Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1896-05-21

! AGAIN bltc MARY 1Gck Was piONluI
the waves of the Atlantic Fayoring
breezes on the Pacific, a fierce but short
lived storm off the Horn, then a hail
gale which drove her at top speed along
that toughest of ocean highwavs-such
was the story of the beginning of her
homeward voyage. But now the cape
had been rounded and the ship was
pressing northward toward warmer
lltitlAles and less tempestuous seas.
Everybody aft was in the best of spir-
| its, as ] well remember.
1t was evening. Mrs. Peek and were
reading in the cabin when the cap ain
left the deck and joined u.s. The hang
ing lamp showed drops of spray glisten-
ing on his cap and heavy jacket, and no
wonder, for a strong, keen wind was
sweeping up out of the southwest, and,
though the ship was running before it,
one could guess that her deck was far
from dry.
You two are looking CHEEKY and
homeliSe down here said the skipper
Il tell you, warm cabins no bad place
on night like this. There's an edge to
this breeze that, even if we miss half
/
! you like to be standing watch, doctor ~
This is better, thank you,'' said L;
better for the present, at least. / dare
say it won't be long before the deck
will have the preference"
Not if our luck holds. Do you be-
lieve in luck. doctor?'
Yes, most firmly" said 1. The ques-
ton recalled most unpleasantly the trib-
ulations of life on shore, which, for u
little, l had shaken off, but to which
return was inevitable
And so do l." said the skipper. still,
with Mary with us we can't meet any
great misfortune. Old Ocean wouldn't
be malicious enough to build up her
health only to make her fate a ship
wreck"
His eyes met his wife's for an instant;
the look on the faces of the two re-
vealed that, Notwithstanding their we'd
ding day was far behind them, they
We're still lovers.
Take off those wet things, DEAR
she said. Surely you can spare us a
half hour. You're not needed on deck
all the time
a NC Will YOU III TWO ullu QuSS, ne
answered, cheerily. His hand was on
the latch of his stateroom door. when
there came a shock which almost
knocked him from his feet. A tremor
ran through the fabric of the vessel.
Then there were shouts from above
and the noise of men running along the
deck
Mrs. Peck started from her seat. her
hands clasped and her lips moving.
though no sound came from them. |
had sprung after the captain toward
the campanion way, but he turned upon
me fiercely.
Look after my wifel'' ne cried.
Don't leave her, man! Back with
you'll"
And back l went. though it was little
in my power to comfort her Yet
strove to reassure her, as if a frightened
woman could be cheered by an equally
frightened man. Neither Of us knew
what had happened. In our ignorance
we could only dread horrors none the
less terrifying for the Indebtedness Of
them. So for many minutes we sat,
pale and trembling. at the prospect of
l.
motion of the ship and the tell-tale
compass showed that she was still
speeding on her course, and after time
the fact began to revive our courage.
At last-how long the interval seemed
there is no need of relating-Capt. Peck
rejoined us.
What was it, Abner?" gasped his
wife. ''What was it?"
Here, here, that won't do" he an
swered. Don't worry. We're still
afloat, and likely to keep afioat, which
is more to the point"
Then what has happened?' I broke
in.
ave struck something just what,
we don't know, but something quita
awash, for nobody saw anything of it,
Whatever it was. we must have sent i,
to the bottom. None Of the men caught
even n glimpse of the thing as we went
over it,"
~ dereliet?"
Perhaps. However, we're not badly
damaged, SO far as can be discovered.
There's no danger"
With n great sigh of relief his wife
/
bent over her and kissed her.
Don't let her get down-hearted, doc
| tor" said he. ''She's brave little WON
an if she has only chance. Remember,
both of you, we're not sinking, but
afioat ia as sound ship as ever
was sent Off the ways. And now I've
got to go on deck again"
In spite of the confidence he felt, or
assumed. there was little rest for us
that night Morning, 10 be sure, showed
the vessel apparently uninjured. at least
TO unslSilled eyes, though one could not
help noticing that the faces of the
mates were unusually grave. and that
the men talked earnestly among them
selves. The pumps had been going dur
ing the night, as l knew, and now. at in
| tervals, the clank of them penetrated
I 81, D. ~. xs,t,