Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-12-22

possible TO keep her ailoat for several
days by regular spells at the pump and
there were four Of us TO pump II Miss
Robertson steered while we worked.
Presently heard the men pumping
and the boatswain's voice singing TO
encourage the others What courage
that man had. i who tell this story,
am ashamed OF the prominence / give
TO my own small actions when ali tho
heroism belongs TO him.
Aroused by the sound OF the pump
ing Miss Robertson came on deck
swathed in n big warm overcoat and
fur cap.
"ls tho water still coming into the
ship" she asked.
"The bosom has reported to mo that
eight inches deep have come into her
since half-past nine"
"Is that muchp'
"More than we want"
81 don't like 10 trouble you with my
questions, Mr.. Royle; but 1 am very,
very anxious"
"Of course you are; and do not sup
pose that you can trouble. Ask me
what you Will lpromise to tell you
the truth"
"If You find you can not pump the
water out as fast as 1t comes in, what
will you dop'
leave the ship"
around her.
"By that quarter-boat there"
''But 1t would fill with water and
sink In such waves as these"
These waves are not going to last,
and II Is quite likely that by this time
tomorrow, the sea will be calm"
"Will the ship keep aaoat until to-
morrow"
''If the water does not come In more
rapidly that II does at present tho ship
will keep anoat 80 long as we can
manage 10 pump her out every hour.
And so," said ], laughing to encour-
ago her 1--WE are not going to die all
ut once, you see."
She drew quite close TO me, and said:
81 shall never fear death while you
remain on board, Mr.. Roylo. You
have saved me from death once, and
though l may DO wicked In daring 10
prophesy, yet feel certain-certain,"
she repeated, with singular emphasis,
that you will save my life again. D."
81 shall try very hard, be sure Of
that, answered.
II bcleve-no, IL Is not so much
belief as a strong conviction, with
which my mind seems to have nothing
TO do-that, whatever dangers NAV be
before us, you and / will not perish"
She paused, and | saw that she was
looking at me earnestly.
You will not think me superstitious
II ltell you that the reason Of my con-
viction is q drcamP My poor father
came and stood beside me; he was so
rcall l stretched out my arms TO him,
and ho took my hand and said: 'Darl-
ing, do not fcarl He who has saved
your life once will save IL again. God
VIII have mercy upon you and him for
the prayers you offered TO Him. He
stopped and kissed mo and faded
away, and started up and heard the
men pumping. went to look at him,
for thought thought he had really
come to my side. Oh, Mr.. Royle, his
spirit Is with usl'
sudden lurch; she put her hand on my
arm to steady herself and left IL there.
Had l dared l should have bent my
head aud kissed the little hand. She
could not know how much she made
me love her by such actions as this.
'Fhe boatswain has told me-" she
said, after n short silence, that you
want TO save the ship. l asked him
why. Are you angry with mo for be-
ing curiousp"
mot in the least. What did he an
swcrP"
"llo said that you thought tho own
ers would rccompcnse you for your
fidelity. and promote you in their serv-
ice
"EIow could he know thisp have
never spoken such thoughts to him"
lit would not be difficult TO guess
such wish"
"Well, don't know that have any
right to expect promotion or recon-
pense of any kidd from owners who
send their ship TO sea so badly pro-
visioned that the men mutiny.
"But II the water gains upon the ship
you will not be able to save her."
mo, she must sink.
"What will you do thenP"
"Put you on shore or aboard another
ship" ] replied, laughing ut my own
evasion, for | knew what she meant
"Oh, Of course, II we do not reach
the shore We shall none of us be able
to do any thing" she said, dropping
her head, for she stood close enough to
the binnacle-llght to enable mo 10 sec
her movements and almost catch the
expression of her face. Il mean what
Will you do when we get ashorePn
II must try to get another ship"
ITO commando"
"Oh dear. mol as second mate, II
they II have me-"
'lf command Of n ship were given
you would you accept itP''
"If could. but | can't"
She asked, quickly, "Why notp"
Because 1 have not passed an ex-
animation as master"
All Mt once IL flashed upon mo that
her father owned several ships, and
that her questions were preliminary 10
her offering mo the command of one Of
them.
A momentary emotion of dsappoint- |
ment, n resentment whereof / knew
not the meaning, through lacking tho
leisure or the skill to analyze 1t, made
me turn and say;
Would you like me to command
one Of your ships, Miss RobertsonP"
Yes" she answered, promptly
"As recompenso for my humane ;
efforts to preserve you from drown
ingP"
She withdrew her hand from my
arm and inclined her head TO look me
full In the face. /
"Mr. Royle. l never thought you .
would speak to me like thai"