The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1897-03-03

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their noticing their signals. Of course,
everybody thought that she must see
them, but still she steamed westward.
A cloud of black smoke came out of her
funnel and then long, dark trail, like
the tail of a comet, floated out behind
her, but no notice was taken of the flut-
tering flags at the masthead. For more
than an hour the steamer was in sight;
then she gradually faded away into the
west. and finally disappeared.
This incident had very depressing
effect on the passengers of the disabled
ship. Although every officer had main
tanned there was no danger, yet the
floating away of that steamer seemed
somehow to leave them alone, and peo-
pie, after gazing toward the west, until
not vestige of her remained in the hor-
izon, went back to their deck chairs,
feeling more respondent than ever.
Fleming, however, claimed that if
people were to drown, it was just as
well to drown jolly as mournful, and
so he invited everybody to take drink
at his expense; a generous offer, which
all the habitues of the smoking-room
took advantage of.
MY idea is this" said Fleming, as he
slipped the cocktail which was brought
to him; "if anything happens let il
happen; if nothing happens, why then
let nothing happen. There is no use
worrying about anything, especially
something we cannot help. Here we
are on the ocean in disabled vessel;
very good; we cannot do anything
about it, and, so long as the bar remains
open. gentlemen. here's to you!"
And with this cheerful philosophy
the New York politician swallowed
down the liquor he had paid for.
Still the swish of water from the
pumps could be heard, but the metallic
clanking of steel on steel no longer
came up from the engine room. This
in itself was ominous to those who
knew. 1t showed that the engineer had
given up all hope of repairing the dam
age, whatever it was, and the real cnuse
OF the disaster was as much mystery
as ever. Shortly before lunch it be.
came evident to the people on board the
ship that something was about to be
done. The sailors undid the fasten-
ings of one of the large boats, and
swung it out on the davits until it hung
over the sea.
Gradually rumor took form, and it
became known that one of the officers
and some of the crew were about to
make an attempt to reach the coast OF
Ireland and telegraph to Queenstown
for tugs to bring the steamer in. The
captain still maintained that there was
no danger whatever, and it was only to
prevent delay that this expedient was
about to be tried.
do you know what they are going
to do?" cried Edith Longworth, in O
state of great excitement, to John Ken
yon.
Kenyon had been walking the deck
with Wentworth, who now had gone
below.
Il have heard" said Kenyon" "that
they intend trying to reach the coast"
Exactly. Now, why should you not
send telegram to your people in Lon
don, and have the reports forwarded
at once? The chances are that Miss
Brewster will never think of sending
her cablegram with the officer who is
going to make the trip; then you will
be clear day or two ahead of her, and
everything will be all right. In fact,
when she understands what has been
done, she probably will not send her
message at ALL"
"By George!" cried Kenyon, "tbat is
good idea. 1 will see the mate at
once and find out whether he will take
the telegram"
He went accordingly and spoke to
the mate about sending a message with
him. The officer said that any passen.
ger who wished to send telegraphic
message would be at liberty to do so.
He would take charge of the kilograms
very gladly. Kenyon went down to
his stateroom and told Wentworth
what was going to be done. For the
first time in days George Wentworth
exhibited something like energy. He
went to the steward and bought the
stamps to put on the telegram while
John Kenyon wrote It,
The message was given to the man,
who put it into his inside pocket, and
then Kenyon thought all was safe, but
Miss Longworth was not so sure OF
that. Jennie Brewster sat in her deck
chair, calmly reading her usual paper.
covered novel. She apparently knew
nothing of what was going on, and
Edith Longworth, nervous with sup.
pressed excitement, sat near her
watching her narrowly while prepara-
tions for launching the boat were being
completed. Suddenly, to her horror,
the deck steward appeared, and in Q
loud voice cried: "Ladies and gentle
men, anyone wishing to send kilograms
to friends have few minutes now to
write them. The mate will take them
ashore with him, and will send them
from the first Office that he reaches.
No letters can be taken, only tele-
grams"
Miss Brewster looked up languidly
from her book during the first part of
this recital. Then she sprang sudden
ly to her feet and threw the book on the
deck.
"Who is it that will take the tele-
grams?" she asked the steward.
"The mate, miss. There he is stand
ing yonder, miss"
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