The record-union., 1895-08-03

convenient for his purpose. He then
went below to the cabin to perform his
calculations. The lookout man. a ready
sleeper, was in heavy slumber. upon
which the stitfening breeze made no
effect. The rest Of the watch had dIsap-
peared III the customary fashion. Captain
Anderson was practically alone on the
deck.
He walked forward, leaned over the
weather rail and directed his glass. he
saw just exactly what he expected to see.
There, right ahead in the distance. the
binoculars showed long, thin streak OF
sparkling silver, appearing like hight
ming flash held fast between the darkness
and the deep sea. 1t was phosophores-
cent water playing on a sand bank.
Anderson put the glass into his pocket.
He was sullen and determined. He stood
motionle5S for full half an hour trying to
repreSs the workings of an aroused con-
science. but his thoughts would not let
him alone. There was something behind
them, some new sensations which set
them buZZing in his mind. These sem
sations were his finest feelings, emo
bling emotions which had been cramped
in the grip of discipline for forty years.
He could not comprehend 1t, but he
found himself pursuing train OF thought
of finer sensibility than ne had ever eX-
perienced, and in which the great bride
mad no place. He foreshadowed in his
minds eye the tragic events over which
he was now presiding. He foresaw the
danger to life and limb with fresh clear
ness of vision. He pictured to himself
the possible agonies of his fellow Great
ures never once thinking Of his own
with q sentiment much akin to pity
strong, too, but not sufficiently strong
TO overcome that unbending pride which
forbade him for honor's sake to go back
upon his promise. Then there was tho
doom OF the ship itself.
The man is not angry, much less 1ear-
full, but his lips are quivering and his
nostrils widening with passion hitherto
unknown. He sees the picture wildly
"a majestic, gallant ship done TO de-
struction-a rich. ruined seaman wan
dering on earth with q broken heart IN
dishonored bosom. Not only q gallant
ship. but a lifelong pride and tho full
ness of hearts desire swept recklessly
into limbo. Here at last had his love re-
vealed Itself.
mo, by God, she shall not persist"
CHAPTER III.
With a rapid movement he gains the
fO' CASTLE and roars into it "All hands
bout ship! Quick now for your very
lives!
There is no mistaking his tone 1t is
not OF driving tyranny. but Of urgent
agony, and it goes right home to every
man.
Up they tumble in a ready crowd,
many in their shirts alone. They are all
sleepy, but the business in hand will soon
cure them OF this.
They stand by. The helm is put down,
and quickly the Chrysolite veers round
in process Of reaching the other tack.
VIII she do it? No. She trem bles al
most in the teeth of the wind, misses
StavS and falls off AGAIN ON To thA old
tack.
Anderson cannot understand it old
sailor as he is; puts the helm down once
more; once more she misses.
Back the mainyard! Shiver the fore
yardn'
Soon every stitch of canvas on the
mainmast is swung about to face the
hauled in. Although she is going at eight
knots, that should check her.
But ii does not.
"MiZen-topSail braces there!' Quick
as thought the lee braces are Stacked of,
and those on the weather side made taut
Still she is not checked. Strange, too,
for the breeze is stiff. Captain Anderson
feels she is in the stream of a strong cur
rent.
There had been no need to say what was
the cause of danger. The heavy boom of
breakers arose above the tread of feet,
the cashing of spars and the chorus OF
curses.
Meanwhile Mr.. Grant has finished his
calculations below. He has found for a
result that the ship is among the Maldive
reefs. He is certain there must be some
error in the work, anu he sets himself 10
revise his figures. But the breeze sweeps
into the cabin with faint command from
the upper air-"Back the mainyardP'-
and he shrewdly guesses that his calcula-
tions are correct
The Captain is everywhere at once.
urging and aiding. He sees the whole
canvas abaok, and yet the Chrysolite
drifts on. He cannot bout his ship or
back her.
The reef is quite within appreciable dis
lance now. The hands can do nothing
more, 80 they gaze at the dancing line OF
phosphorescent atoms and curse tremen-
dously-though these may be their last
moments.
"AlI hands wear shipp comes sharply
from Anderson.
you and your ORDERS" cried some
ono. ITO the boats, to the boatso'
Although the Chrysolite carried five
boats, no less than four of them were I'M
seaworthy. In those days the examina-
ton OF an outward bound ship was
slurred over, with the natural conse-
quence that the marine law was more
frequently broken than observed. The
only boat on board the Chrysolite worth
launching was the lifeboat which stood
bottom upward between the main and
miZZen- masts. At the cry, ITO the
boats"' there is rush for her. But An
dersOn is first. He carries in his hand
small ak meant for clearing away light
wreckage. With vigorous blow the
lifeboat is stove in. The men stop short,
daunted. lie turns about and faces
them, looking like an angry Titan.
New then, you hell hounds. wear the
ship or sinkw They see he means to be
master to the end.
1t is too late even for imprecation. The
men literally spring to their work with
an alacrity begot OF desperation. Every
moment is of the utmost value, for the
reef is very close and the horrible break
erS are IN all ears.
Captain Anderson holds the wheel.
He has put the helm up, and soon the
great ship, with swelling sails, breaks out
Of the current. He feels the change on
the instant; the hands know it, too. But
the danger is not past. Leaving the
wheel to another he runs quickly for
ward to lean over the weather rail. AS
he passes through the crowd on the
TO- castle the poor fellows cheer him ring
ingly. The tine old seman doffs his cap
and makes them grand, manly bow.
He chances at the reef and then mutters
quietly to himself:
''She will never clear it, and God for
give mep'
Then, wheeling round, he gives a com-
mand.
Let 60 both anchorsl It is our only
chancer'
Many hearts sink at the order, but in
as few moments as possible the cables are
smoking through the hawse pipes. The
anchors touch bottom and hold. All
hands clutch the stauChiOns or shrouds
IN anticipation of the shock. 1t comes.
The ship, racing on, is brought up with
round turn of such force as to shake every
nail in her Ii m bar A LOFT fhara Ia nraah