The Lafayette gazette. [volume] (Lafayette, La.) 1893-1921, 1894-10-20


the clear darkness the lights of pass
ing vessels were visible for miles.
There was no wind: the waters Of the
wide lake were silent. curving away
from the bow of the vessel in long,
smooth waves, the film of crisp foam
on their crests shining now and then
as it caught the ships light.
1t was the captains watch. Bundled
against the chill of the night, a few
passengers sat about him, nurmuring
detached sentences among themselves,
for the captain on this deck was auto
crat, and the word just now was
silence.
But soon in the east a light wind
sprang up; the clouds rolled cumbrous-
ly. and between them the harvest
moon shone suddenly. blood-red. paint
ing a lurid streak straight through
the black water to the ship.
With the light, silence fed; the
shapeless forms became animated, the
waves against the bow took on cheer
note, and the captain amicably &C
copied a cigar. But behind from the
window of the pilothouse, the un-
: changed face of the man at the wheel
, stared out to sea.
There surely is no danger to a boat
: on such night as this?'' ventured the
captains favorite. who was curious as
to the cause of the tension from which
we had all so suddenly been re
lieved; and as we were talking of nerve
. in emergencies, the question seemed
not too bold.
"Starboard. Charlie. starboard!'' sud.
denly doomed the captains deep voice
: to the man It the wheel. with an in
, donation at once familiar and sternly
professional.
II never had but one piece of bad
luck, and that was eight years ago.
he had resumed his converse tiona. at
| titude-''and it might JUS as we'll hap
pen this minute.
II was sailin' the Davidson then,
carrying coal up and iron down the
! lake. She was a pretty big barge, an
I had my savings in her.
me an my wife was sitting on the
bow one night: my girls had gone &c
bed-they'd been skylarkin' all even.
| ing. 1t was fearful black, but there
| was DO fog, an you could see a ligh,
"Starboard! what you got a head for;
| Starboard! l said
''Starboard,'' repeated the dull voice
! of the man at the wheel, and the
huge bulk of a vessel cleft the path
| of silver ard drifted past us in the
gloom.
~ hadn't no more thought Of an &C.
went on the captain, with nervous
| catch in his voice. Away off to star
board was the lights of a vessel.
| could see as we'll rs I see you. Pretty
| soon he vhistled twice. That mean,
| he was a goin' to keepto his side. Their
| side. Me an my wife was awatchin
| him. All at once my wife said, Tom
| she's comm for us
Port a little, Charlie
'Port, sir,'' said the man at the
! wheel.
| "By George, see her lights turn, an
| in minute she was on us, straigh,
II yelled for 'em not to back out OF
| the hole. We'd have sunk before yo,
| could wink if she had.
| ''Steady."
STEADY, sir!'' said the man at tn.
| wheel.
| server, and claPped it on my wife. Sh,
was cryin' an moanin' about the girls
| Fanny I says, be . woman! The
girls is dead, an we'll be too in a min
ute.' She never made a whimper after
that, an took hold of her an climbed
up to the roof of my pilot house-thei,
bow was right against my mast
sings out for line. There was nc
time t., lose, an they throwed it quick
I fastened it about me an her, an
| they hauled us up on their deck.
'sAl1 this time the eteam was roarin
| up from the boilers. an heard a mai
down below cryin' an screamin'; blu
it's natural, sir, for = man to try t,
save his own children first, an al
though was sure the girls was killed
] had to know for certain.
1 'I run across the bow as soon as
| could get free from Fanny, jumpe,
/ down on my deck. an run for the girl
y staterooua.
'.Is was empty. The girls va
eenet-s