San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-02-14

Utcu tuIOsOiouB SdBSSu anu lelJ W uOdb
upon the sea in swoon. Her white
throat bore certain dark marks, which
were probably the impression Of Mr..
Caldwell's fingers. She looked very
comfortable figure Of fine young wom-
an in her dressing gown. The white cap
was off her head, her hair was now
thoroughly dried and rose thick upon
her pretty head under the light of the
little swaying lamp. The eyes in Com
mander Boldock's toasted face often
rolled upon her. and Mr.. Matthews, sit
ting opposite. viewed her with the kind
ness of an old friend.
The table. though furnished with the
homeliest Of sea suppers. presented, new
ertheless, a hospitable appearance There
was room for a fourth, and then the
cabin would have been comfortably full.
The coarse white tablecloth shone with
the salt it had been washed in as the
sand Of the beach shines with the froth
that dries in it. II was furnished with
wine and rum in decanters, ham and
piece Of cold salt beef. The commanders
glass always seemed about half full.
Mr.. Matthews drank water barely col
ored with rum, Miss Mansel glass Of
Boldock's Madeira.
"Do you think the boats will have
outlived the weather this day, Captain
Boldock?" said Miss Mansel.
Sailors were distributed among
them, I believe" answered the COM
mander, looking at Matthews. II shall
expect to hear they have been picked
up"
at must be frightful to be out in an
open boat in the wide ocean in dense
black fog throuRhout long night.
said Miss Mansel, shivering as she look
cd up at the skylight.
young men have stepped ashore aft
or such experiences, said Mr. Mat
thews, ''and have been mistaken by
their mothers for their own grand
fathers.
lie ages sor' cried Miss Mansel.
There's wrinkle in every hour, "
said the mate.
"And specters fly over the boat in the
wind and dye your hair gray" ex-
claimed the commander, laughing.
Poor Mrs Peacock. who was going
home for her healthl" said Miss Mansel
faye, ayel' exclaimed Matthews,
rolling his eyes up into pure whites
"But the Storrs will feel it most. He was
selfish little cuckoo was Mr.. Storr.
He'll miss his warm bed, the lights of
the cuddy. the poop to stretch his legs
on"
"Things are not up to the hammer
with him." said the commander, "and
l shouldn't be surprised il he finds the
party in the boat slow lot. "
He emptied his glass and filled it
again and Immediately it was half full.
II wish could recollect the name Of
the island" said Miss Mansel. Some
times 1t seems at my tongues end"
THAT proves it's in your head, which
is a good sign" said Mr.. Matthews.
"Who's the navigator among them, do
you SUPPOSED"
81 should say, certainly, Captain
Trollope," answered Miss Mansel in a
voice Of fatigue and weakness.
81 might believe him that big villain
with the silver chain" said Mr.. Mat
thews. "But in any case, says he, ad-
dressing the commander, ''it may ask q
trick of seamanship above their parts to
carry the bark to the island Miss Man.
sci forgets the name of.
"I cannot see how they are going to
dispose Of all that weight of nuggets
and dust, " said Boldock, whose crimson
was deepening its dye, as though the in
fluence of the rum was not within, but
shone upon him in color through his
tumbler without "Take piece Of gold
worth 100 sovereigns-it's consider
able weight. Here, sir, we have ten
men who are going to step ashore with
plumber in precious ore to the value of
eos, 900 apiece. How will they do it?'
Mr.. Matthews shook his head grave
". They'll not land where there are
customs, anyhow" said he. PITY this
part of their project didn't reach your
earsp' he said to Miss Mansel.
81 begin to think I see the fire in the
water, said Commander Boldock.
He rose, made the young lady bow
and went on deck. Mr.. Matthews fol-
lowed MIN. Ii was pltOH ulnOh "'eh AOeb
calm heavy and profound, as though
the sun and moon were dead and the
earth beginning to rot. and this image
indeed was suggested by the fires IN
the sea.
"By George, Hardy" said the com
mander, going to the rail and looking
over, 1--WE seem to be afoat ON the re-
Elections of blazing volcano"
Mr.. Hardy was hungry, was sick OF
the fog and the sea flames, and being
relieved went hastily into the cabin to
eat and drink. The commander, after
gIanoing at the phantom glows along
side, looked aloft and then around then
pulling out a big meerschaum pipe,
which he loaded with tobacco out Of a
great fur purse, he struck a match,
which burned as steadily in that ocean
calm as candle in a bedroom. Neither
he nor Mr.. Matthews gave any further
heed to the wondrous show Of roaming
n