The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1896-10-01
copyright 1895. by J. B. LippineOu Col
IL.

bay after q voyage winch. south Oh tne
line. had been prolonged far beyond her
masters expectations.
There had been no opportunity to
transfer Perez to vessel bound for
Rio. and perforce he had been carried to
the Chilian port. On the day of our ar
rival. however. he and his companion
bade us farewell and were sent aboard a
steamer which, an hour later, bore them
out of the bay. Our parting was that
of friends who could hardly hope to
meet again. Yet it was fated that a
meeting should come, and, that. too, at
an early date.
Again the Mary Peck was plowing
the waves of the Atlantic. Fayoying
breezes on the Pacific, fierce but short
lived storm off the Horn, then n half
gale which drove her at top speed along
that toughest of ocean highways-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
attitudes and less tempestuous seas.
Everybody aft was in the best o. spir-
it's, as well remember.
1t was evening. Mrs. Peck and were
reading in the cabin when the captain
left the deck and joined us. The hang
ing lamp showed drops of spray glisten-
ing on his cap and heavy jacket, and no
wonder, for IA strong, keen wind was
sweeping up out of the southwest, and,
though the ship was running before 1T,
one could guess that her deck was far
from dry.
"You two are looking CHEEKY and
homelike down here" said the skipper.
II tell you, a warm cabins no bad place
on night like this There's an edge to
this breeze that, even if we miss half
the force of it, cuts to the bone. How'd
you like TO be standing watch, doctor?'
This is better, thank you," said l.;
"better for the present, at least. dare
say il 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-
tion recalled most unpleasantly the trib-
ulations of life on shore, which, for a
little, 1 had shaken off, but to which a
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 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
were still lovers.
.'Tabe off those wet things, dear
she said. "Surely you can spare us "a
half hour. You're not needed on deck
all the time"
I'll be with you in two minutes" he
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. |
the campanion way, but he turned upon
me fercely.
Look after my wife!" he cried.
Don't leave her, mani Back with
you!"
And back went, though it was little
in my power to comfort her. Yet
strove to reassure her, as if 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 indefiniteness of
them. So for many minutes we sat,
pale and trembling at the prospect of
dangers we knew not what. But the
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 f1elating-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 afloat, which
is more to the point"
'Then what has happened?" broke
in.
1--WE struck something. Just what.
we don't know; but something quite
awash, for nobody saw anything of it.
Whatever it was, we must have sent i.
to the bottom. None of the men caught
even glimpse of the thing as we went
over it,"
"A derelict?"
Perhaps. However, we're not badly
damaged, SO far as can be discovered.
There's no danger"
With a great sigh of relief, his wife
sank back in her seat. Her husband
bent over her and kissed her.
Don't let her get down-hearted, doc
tor said he. "She's a brave little wom-
an if she has only chance. Remember,
both of you, we're not sinking, but
afoat in 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 MS
that night Morning, to be sure, showed
the vessel apparently uninjured, al least
TO unslSilled eyes, though one could not
help noticing that tie faces of the
mates were unusually grave. and that
the men talked earnestly among them