The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-06-18
"RUN DOWN."
NV crrcL1FFE 1--WE.

I heard a brisk voice soy behind me,
NOW. he's the very man. IL Introduce
you 70 him this minute and then we'H
go below and see your room. and back
sheesh the steward into civility.'
turned my head and saw Vanrennan
elbowng his way amongst the crowd
which swarmed on the steamers bridge
deck between the gangway and the
head of the frst-class companion. He
had couple Of dressing bags in his fists,
q bundle Of rugs under his arm and q
pair of ladies in his train. To these last
he introduced me.
Mrs. Codrington, and my sister Mabel.
They're going across to New York to
stay with some friends, and then, when
the warm weather comes, they're off
with party TO see the Yosemite valley,
They'll be met on the wharf at the other
side. but up to there they'll be two zone,
lorn females. and ! want you 20 give
them the benefit Of your countenance,
and do the genial watchdog business. BY
the way, you're taking matters pretty
coolly; you look either as II you had been
settled here for a week, or else had no
connection with the steamer whatever.
suppose you are crossing by her?"
l laughed. 20, yes l said. Il came on
board her sixteen minutes ago, saw the
purser and found l knew him. made him
give me the best room in the ship, in
stead Of the one I'd got; carried my things
in there one-time and locked the door and
then cleared out here and didn't worry
any more"
You're an old, bold hand" said Van.
ma nf nh
have made you perfect in the art Of look
ing after yourself. What do you think of
the boat?"
20. she's a fine steamer and she'n do
a quick passage. Moreover, because she
Is foreigner. They'll feed us extremely
we'll, which is a great thing for this time
OF year
Then DO you think we shall have a
very bad crossings" Mrs. Codrington ask
ed, anxiously.
We may have a breeze or we mayn't
the Western ocean is always delightfully."-
uncertain about that. But | was thinking
about the cold. There'n be precious little
going out on deck; meals will be the most
interesting item of the day, and, there
fore a good table is a distinct pleasure 20
look forward to-"
DO you think there is any danger?"
said Mrs. Codrington.
smiled. Remarkably little Consider
aniy less, for Instance, than you would
De exposed to If you Travelled by train for
a week backwards and forwards between
London and Glasgow. In fact. n YOU care
to give me the sum of one penny apiece
III insure you each for fl 600 against fatal
accident all the way across, like the week
~ papers do ashore. Come, now, will you
let me do that stroke of business?"
Save your copper" said Vanrennan
laughing Calvert is too grasping. Come
along down below and get settled in your
quarters. and then bid me an affectionate
goodbye. ] shall have to clear II don't
want 10 be taken on. Ta-ta Calvert, old
chap SO awfully good of you to take
these damsels under your charge. Hope
you'll all have a good time on the other
side, and not get frozen on the road
Goodbye"
We hove up at dusk that afternoon, and
because the channel outside was white
with an ugly. choppy sea, there were fid-
dies on the table at dinner and extraor-
dinariiy few diners. l sent down dry
champagne and biscuits to Mrs. Codring-
tom room, and then, seating myself next
to the purser, made a gorgeous meal
We do ourselves well here Sn the grub
line, don't WEI" said the piirser. Bet
ter than the English boats. We're drag
glng all the passenger trade away from
them now. Come along down to my room
for your coffee, and wen have a quiet
smoke before l get to work squaring up
my papers Lord / wouldn't care 10 be
the old man tonight! He'll be perched
there freezing on the upper bridge till
were bang clear of the channel and very
likely for the next tweuty-four hours aft
er that. If the weather's at all thick. He's
got just over a thousand human lives on
T rsfx
the responsibility he's any use for. Stew
ard, bring me down bottle of green
ehartreuse TO my room. Now, Mr.. Calvert,
If you're ready"
The purser and l talked Western ocean
shop during the burning of two Cuban
cigars, and then he turned to at work and
! slipped off to the smoke room aud read
the illustrated papers. 1t was II o'clock
before the smoke room steward limited
that the hour Of closing had come.
went out into the night black misty
night. fun of rain and spiudrift driving
down from the nor nor west cooked
my eye and saw the skipper and two
mates patrolling the upper bridge; on the
break of the deck ahead of me were
three men in glistening oilskins: in the
crows nest forward were two others: and
I shivered luxuriously, and thanked the
fates that ! was mere passenger who
could travel IN absolute safety and have
no watch TO keep. And then 1 went be-
low, made fast my poFtmanteau and turn.
ed in. Sleep humored me at once.
| woke to the tune of colliding ships and
the fun orchestra of DEATH
To say that my senses came to ms
without furry and at once would be toe
great a claim BY some violent shock
from beneath l was banged up against III,
iron roof of Che cabin, | pitched back OF
the floor, and for a minute or so lay Their,
stunned.
Something serious was going on. l be
came DULY conscious of this, and with Al
effort reused myself and stared curiousls
al The curtain rod Of the bunk which la,
doubled up and twisted between my hands
Then il began to be borne in upon me tina
the snip was awake with screaming an,
the ,rampiHg Of frightened feet. and theI
the Interpretation of these things came 4
me in a fash. We were in collision
a man suatched open my door, stammer
ed out. Were going down! o, what shall
] dor; and ran away shouting. The shi
was fun Of noise and darkness and ham
mering. The propeller had stopped n
light came when | turned the eectri
switch and We had SO heavy a list 1
starboard (my slde) that already the por.
Of