "Please
shut the door, Sir john
i
Meanwhile there was a lively row on
board the Vulcan. In the saloon Captain
Flint was standing at bay with his
knuckles on the table.
nNow what's the meaning of all thisah
cried Adam K. Vincent, member Of Con-
gress.
A crowd of frightened women were
standing around, many on the verge Of
Mysteries. Children chung with pale faces
to their mothers skirts, fearing they
knew not what. Men we're grouped with
anxious faces, and the bluff old captain
fronted them all.
ssThe meaning Of all what, siran
aYou know very well. What is the
meaning of our turning rounda"
1T means, sir, that the Adamant has
eighty-five saloon passengers and nearly
500 intermediate and Storage passengers
who are in the most deadly danger. The
cotton in the J3Id IS on fire, and they
have been fighting it night and day. 1t
may break out at any moment. Itmeans,
then, sir, that the Vulcan is going to
stand by the Adamant."
A wall of anguish burst from the
..-l4n.AI r-I-.If-1.