The morning call., 1893-11-12


gleani sparkling under the moon as she
SCARED into silver, was like the hasn oi
bubbles under ice, and the 1alnt preatn 0l
+; the damp night wind seemed TO come atohe
out of the east, cool and sweet from that
streak of pure light.
Twas chief mate of the canterbury,
bark of 500 tons: Henry carter was her
commander. We we're from Caicut'a lot
the Thames, but how long out at this date
/ forget | had the watch from 8 to l2-lt
is called at sea the first watch; 1t was
then about 80 o'clock. The captain was
in the cabin playing chess with lady.
Mrs. Godbold. the wife of an old friend of
our skipper.
The faint air of the night wrinkled us
onward Yet there was eSbment in the
mise If waters trembling along the bends,
and in very ioathing of the heat stepped
70 the rail and overhung it to get some
coldness for the eye out of the shadow,
touched here and there with roaming
CLOVIS and sudden puffs of the green sea
fire.
It was like binding the sight and seeing
strange lights. AS the moon frightened
reflected luster shifted from the squares OF
canvas into the dusk and the figure of the
bark stole out with veins of silver in her
heat-softened rigging, every point OF yard
arm finding a pendant Jewel In star, so
still and upright did we float. Suddenly
nv eye was taken by an object ahead on
the port bow. 1t was close to, slowly COM
ing along 1t seemed to shine upon the
liquid gloom and | thought it was made by
star, till l glanced alOft and saw nothing
in the sky over 1t brilliant enough for that
mirroring. 1 watched 1t as 1t drew nigh;
il fioated alongside not boathook's length
.off The moonlight lay fair upon IL, but 1t
was not until the object was Immediately
under the part of the rail l Overhung that
/ perceived it was the body of woman
living on her back resting as quietly as
though she slept and veering nolseless as
oil into the blackneSs under our counter
and astern.
| sprang to the skylight and shouted:
"The h dy of 2 woman has just gone past,
SIR She may be alive. She doesn't look
10 have been long over board"
In an instant Captain Carter was on
deck He ran to the quarter and stared
over, and, seeing the body, called TO the
man at the wheel 10 put his helm down.
The ship came sluggishly round. Captain
Carter told me to get boat lowered and
nick the BODY up Smartly. He spoke as
though the sight Of tue thing floating plain
in the moonshine, and now Slipping away
off the StarboaTd quarter, had convinced
him 1t lived. The watch tumbled aft
promptly to my call, and in few minutes
for on such a night as that there was
nothing to hinder agility, so still was the
weather, with the water Sheetlng into Il
smoky dusk westward, while eastward the
wake of the moon came IN treble of
greenish silver to the very shadow of the
ship-the boat was lowered, three hands IN
her, myself sin the stern sheets shipping
the rudder as we were water-bOrne.
Half dozen strokes Of the oar carried
Ms to the bGdy. | and another lifted IL
streaming into the boat. then scarcely
needing our soaked white burden we made
for the ship again and were presently
aboard.
The woman was dressed in white-mus-
lin. I think, was the stuff She wore a
sash, but the color was not to be guessed
bv moonlight. She was without a hat
Her hair bad washed loose, but Streaky as
it was with the wet, and dark with the
SANITATION of the brine, 1t showed of a
wonderful abundance and Of yellow gold.
Mrs GodbOld stood { hand ready to help.
I ann a seaman carried The woman below.
We were followed by the captain and Mrs.
G0dbOId. There was a clear light OF oil
fame down here. and while we bore the
bodv to a spare berth [ looked at its face.
( saw neither discOlOTa ton nor distortion.
The evelids were nearly shut but l wit
messed no glazing of death in the glance of
tie porcelain-like slips of white betwixt
the long eyelashes.
The Steward had thrown a mattress into
the bunk. and we laid the body upon it. l
then returned on deck to stump out the
resi- of nv watch, taking the skipueT's
as l passed out TO get The ship
40 her course again if there was any wind
left. There was no wind. While | was
ct this the captain came on deck.
do you make out anything Ike
ship?" he asked.
~, sir"
Neither did L; yet the woman has not
been Icing in the water. She has fallen
overheard out nf a passenger ship-thats
sure. by the looks of her. Where's her
ship. them?
He took the glass and carefully swept
the ocean.
There was nothing in sight at SUM-
down." said he.
had been below at that hour and could
not tell.
strange" said he, that her clothes
didn't suck her under, She has very little
on. though. Mrs Godbold says what she
has is Of the best. Everything IS marked
.Ifs not often" said [, you hear of
body found floating at sea and nothing in
sight"
''Why, yes" he answered. They're
mostly dead, hOwever-dead, | mean, when
launched ct. We HedEu tell VI peOpit
found afioat, picked up insensibe. after
having been in, or rather on top of the
water for hours. Women will float when
men will sink. It's not matter of clothes
ITS obstiE acy helped by shape"
He returned to the cabin. The decks
were ivory x mite with moonlight; forward
a couple of figures softly paced the planks,
and their shadows stretched from their
feet like streams of lux.
While l occupied myself with these
thoughts six bells III o'clock were struck.
Looking aft, spied red star near the
wheel. and scented the presence of the
skipper. He came leisurely forward and
exclaimed:
well, Mr.. Berry. you've saved life,
but you've damned a soul, reckon"
flows that. SIR" said l.
The wOman's alive"
When the second mate relieved me at
eight bells, on going to my cabin L met
Mrs. GodtoId. She was coming from the
pantrv with some wine. She told me that
the lady was sensible and had spoken some
sentences.
what did she say ?" said l.
Just whispered few syllaoles OF
thanks" she answered, bringing her wall
eye to bear upon me as she fastened The
other upon the glass of wine she held MP
to the lamp. "She's in no condition to De
questioned ] ache all over with rubbing
nh