The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-14

60 Paimas showing like a FAINT grey
Varl Cor away on the starboard quarter.
Thore had not been breath of wind sutf1-
.,art m stir a feather, all day; and the
s+ratchinc it's FURNISHED surface to the
icon was as fiat and unruffied as
,l.ns Of quicksilver. Right ahead' Sill
tt.,ottad against the great red disc of the
4 ting sun, a brig was visible, every de-
a ,n If her spars and rigging as clearly de-
sre3 as though she had been hand-paint-
n mon the face of the Iuminary. Her
n agbt upper sails were fur.ed, her main
.g was hauled up, and flag hung mo-
toness from the gaff end.
The second lieutenant of the Cleopatra
rss gazing at her through telescope.
There's a true ocean picture for you"
n No exclaimed, turning to the doctor who
was standing beside him. II wish l was
artist enough to reproduce it on canvas"
40 my fancy there is a forlorn, helpless
ook about yonder brig, as though she had
lost her way" replied the doctor. smiling
n At his own conceit. What do you make
~ herr"
N she is a merchantmen, undoubtedly"
sld the Lieutenant; land of rather an old
fashioned type, judging by her high poop
and single topsails."
English?" queried the doctor.
Impossible to say" replied the lieuten-
ant, closing his telescope with a snap.
zone can't distinguish the color of the flag
at this distance, especially as there is no
y wind to blow it out"
1T would be possible, 1 suppose said
the doctor gazing curiously at the distant
yessei, for ship to drift about the ocean
n In these ATTITUDES for a quarter of century
h without being picked up"
Even longer" replied the lieutenant.
There are vast tracts of ocean never Wis
q tied except by an occasional surveying
& ship; tracts of everlasting Gains. And 1
4 can We. conceive that there are vessels
4 drifting idly hither and thither that were
aloat IN the days of Nelson Ships were
A know"
What a fine sea romance might be
woven out Of the accidental discovery of
one OF those relics of the past" said the
doctor, musing1y.
There will be no romance left for the
HeA a15 seneraIon' remarked the lieutenant.
Because the iron kettles they build now
ana designate Ships, would not float dere-
ct as many weeks as the old wooden walls
hoated years. Moreover, the death knell
OF ocean romance was sounded when the
nrSt steamer crossed the Atlantic"
nopt 'ni rari yo9 a, are mistaken on that
crust the next ship l am appointed to
WIN be one of those same unromanic
steamers. l shall better appreciate calm
weather then"
With that he turned and descended the
companion ladder to prepare a few "un-
romantic drugs for his patients
81 me sun dipped below the horizon and at
tne same moment the white ensign fiut-
VIed down from the mizzen peak of the
toINette. Darkness began to creep over
uIe h9shed ocean, and solitary star APP
pedred low down in the east Night fell
with almost startling suddenness-foT
mere Is no twilight in the equatorial par
anels-and very soon the deep indigo blue
0ffeinSSaa was ablaze with myriad points
~ Hsut' Ana far down in the still water
mtse thy sparkling worlds were reflected
WIN such marvellous dstinctnesS that
raoln the deck it appeared as though the
heavens "0Ni wv
About eight bells of the second dog
malCH Aght breeze came out of the
~ t yaSa9t' win Just enough strength in it
~ Aeep inc upper sails silent and swelling.
1-clt was a musical tnkle of water
Ssallst lhe slde-refreshing sound after a
~ ~ cam day-as the Cleopatra moved
Slowly ahead stirring up little patches of
HUSKY green fire as the water swirled lazi-
i y uHuet ner counter. The brig that had
~ Nh visible at sunset was showing in a
S9s udrh piotch against the starlit sky. BY
SiU,C4oCh t1e Cleopatra was within hailing
Instance Of her. She was hove 70 but no
asHts were to be seen about her The
lsnS5r, miidch sun remained hoisted, waved
nrS uldly IN the breeze.
a. ne captain of the Cleopatra paused in
s uailer-deck walk. What the deuce
iuey mean by showing no lights" he
SAcldlned. Hail her. Mr. Ruler" To the
lieutenant of the watch. there NAV he
Sv nt wrong" The officer referred to
Ef spo ' ~ ndnds TO his mouth, and his voice
yenfne u sr ueep ana clear across the inter-
W TbbNs SPACE OF water, Brig ahoyr'
All eIe came no answer. He hailed again.
S ilr no reply. She drfted slowly astern,
iSbe ia anu P visionary upon the black ocean.
e1n!s uSSerted-a derelict" said the lieu
e,Tantn we must send a boat" said the
aMMdy the first cutter"
NE bOatswain's whistle chivned roerrilv.
ss heaVy cards swung round and an the
erioru,Ihe the boat was manned and wa
iis IN rI,... midshipman having received
and tooi, Si IONS ran down the side ladder
me- oAore off," he cried. Give way!' The
ID NAH ueul 70 the oars and the boat skim
bGg inst M me water in the direction OF the
uFs alngy We're away about twenty min
Man Snq when they returned the midship-
Tba "a" Az strange story to tell.
Nortba1n IN, ne said, was named the
49, Vas no one to be seen about her
disr@os,,, Oui ON looking into the galley they
ers 'OS'ea a man lying asleep on the lock-
ST thew I'll I'll oeing reused up and questioned
bo Uleited from him the statement that
cr," %aa me master of the brig and that the
Man, Hdl abandoned her some days pre-
NJ aiso os leavng him behind. The mate had
vond eyhe, presumably with the crew. Be
notp4 mai he either could not, or would
ia eNe any Information, and he refused
m" company them back to the corvette.
man NaIhtr was strange, and the midship-
. uari,Cf9 me 10 the conclusion that he was
plen'SaHg intoxicated. There seemed TO be
. sgin3 OF provisions, he concluded. and on
trobesil the wells they found only eleven
w. III water, not an unusual amount.
" cSt Vt log-book nor papers of any kind
sbo, found, and there was nothing to
"F,l the crew had abandoned her.
can'aas cry extraordinary said the
INK ON ". THE disappearance OF
over rev ~ Ike mutiny." He glanced
ooSSygigation drif. about 5u like this vita
ChsrOAg man Oh ard. We must take
est b Qi her and her into the near.
MaxW144sh port. /. he word for MIR.
ms ma sqg 3ar looking youn. dicer pa emily
"Y m appearance ana Ited his CHER.
saldtb WI take charge o. yonder brig"
20 Sler. aptain to him, 'ant navigate her
SIX mSla Leone. A quarteunaster and
maser VIII SO with you. Che quarter
" can't must take charge OF wa IN, a.
Pears lt"te another officer. acre APP
She sb ,9e no satisfactory reason why
I'll may LIld have bees abandoned You
VIII b"-oomycver, find out something that
iiyal an ~ light on the subject on ar
senl0r rs'tietfa Leone report yourself 20 tho
BE as .soNai officers That is all j think
as you can In getting away.