The Irish standard., 1898-12-03
CLARENCE HERseRT NEW.
Copyright. 1907. by J. 3. Llpplncot Col

They are rays of light which brighten
the years of weary effort and discour-
agement; and the eternal, irrepressi-
BILE hope that they bring with them
often stimulates belief in continued
success which leads to many bad
cropper in the struggles yet to come;
yet what would humanity ever accom-
plish without those same rays of hope
and sunshine?
Halstead's tastes, like those of most
seafaring men, ran to snug country
places on shore, racing studs, and good
company. though all within sight and
trary, like most men who sail the sea
for its witching pleasure and know
nothing of tops'l reefing or foc's'le
hellishness, were centered upon thou,
sand-ton steam yachts, alterations
between delightful cruises and months
in a perfectly equipped town house.
He would mutter, between the puffs
of smoke, cad, old chap, fellow
could have one of the finest places In
Surrey and keep house parties going
all the year round on the income of q
millionl" To which would grunt an
appreciative assent, followed by, "And
think of the clipper yacht, triple-ex-
pansion and celluloid bottom, that
man could keep in commission; yes.
and the town house, too. could build
one in the middle of Mayfair, with cleo
trio lights, modern plumbing, marble
baths, and plenty of ground around 1t.
for a hundred and fifty thousand" By
which you will see that the captain and
] were counting our chickens not only
before they were Matched, but even
while the eggs lay at the bottom Of the
western Pacific. This realization came
to us after awhile with crushing force,
along toward midnight, when the air
had become pretty damp and we had
smoked too many cigars. could feel
my heart sink down, down, like lump
Of lead. But, before turning in, I
thought: "Well, the voyage will make
a new man of me, anyhow, and the ex-
element of the attempt will be some-
thing worth remembering, whether
we succeed or not,"-in which my
friend quite agreed with me.
Shortly after four o'clock I heard
him tumble out of his bunk, and, be-
ing too restless to sleep, soon fol-
lowed. 1t was not yet daylight, but
the gray shadows in the east were
tinged with rosy reflection against
which were outlined the bold promon-
tories of Point Bugui, the northwestern
1y limit of Masbate island and Point
Sur, on Burias, the passage between be-
ing about eight miles in width. AS we
gradually altered our course around
Point Sur, heading northeast toward
Port Sorsogon, on Luzon, in order to
clear San Miguel islet at the northerly
end Of Ticao, great flames of red shot
up across the eastern horizon. The
grayness overhead lifted, like q fog
bank. There was fresh and eXhilarat"
ing dampress in the air. Then, as the
top rim of the sun appeared, broad
CLEAN spread across the heavens,
tingeing every line of the steamers
rigging and the sides of her funnel
deep crimson. Down on the main
deck, the barefooted second mate, Mo-
reno, was directing stream from the
hose over everything In sight, while
his men of the starboard watch
scrubbed and holystoned the planking.
Although there is plenty of water
all through the San Bernardino pas
sage, 1t has been but imperfectly sur
veyed and is thick with submerged
rocks, navigation among which is rem
dered still more dangerous by rapid
current setting in from the Pacific;
and feverish desire to be at work
made us doubly anxious to reach open
water without accident. Halstead had
been through the strait several times
and knew his bearings perfectly, but
we were well around the end of Ticao
before he ventured below for break
fast.
Sailing over smooth water between
the different islands, there had been
no suggestion of sea-siclsness among
our passengers, and the ladies had
been on deck since sunrise, watching
the magnificent scenery; so when we
put in an appearance the captain was
piled with all sorts of inquiries con-
corning the different headlands, when
we would be finally clear of the shore,
whether it would be very rough out
side, etc., etc.
At noon we were in the outer pas
sage, between Calantas Rock and
Capul, and by dinner-time were stand
ing due east in the open sea north Of
Espiritu santo. AS on the previous
evening, we stopped to chat with the
passengers, the two padres and the
Palacios especially, for an hour or SO
after the meal, then went on deck to
size up the situation.
ITO begin with" said I. when we
were finally secure from interruption
In our quarters, where am I least
likely to attract attention when go
ashort ut Agana? Will it be advisable
to take lodgings in u private house, or
had better go to the best hotel7"
Hulstead's eyes opened in amaze
ment, then broad grin appeared
through his beard:
ooh, should stop at the best hotel
by all means, if there were such Q
thing within thousand miles. You
would be far more likely to attract at
tention in any of the private houses,
which are made of bamboo matched
with cocoa leaves and have pounded
mud floor; there's usually but one
room, you know, and the whole fam
lily live In that quite socially. Say, old
man, what kind Of metropolis did
you think you were going to? Why,
besides the forts, the church, and gov
eminent quarters, there aren't
dozen stone buildings in the town. No;