Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-28
eopsHcHr. 1888. ey rsR Aur,soa,

ance OF frequent repulsion, though at
every fresh spout Of fame something
caught IRE allow and aioft.
Keep bright lockout for l,er boats."
cried Captain Benson, who walked
alone near the pinnacle in short excur-
siOns.
He was agitated. Few sights at sea
move sailors moro to their depths than
ship Oh fire. He finds nothing thrill
ing, splendid or romantic in it, as some
Of the ladies Oh the Queens poop did,
as DIR. Storr did how that the danger OF
the storm was passed. To the sailor q
burning ship is the most heartbrcaking
voice the sea can find a tongue for. You
saw the influence OF the sight upon the
gang CT men under the poop. They
stood staring, sucking their pipes, drop
ping now and then a remark in q sui
len note Of helpless sympathy.
"She'l have plenty OF boats, though, -
said Mr.. Masters.
AYE But that don't take the desola-
ton out OF the picture, my friend" an
swered Mr. Burn.
Fire Il rocket, Mr.. Matthews; fire a
rocket" called the captain, his words
passing clear, though hoarse, through tie
still air, .tand barn port fire. And
he repeated, Keep q bright lookout for
the boats.
He stopped his way hastily to the
companion ard disappeared, bat return
ed III minute, having observed such a
rise in the glass as was good for his
spirits.
Make sail Oh the ship, SIR" he
cried. "Out reefs. Loose topgallant
sails. Aft hero and set this spanker.''
Whiz went rocket as he smoke
sheer betwizt the two tall masts Of the
fore and main. A minute later the fig
ure of the second mate, overhanging the
port rail, was brilliantly outlined against
the weltering blackness over the side by
q stream of kissing blue fire fountain
ing from his hand
They'll have made for the ship in
the north" said Mr.. Matthews to the
second mate. And that no doubt was
the case, though the Queen had been
the nearer vessel. For q couple of hours
old Benson kept his ship hanging in the
wind, and the passengers watched with
admiration and fear o splendid but
frightful picture. from which the sense
of the human life that had been there,
having made its escape. could not rob
the spirit Of tragedy. She lay but
quarter of mile distant Figure the
tons Of oil in her, the oil soaked planks.
the well creased masts, the dripping i'll
her every pore. The heavens overhead
shook i'll folds of crimson to the horizon.
The skipper saw there was no life in
the burning ship and no boats about.
He heard four bells strike, and. CHANGING
once mere at the glowing and throbbing
heap. which shone as daylight for any
thing to be seen in a league round, he
gave orders for sail to DO trimmed
Old Benson was man of habits
When he commanded a full risged ship,
then i'll certain latitudes he regularly
took i'll his fore and mizzer royals and
flying jib whether there was any coca
SIGN to do SO or not; also, after the pas
sengers had retired and the cabin lamp
was turned low, he'd come on deck in
his tall hat and peacoat and smoke one
Manila ohercot, marching up and down
abreast of tie wheel. You might tell
the time by the shippers star Of tobacco
aft and strike the bell when he threw
tie stump away.
Hs was marching up and down at this
Tour of hard upon six bells At the for
ward extremity CT the short, white
length Of poop deck stepped a.. Poole.
the second mate. A solitary figure grasp
cd the wheel. The sails swelled 10 the
main royal, and from under the bows
came noise like water in little streams
merrily running over shingie.
MIR. Poole, " suddenly called cut the
captain in q voice that sounded harsh
! and parrotlilse, perhaps with the sud-
denness of 1T and the soft silence it
broke into.
"Sir, answered the second mate,
and he came swiftly aft, touching his
hat as he met the CID skipper abreast of
the after quarter boat, clear of the
| wheel.
| Whose voices are these down ON
the quarter deck?''
"One's Mr.. Daveni-e, sir. think I
hear Mr.. Hankey. and there are two or
three others
WHY don't they so to bed?"
II don't know, sir"
What are they doing, sir?''
| Smoking, SIR
After u short, expressive pause old
Benson said, The mate tells NC Won
knew Mr. Hankey before he came on
board this ship
| He came cut in ship that was
in, sir.''
| "Who is he:''
II know nothing Of him, SIR re-
sponded the second mate, speaking
nervousiy. as a young officer well
might when challenged By a skipper in
the manner which ola Benson was now
wearing.
| Didn't lie come CT board the shin
the night before We sailed at your irvi-
| tations''
| mo. sir. A srall boat scalled along
side. locked over the rail and was
hailed by name. Recol,ecting the gen.
tleman and understanding that he was
to he passenger aboard this ship, /
asked hip aboard"
what was your talk about?''
Many things, sir. Iforget-the shin