Arizona republican., 1898-06-21
CHAPTER I.


 I'll be with you in two minutes he answered. cheerily. His hand was on the latch of his stateroom door. when there came a shock which almost knocked him from his feet A tremor ran through the fabric of the vessel. Then there were shouts from above and the noise of men running along the deck.
 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 companion way, but he turned upon me iercely.
 Look after my wife!" he cried. Don't leave her. man! Back with you!" And back I went, though it was little in my power to comfort her. Yet strove to reassure her, as if 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 indefniteness 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-talc compass showed that she was still speeding on her course, and after time the fact began to revive our courage. At last-how long the interval seemed there is no need of frelating-Capt. Peck rejoined us.
 What was it, Abner?" gasped his wife. What was it?''
 Here, here, that won't do," he an swered. Don't worry. We're still afioat, and likely to keep afioat, which is more. to the point"
 ''Then what has happened?'' broke | in.
 ''We struck something. Just what we don't know, but something quite awash. for nobody saw anything of it. l Whatever it was, we must have sent i. to the bottom. None of the men caught 1 even a glimpse of the thing as we went 1 over it"
 "A derelict?"
 Perhaps. However, we're not badly SO ldI as Ccu Dc QISCOfClCO. There's no danger"
 l With a 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 a chance. Remember, both of you, we're not sinking, but afoat in as sound a ship as ever was sent off the ways. And now I've l got to go on deck again.
 In spite of the confidence he felt, or assumed, there was little rest for us i 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 1 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 no danger, until by force of repetition he succeeded in allaying the fears of his 1 wife.
 We held the breeze for three days. Then followed gale of 20 hours dura- i tion, which left behind it an ugly sea. i The next morning the pumps were go ing steadily. The cold had moderated sensibly, and from under the lee of a boat enjoyed a pipe and watched the nen at the brakes. After little the skipper, who had been standing near < O1
 Doctor" he said, five something to l tell you. It is better for you to learn 1t 1 now than to come at it after awhile by l guesswork. We've changed our course and are headed fo.. Rio'
 ] Then the .,'s injury is greater than you supposed?" asked, with all my old terror aroused.
 ''Yes. We i.ayc been leaking forward ever since the collision. The pitching and rolling ia yesterdays blow in | creased the trouble and made my duty 1 clear. I want you to understand this and to aid rne il, keeping up my wife's 1 spirits. Make ilci believe that seeking | port for repairs $ more of an extra pre- caution than q necessity"
 I'll do my best" I promised, and, 1 though my success was doubtful, 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 1 than she had displayed in the Pacific. 1 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 1 pushed. for her master was desirous to lose as little time as possible. There were some cases of fever reported among the shipping, and once or twice l was called aboard vessels to prescribe for men lying i'll of the disease. l doubt whether my ministrations had much effect, Yellow Jack being then more of q stranger to me than was the ease somewhat later. While spending |.