The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-17

no reply. The headlights were still up
and almost the only light in the saloon at
$50 O'Clock on fine morning was the
sickly light of the cabin lam, that owing
to the breaking Of its chimney, had filled
the room with smuts and evil OdOr.
/ rang again, aad then, unscrewing the
lamp and carrying it with Inc, went in
search of the missing steward.
This time l found him-dead on the
floor of his cabin, whittier he had evil
IDENTITY been thrown by the great cOncus-
sion of the night before. The poor fellow
had apparently been lying half dressed in
his berth. believing, probably, that his
services would not be required again until
the morning. and had been thrown vo-
lently out, his head coming into contact
with the sharp brass bound corner of his
chest.
was now thoroughly alarmed. Where
was the negro who ordinarily waited at
table? What could the cook be doing -?
And why had not the CHEEKY captain come
down in accordance with his wont?
Sick at heart, and convinced that some
thing far more terrible than l bad up to
that time imagined must have occurred. /
once more mounted the companion stair
case / Knocked loudly at the door which
led out Oh deck, but there was no response.
| hammered at ii with fists and heels, but
in vain. The headlights at the top had
not been removed. although there was no
IuTIDeC De6u IOI tHtlE pIbLSCtlOD. ne
turning again l found meataX in the
pantry, and with this. after ten minutes.
work. forced out one Of the panels of the
companion door, which / then opened by
turning the key from outside.
The pleasant fresh breeze of morning
greeted me as | stepped on deck, but that
was the only welcome thing that l encoun-
tered while l was making the fearful
round of the Inflated ship.
All the masts had gone by the board,
only their stumps remaining. The deck
house, too, and the bridge and the bull
warks and boats had gone. and the only
things left in their old positions on deck
were pinnacle and the entrances to TWO
of the companions.
Lashed to the stump of the mamma asst
was the frozen body of the captain, COW
cred from head to foot with gistening ice.
He had died at his post
1t was a pitiable sight, get worse re-
manned 10 be seen.
/ noticed that the ship was very much
down by the head, and upon walking for
ward l discovered that the forecastle CON-
panion door had been wrencned from its
hinges ma that the bow compartment was
full of water. Even while gazed into the
black gulf beneath me / saw floating in ii
the bodies of several seamen, and then
the hideOus truth broke liz upon me. and
knew that the two women and L were the
only living souls on board the Olympia.
NO wonder that | felt as il all my
strength had ebbed away from me when
once more l found my way into the saloon.
| Where was i knew not. For many hours
the vessel had 6rifted with the storm. My
| knowledge OF navigation was not sufficieD
to enable me take an observation and so to
! arrive at my position. / could do nothing.
mechanically unscrewed the dead
! lights that covered the saloon ports, and
then tried to put the rOom in something
/ like order.
Celia entered while was engaged. and
looked at me in wonderment.
What is the matter ?" she asked. "Wbv
don't you leave that to the steward?
! suppose that he has OVERSIGHT himself. moor
fellow; but there is no great hurry for
breakfast, is there?"
turned my face from her, not liking to
trust n yself to tell her the truth.
well" she continued, "since il IL such
lovely morning / shall go on 6ack."
''For Gods sake, mop CALCULATED. rusb.
! ing 10 place myself between Miss Van.
heof and the door. 81 must tell yon.
suppose. A most awful thing has han
pened. 90 not quite know what; but
think 1t must have been a waterspout lhat
frightened us 80 last night. You must MOI
60 on deck. There are things there which
you must not see. Indeed you must no,
CO."
Celia saw by my manner that / was nj
very much IN earnest Tell me-" sh.
said. losing her color. "has any one beer
| killed. Has any one been hurt? Oh, le
me go and he p them"
"Sit down." | said solemnly; "vou cal
do nothing. We three are in the hands O.
God. In all this ship we and your mai,
are the only living creatures"
What do you 7" she cried. becom
ing still paler.
Last night in that fearful commotiol
| we heard shriake even abovA the rnaSini
of the wind and the dashlng of the waves
They came from the crew. Heaven alont
knows how it all happened, but / hay