Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-23
of the hour In entering the Heads. SO that
he now for the first time saw the bay in

4 OF the hOur IN entering the HEADS, SO that
he now for the first time saw the bay in
all its matchless splendor.
| The waters were dotted with big and lit
| tie craft of every description. The gently
sloping banks on either side were crowned
with luxuriant foliage, amid which the eye
caught glimpses of charming white villas
with wide cool-looking verandas and green
jalousied blinds, which lent a semi-tropical
and wholly delightful aspect to the har-
monious picture. That it's natural beauties
and excellent anchorage entitled the bay of
| Sydney to be accounted one of the finest
| harbors in the world Paul did not question,
and he reluctantly turned away from the
enchanting vision to answer a peremptory
call from below. where his services were
needed.
Outside Port Jackson Heads, into the Pa
cihc ocean, the Koturah plowed her way
with the fairest weather abreast her keel
| that heart could desire. 1t was not sur
prising that, stirred by the sight of the
broad, silvery moon, the pondike stiffness
Of the water. and the soft. balmy breeses
| signing through the shrouds. the younger
| people on board should be eager to take ad-
vantage Of a situation so delightful The
| consent OF the captain being gained. a Geek
concert and dance was planned. the pro-
ceeds arising from which IT was proposed
to donate to the Shipwrecked Mariners
Society of New South Wales.
As everybody was expected to contribute
tainment. the understewards were on their
| mettle One was good banjo player,
another a capital mimic, and a third was
clever at sleight-of-hand tricks. Paul was
urged by his new comrades to give a
Yankee recitation, and readily agreed to
do his share. The second night out from
! Sydney Capt. Barrett had the after deck
| canopied with hags and bunting; the piano
were improvised for the audience. and the
passengers responded calamity to the in
vitation to I'LL the seats. interpreted
among them were the sailors, a-rayed in
/
white hats producing a very pleasing ef-
feet in the soft light shed by the Chinese
| lanterns.
Overhead shone the brilliant Southern
Cross, the sharp outline of which could be
traced through the thin fabric Of the Union
Jacks which formed q partial protection
| from the night dews. The water was like
glass: a generous moon trailed her silvery
sheen In the vessels wake and the mu-
steal notes OF the sweet soprano soloist
drifted away from the ship IL required no
great stretch Of Imagination TO believe that
every tiny wavelet ripping in the molten
| beams was the head Of a mermaid enticed
to the surface by the wonderful charms Of
the human voice.
Vocal and instrumental music In solos,
duets and Quartets followed in delightful
succession, alternating with readings and
Rotations by the combined ships talent
Pauls modest rendition Of Will Cartoons
Betsy and I Are Out" with it's homely
! pathos. seemed to strike a popular chord
! young Yankee" was vigorously applauded
an encore being demanded. He responded
with John Hays Little Brooches" the de-
| livery Of which completely captured the
| colonials and evoked a lot of pleasant COM
| pliments that were not entirely undeserved
The concert ended. the benches were car
ried away. the deck was cleared for action.
and with piano and fiddle for music, the
| younger passengers enjoyed the novelty of
| dance in midocean. Promptly at midnight
the captain gave the signal for Home,
Sweet Home" the tune changing quickly to
God Save the Queen which brought all
the loyal colonists to their feet, and closed
the evenings unique entertainment.
At Auckland the Koturah landed the ma
Jority Of her Australian passengers. but
new batch was shipped in their stead. At
Wellington and Lyttleton their numbers
were greatly augmented by a delegation
of ministers and their families who were
on their way to South Australia to attend
an annual conference, SO that by the time
Dunedin was reached every inch Of cabin
space on the ship was taken.
The Koturah was not one of the best
boats in the service. but she was a good.
stout vessel. and, having been recently
overhauled and thoroughly repaired, was
considered perfectly safe. Her skipper.
Capt. Barrett although a young man. was
extremely popular. as much on account
Of his amiable disposition as for his ex-
cellent seamanship. SO that the Koturah
usually carried a fine passenger list.
On this occasion she was taxed to her
full capacity, due to the fact that instead
Of proceeding direct to Melbourne from the
Bluff she was advertised TO go first 70 Ade-
laide in order to accommodate the number
OF people DESTROYS Of attending conference
in the South Australian colony. The beau
tiful weather which had prevailed so long
attracted a much larger number OF excur-
sionists than was expected, and when the
boat left Dunedin she had seventy people
in the first and second cabins and about
eighty steerage passengers.
Naturally the work Of attending to the
wants of so many people gave Paul very
Few leisure moments, so that he and Davy
had little time 70 visit or gossip Late in
the evening after ieaving Dunedin the two
boys met in the stewards room for a
short chat, when Paul was surprised to
IND his chum looking unusually serious
and depressed.
why. what ails you tonight. Davy?" he
asked You're as glum as q hired mourn
err"
II know II. Paul. and the worst Of II is 1
can't get over the feeling. It's all on &C
count of a dream had last night. thought
1 was lying on the bottom of the ocean
with my eyes wide open watching a process
sion OF drowned persons dropping down,
down, down from the surface directly be-
fore me. and each face bore such a sorrow
ful expression that i was terrified and ]
know that 1 must have cried out in my
sleep. The picture was vivid that l
couldn't forget it when / woke up and do
You know. Paul here the lad lowered his
voice to whisper. Il have been seeing
those same faces all day and they've taken
on the features OF our new passengers. 1t
scares me; i feel as IL something awful Mas
going to happen and / can't get rid of the
notion to save my life. You may laugh,
perhaps, and say it's all nonsense-may be
1t is-but the thing sticks. Ugh! it's a hor-
rfble sensation" and the boy shuddered.
Paul didn't laugh. Davy had toll his
dream SO simply. Yet so earnestly, that he
felt impressed I'm spite of his inclination TO
look upon the whole matter as an ordinary
nightmare arising from overwork and a
nervous physical condition. He saw Davy
was greatly disturbed, so wisely RETAINED
from treating the story too lightly. oh
WELL old fellow" he exclaimed in his chee--
lest tones, Il wouldn't fret about II; you
know that won't do any good. II / were
you I'd turn in right away and get a good
sleep. You'll feel better in the morning"
Davy slowly shook his head, and, placing
his hand over his heart, brokenly observed:
IT'S here / feel il. There's such a leaden
weight that IL seems as IL something must
give way. Say, do you believe in omens?"
he abruptly inquired.
Paul hesitated before answering 'I don't
know; have read Of some very queer mani
festations," he presently admitted, but /
never had any personal experiences
Why?"
Because" said Davy, very solemnly and
impresslvely. II am certain that dream of
mine is coming true. Something tells Inc
/ shall never get off this boat alive. / can't
describe my sensations: nothing like the
feeling ever took hold OF me before but I
believe 1 am-am doomed" and draining