The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-05-30

her people would never know the doom
of death which they had given, while
of the Eurslra q crew not enc would DO
alive to tell the tale
6tili on she camel II would be but
another Of the long list Of the unrecord-
ed tragedies Of the sea.
CHAPTER Y.
''MRE SEER FoUNDEREDp
The tall, straight stem Of the advanc.
ing steam was less than dozen yards
off now. coming grimly and steadily
on over patch Of smooth water, and
all hope Of life fled from the heart Of
each watcher on board the Eureka. A
few seconds more, and the waters Of the
Atlantic would have closed over the lit
tie boat and her daring crew forever.
But at the very moment when tho
gates Of the grave seemed to be stand
ing widely ajar the god Of the sea in
tervened to save. A wave, greater and
more cratic than Its fellows, struck
the liner on her quarter. She turned a
little on her midships, and her bow fell
off to the starboard, and at that mo-
ment the ketch was sighted by the 9th.
er's lookout, for instead Of coming on
again, the steamer waved still farther
away, apparently in response to . sud-
den application Of her powerful steam
steering gear.
Those on board the Eureka saw that
she was great white painted P. and O.
liner, with her square ports all tightly
closed, her boats inboard and everything
snug as could be-a triumph of the ship
builders art, but very Juggernaut Of
the ocean to the little vessel in her path.
Under the influence first Of the wave
and then Of her helm her. stern swung
steadily round to port and actually
scraped the ketch's quarter as 1t shot
past; so fearfully narrow had been the
margin Of safety. But the pressure was
mercifully light, and the Eureka had
not so much as stanchion carried
away. A couple Of officers who were on
the bridge shouted down to her when
she drew abeam, but the furious storm
carried away their words, and as the
Eureka had scraped off scot free none
Of her crew seemed particularly anxious
to make out what the otherssRid. They
watched the big liner disappear into
the tempest ahead with devout wish
not to clap eyes on her like again for
the rest Of their cruise
Having braced himself but moment
before for the struggle with King Death,
the revulsion Of feeling which the
knowledge Of safety brought with it
was almost too much for Guthrie. He
hung ON to the port mizzen shrouds and,
for a space, fairly shivered. Captain
Colepepper, Jelly and Henrietta, sailor
like, returned to their work at once. A
danger over was, to them, a danger
promptly forgotten. There is no time
for sentiment at sea. The chances and
haps Of the life are so many that, once
past. they are little thought Of more by
seafaring folk. The doctor had dropped
the glass which he was holding to his
eye when the steamer was near, and was
coolly lingering the hard, wet canvas
Hans Spiedernichel, unsecured by dan
ger which he had not fully understood,
was helping him. For very shame the
undergraduate had to pull himself to-
gether and bear hand also.
When at last they succeeded in get
ting her comfortably hove to under
storm mizzen and jib, there was little
else to be done. Utterly worn out.
therefore, by the toll Of the last few
hours-as much, probably, through the
heavy pounding Of the wind as through
the actual exertion-Guthrie sat down
on the scuttle butt, and holding on by a
blight of rope, began to nod sleepily. In
deed he must have dropped off, for al
most, 1t seemed to him, before ten Sec
onds had passed he felt the captains
large hand shaking him by the shoulder.
"Here, my lad" shouted the skipper,
"wake upl Dye heart I don't want
you falling overheard. Now, just go
below and turn in. It's too risky for
green hand like you to take a cafk
here on deck. Make the most Of the
minutes now. Imay want you up again
before long,"
The young man needed no second bid
ding. Pushing back the lid Of the COM
panion, he stepped over the doors. closed
the slide-over his head and scrambled
down the steep little ladder. Dolly was
in the cabin, reading by the light Of the
madly swinging lamp and Of course
quite unconscious Of the fearful danger
through which she and her friends had
60 lately passed. Too tired even to tell
her Of the recent escape from death,
Guthrie babe her short good night and
turned into his bunk In less than
minute he was asleep.
When he had had his sleep out, he
went on deck. The morning was well
advanced. The Eureka was under main
trysail and jib and once more stand
ing along her course. Captain Colepep-
per was at the tiller. The rest Of the
watch consisted Of the doctor, Henrietta
and Tom Jelly. They were all heavy
eyed and tired looking, plain evidences
that each had passed wearing and
sleepless night, and, In truth, though
the danger was safely past now, 1t had
been terribly anxious time even for
such tried veterans as Captain Colepep.
per and the two Jellys.
"Well, youngster," said the doctor,
chad your calk outs I hope you're
ready for work again now and can let
us others have our watch below. It has
been fearful night. but you were tired
enough to sleep right through 1t, Iwar.
rant. How's Dolly this mornings"
"Ihaven't seen her, -" replied Guthrie.
$50 don't suppose she has turned out
yet"
"Was she very much frightened last
night7"
"Not that could see. She was read
ing"
"Whatf" cried tho doctor. Reading,
with the ketch heaying and tossing as
she did last nishtr Colepepper. that
dauehter Of yours IN Lees afflicted with