Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1896-10-01

Mrs. Peck started from her seat, her
hands clasped and her lips moving.
though no sound came from them. I
had sprung after the captain toward
the campanion way, but he turnedupon
me fiercely.
Look after my wife!" he cried.
Don't leave her, mani Back with
you'll"
And back went, though it was little
in my power to comfort her. Yet L
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 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 a 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 ?''
swered. Don't worry. We're still
afioat, and likely to keep afloat, which
is more to the point
''Then what has happened?" I 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,"
ga derelict?"
Perhaps. However, we're not badly
damaged, so far as can be discovered.
There's no danger"
With 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 brave little wom-
an if she has only chance. Remember,
both of you, we're not sinking, but
af1oat in as sound a 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, to be sure, showed
the vessel apparently uninjured, at least
to unskilled 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 knew, and now, at in
tervals, the clank of them penetrated
the cabin. Nevertheless the captain
again and again declared that there was
no danger, until by force of repetition
he succeeded in allaying the fears of his
wife.
We held the breeze for three days.
Then followed gale of 20 hours dura-
ton, which left behind it an ugly sea.
The next morning the pumps were go
ing steadily. The cold had moderated
sensibly, and from under the lee of n
boat enjoyed pipe and watched the
nen at the brakes. After little the
skipper. who had been standing near
the wheel, crossed over to me.
Doctor he said, Eve something to
tell you. It is better for you to learn it
now than to come at it after awhile by
guesswork. We've changed our course
and are headed for Rio"
"Then the ships injury is greater
than you supposed?" asked, with all
my old terrors aroused.
Eyes. We have been leaking forward
ever since the collision. The pitching
and rolling in yesterdays blow in
creased the trouble and made my duty
clear. I want you to understand this
and to aid me in keeping up my wife's
spirits. Make her believe that seeking
port for repairs is more of an extra pre-
caution than necessity"
I'll do my BEST" I promised, and,
though my success was doubtful, I
honestly strove to aid the captains de-
signs. Of the anxious days of that
run to Rio there is little to re-
cord; but, reach it as we did at
length. with the pumps going, the
men almost worn out and the ship
showing a good deal less freeboard
than she had displayed in the Pacific.
We learned, soon after our arrival, that
Perez was out of the city, and that it
was uncertain when he would return.
The work of repairs on the ship was
pushed, for her master was DESTROYS to
lose as little time as possible. There
were some cases of fever reported
among the shipping, and once or twice
was called aboard vessels to prescribe
for men lying i'll of the disease. 1
Il - l. Il