The Press., 1894-08-30

could not get all observation. In tho middle of the day, when the smothe. upon the sea was so thick that the fly ing jibboom end was out of sight from the wheel, loud and fearful cry ot Ice right aheadp rang from the fore castle. The wheel was revolved-every spoke-with the fury of despair, by the helmsmap. but the ships time was come, and there was nothing ill seamanship to maneuver her clear of her fate She tel escoped into the ice and went to pieces
 "A number of people, said the man, got upon the ice. Among them were the captain, his wife and female pas senger. Dickens particularly noticed these people-that is, the commander and the two women. He and three oth- CTS drifted away in boat. The bark went to pieces aloft when she struck. He was sure that none others, saving himself and the three men, escaped ill the boats It was i'll the middle of the day when the ship ran into the berg, and the darkness happened so quickly after the disaster that he was unable to l companions died while they were adrift, and their bodies were dropped over- board.
 "While Dickens told his story watched the captain. His features were knitted into an expression of consterna- tion, yet he never once interrupted the man. When the sailor had made an end of his story, Huddersfield said in a slow, level voice:
 "'Was your commander Captain Smalley?
 "'Yes, sir.
 "'Was one of the female passengers Mrs. Huddersield?'
 " It was her name, sir.
 ''The captain turned his eyes upon me and cried, with sudden wild toss of his hands that somehow gave an ex- traordinary pathos to his words and looks, She is my wife!
 I had hoped, he said, speaking ill short breathings and broken sentences, to find her safe at Sydney on my ar rival there. She went home. last year on visit to her mother. It was ar ranged that Captain Smalley, an old friend, should bring her out. Ten days ago., he muttered to himself, ten days ago. He covered his eyes with his hand, then, looking vacantly at his sex tant, went to the rail and seemed to stare out to sea into the south.
 II was about to question Dickens afresh when the captain rounded upon us in very flash of white face and wild eager manner.
 Try for her ill 5O!' he cried, look ing at me just as though he saw some one beyond me.
 ''He went ill a sort of a run to the wheel and brought the schooner's head to a due southerly course while he shouted ill tones vibrating with the ex- citement that seemed like mania ill the man then, with the workings of his face. I say he shouted for sail to be trimmed for the course he had brought the schoon- CT to, and the seamen fled about the decks to my commands, alert and will ing, but as astonished as was. When sail had been trimmed, the captain call ed to MT. Curzon to keep her steady as she went and requested me to follow him below.
 Do you now guess the meaning of that dream which was three times dreamed by me?'
 'Still I was at loss and made no answer.
 '' Try for her in SOP he exclaimed.
 Come, let's work out the latitude, , he said, and we'll find that iceberg's s situation. My hearts afre. Oh, he ioI 1>17f hot o1 through me, my wife is dear to me. pray, l pray, we may not be too late.
 ' Tt is at this season, said he, that the ice breaks away out of the seuth and comes ill fleets of bergs thickly crowding north. There's been heavy weather. We'll not allow for larger drift than league a day. Try for her in 50! That's it. That will put the berg when the Prairie Chief struck it ill about 51.'
 ''I thought now began to understand him.
 You mean 51 degrees of south lati- tudor
 "'Of course I do, he answered.
 "I measured the distance due south from the place where our ship then was and made it few hundred miles I forget the figure.
 Its a short run, said he, looking at the chart The boat did it in 10 days, and that's not above three knots an hour' was silent. I shall strike the parallel of 50 degrees hs ron- tinued, after pause, then run tyway east. If sight nothing, I shall head back. I'll find hereunder God he added, removing his cap and glancing upward with an expression of rapt de- votion.
 ''The crew were briefly tcld that Captain Huddersfields wife had been aboard the Prairie Chief and that the schooner was going to seek the survivors of the wreck.
 Mot until the fourth day did we strike the latitude of 50 degrees, ill which time we saw no ice. The ocean was of marvellous rich blue, the heav- ems deep and thrilling violet, with coasts of swelling white vapor of rusty bronze ill their brows lying upon the glasslike line of the horizon. We now headed due east. The sailors thought our quest was ended. Throughout the glittering frosty hours-the wind blew with a piercing breath down here Captain Huddersfeld kept lookout. He was forever crossing the deck to peer ahead, and again and again, sling ing binocular glass over his shoulder, he would go aloft on to the little fore
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