Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1897-07-29
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RAND. HSMALLY & Co

self in the Pacific or the North Sea-"
He rolled up the chart and returned
1T to the colonel, who went of with 1t
to his own cabin and did not appear for
some time.
Dick and Camilla went on deck and
enjoyed the sun and blue sky after so
many dark days.
do you know" she said. that I did
not always enjoy that perpetual rush
of wind and rain? And If hadn't seen
that you were quite, cheerful about it.
I should have really been quite alarmed
at times"
Dick smiled. II was more timid than
you, expect; I was by no means as
cheerful as I looked
'Then there was danger?" she asked.
'"rhere was a lee shore, and there
were nights in which We could see moth
ing"
'Then how could the ship be steered?"
"She couldn't; she drove before the
wind, which happily was In the right
direction; all the steersman could do
was to stand to his helm and be al
ways ready for sudden danger"
What work." she cried. 'Then it
was really one man who saved us all?"
"Oh, no." he answered, that's too
much to say: let's hope he would have
saved US if he had had the chance"
How can you, speak so lightly of
him!" she exclaimed, warmly. HE is
a hero, and shall thank him myself"
Dick was silent, and looked away.
tombstone was passing near. and
Camilla called to him.
What is your steersman's name?"
she asked, as he approached.
Il lol
and was gone in moment.
We've been taking the wheel in turns
of late" said Johnstone; "but on the
worst nights Captain Estcourt wouldn't
let her out of his own hands,
She nodded and turned away. john
stone passed on with an approving
shake of the head.
"My word!' he muttered, she would
be fool to stick at scruples now; he'll
be better paid than me by long sight,
AS for Camilla, this episode brought to
a decisive end the struggles which had
been going on at intervals in her mind
since she came on board the Speedwell.
She was convinced, and glad to be
convinced. that Dick was indeed the
man she had thought him Of old. What
ever had been his reasons for joining
in this expedition, they were not, she
felt certain, either weak fondness for
herself or disloyalty to the colors un-
der which he served.
With this conclusion, which was
rather due to instinct than reasoning,
and was but half-consciously present
to her mind. her old feelings toward him
resumed their place, and the restraint
which she had hitherto endeavored to
put upon them broke down completely.
Eight days passed in great content.
The colonel troubled them with his So
ciety less than ever. When he was not
alone in his own cabin he was general
1y in that of Captain Worsley, of whom
he gave reports to the others twice
day.
It appeared that the medicines on
board were insufficient; the Speedwell
carried no surgeon, in spite Of the
twelve weeks regulation, which express
1y includes the Cape; and the patients
condition was, therefore, unsatisfactory,
and at times even critical.
Hearing this, Dick foresaw that the
remainder of his voyage would prob
ably be spent in the sole company Of
tombstone and he began to realize how
quickly and how pleasantly the last two
weeks had flown. Tomorrow Camilla
would leave the speedwell, and with
her would go for the present all the sun
shine Of life. Happily he had discov-
cred that she had no intention Of hid
ing herself again from him; she was
evidently anticipating a meeting In the
near future, though under what cir
cumstances he had no means Of guess
ing. To his great surprise the next day
passed without any sign Of the Island
~ Sv,er Sn ,fsY1$ II
posed that the brig had not been kept
straight to her course, and in his heart
thanked tombstone for the bad naviga-
ton which had given him another days
happiness.
But when the I'd ana Sd Of May had
come and gone and still not a speck
was visible upon the vast expanse Of
ocean around them. he took more
serious view of the matter, and thought
1t his duty to speak about it.
tombstone" he said, when the others
had retired for the night, 'have you
taken your bearings today? Do you
know where we are?'
Eyes. sir; within an easy days sail
of the. island"
"Then we shall have been twelve days
coming thousand miles. How's that?'
The: other was silent
Il tpld you" Dick continued, "that I
should hold you answerable: now give
you warning that I'm not satisfied so
far"
"I'v warrant you'll be satisfied enough
by This time tomorrow grumbled
Johnstone, in a low voice.
Esfcourt turned away, pretending not
to hear this remark, which. however.
in the sense in which he took 1t, struck
him as being just enough .retort.
That night the wind rose again. and
Inc sky next morning was once more
completely overcast; about noon wet
squalls began to strike the ship.
When the rain ceased for a time, to-
ward sunset, tombstone came down to
the saloon to tell them that the island
was In sight.