The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-06-18

for week. or else had no connection
with the steamer whatever. l suppose
you are crossing by herr"
/ I laughed. 20, yes l said. II came
on board her sixteen minutes ago. saw
the purser and found knew him; made
him give me the best room in the ship
instead of the one I'd got; carted 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
rennan, and many years of wandering
have made you perfect in the art of
looking after yourself. What do you
think of the boat?''
20, she's a fine steamer and she'll do
a quick passage. Moreover, because
she is a foreigner, they'll feed us ex-
tremely well, which is a great thing for
this time of year"
Then do you think we shall have a
very bad crossing?" Mrs. Codrington
asked, anxiously.
I'VE may have breeze or we
mayn't; the western ocean is always
delightfully."- uncertain about that. But
was thinking about the cold. There'll
be precious little going out on deck;
meals will be the most interesting item
of the day, and therefore a good table
is a distinct pleasure to look forward
to-
do you think there is any danger"
said Mrs. Codrington.
| smiled. Remarkably little. Con-
siderably less, for instance, than you
would be exposed to if you travelled by
train for a week backwards and for
wards between London and Glasgow.
In fact, if you care TO give me the sum
of one penny apiece I'll insure you each
for G1 900 against fatal accident all the
way across, like the weekly papers do
ashore. Come, now, will you let me do
that stroke of business
Save your coppers," said Vanrennan,
laughing Calvert is too grasping.
Come along down below and get set
tied in your quarters. and then bid me
an affectionate goodby. l shall have to
clear if ! don't want to be taken on.
Ta-ta, Calvert, old chap. So awfully
good of you to take these damsels IN
der your charge. Hope you'll all have
a good time on the other side, and not
get frozen on the road. Goodby."
We hove up at dusk that afternoon,
and because the channel outside was
white with an ugly. choppy sea, there
were fiddles on the table at dinner and
extraordinarily few diners. l sent
down dry champagne and biscuits TO
Mrs. Codrington's room, and then,
seating myself next to the purser, made
gorgeous meal.
I'VE do ourselves well here in the
grub line, don't we?' said the purser.
Better than the English boats. We're
dragging all the passenger trade away
from them now. Come along down to
my room for your coffee, and We'll
have quiet smoke before 1 get to
work squaring up my papers. Lord! 1
wouldn't care to be the old man to-
night. He'll be perched there freezing
on the upper bridge till we're bang
clear of the channel. and very likely for
the next twenty-four hours after that.
If the weather's at all thick. He's got
just over 1000 lives on this ship, and l
guess they give him all the responsible
ity he's any use for. Steward, bring
me down bottle of green chartreuse
to my ROOM Now. Mr.. Calvert. if
you're ready"
The purser and I 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 and read the illustrated papers.
1t was IL o'clock before the smoke room
steward limited that the hour of clos
ing had come.
I went out into the night. black.
misty night, full of rain and spindrift
driving down from the nor -nor'west /
cooked my eye and saw the skipper
and two mates patroling the upper
bridge; on the break of the deck ahead
Of me were three men in glistening OIL
skins; the crows nest forward were
two others; and l shivered luxuriousIy.
and thanked the fates that, l was a
mere passenger, who could travel in
absolute safety and have no watch to
keep. And then / went below. made
fast my portmanteau and turned in.
Sleep humored me at once.
I woke to the tune of colliding ships
and the full orchestra of death
To say that my senses came to me |
without furry and at once would be
too great a claim. BY some violent !
shock from beneath 1 was banged up
against the iron roof of the cabin. / |
pitched back on the floor, and for a |
minute or so lay there stunned.
Something serious was going on. / |
became duly conscious of this and |
With an effort reused myself and stared |