The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-23
AS for me, I listened in a dreamy. halt

As for me, listened ia a dreamy, halt
conscious state, feeling no fear only dimly
pitying the reader whose emotion was So
keen. When he had finished reading, he
bent over me, stroking back my hair. ITS
got the golden CLINT Of boyhood in it yet"
he murmured, and then lower and very
huskily, Would you like me 10 prayi"
1t was a trouble to speak, so ] held out
my hand, caught his and pressed it by way
of answer He returned the pressure, look
ing down upon my hand and caressing IL
for a moment, then holding it softly bu;
firmly between his rough palms he went
on his knees. When he rose, something at
the portfolio seemed suddenly to attract his
attention. He stared hard for a minute or
so, then cast a shamefaccd, sidelong glance
at me.
"Damme il I've played the parson for
years before" he laughed, furtiyely draw
ing the back of his hand across his eyes,
then, as il fearing an answer. he hurried
away.
1t might be that same evening, or it
might be some days or even a week later,
for have but dim and confused memory
Of that period, that he came to me with a
terrified face. saying the ship was in inn
minent peril His speech was not immedi-
ately Ineligible, for / seemed TO be recov-
ering from a stupor, but at length caught
the word 'waterspout," and even 10 my
dull sense IL sounded ominous Hardly
had the word passed his lips when the brig
shook to her center as cannon was fired
on deck.
That's to try TO break it," he said.
"Good God" he cried in the same breath,
but in a tone that was startlingly different,
''it's upon usl Mate, this means hell and
destruction"
Instantaneously there was great crash,
as If sudden blow had rent our timbers,
and the brig few up at the bows like
fisherman's punt when heavy weight il
swung on behind. had my sconce dented
in the bunk. aud Mr.. Watson swept the
floor with his back like kind Of inconti-
nent bosom. When in the rebound the
stern went up In turn, fell back TO my
place breathess and helpless, and the super
cargo, scrambling TO bis feet with the cat
like agility OF n sailor, made desperately for
the companionway.
Then for an instant the vessel seemed 20
lie still, but the next she was reeling and
dancing like an eggshell i'm boiling cal
dron. Now she would rear from the bows,
now from the stern, then tumble on her
must have been level then rebound then
spring, shaking herself like a thing de-
mented with pain, and all the while she
cried and groaned in every timber with a
terrorizing, humanlikc sense of the pangs
ofdissolution. Iclung to my bunk with all
my feeble might, unable to discern any
thing clearly, yet conscious i'm spite of dark
ness and terror of the swish Of water rush
ing through the open door.
After awhile Mr.. Watson came back
His face was very whitea and his manner ex-
cited. looked at him beseochingly for
news, for in the tumult could not hope 10
make myself heard lie did not keep me
long in suspense
smashed by the sterni' he shouted mt
the pitch OF his voice, bending over me as
he held on 10y the side ~ my berth. "The
spout hit Us, carrying with IL masts aud
rigging and now we're reeling In the Grip
Of tornado The fury OF the pits let
loose ON us Wind and fire and water, all
contending against us. And, worse than
that, we're waterlogged and the Internal
crew threateningto take TO the boats. Cap
tain's keeping them at - with the pistol.
Keep you still, III come back again"
tceuld Say nothing. 1 could do pothing