Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-26

sea continuing smooth. the hands were set
to work at the pumps.
Day broke after the eventful night with
clear sky and found the Dunbarton sail
ing steadily to the southwark. The wind
remaining west, she had no alternative.
At about four bells In the morning watch
the second mater reported that the pumps
had sucked The hands then went below
for coffee, and after q brief spell were
turned to again by Hawkins to repair the
breach in the vessels quarter. A new
mainsail was taken from the sail locker
and. stout lines being attached to the
ciews and earrings, 1t was weighted in the
center and dropped across the bow. Keep
ing it spread as much as possible. the sail
was slid aft under the keel until it rested
abreast the damaged part. The port lines
were then made fast and the canvas haul
ed up on the starboard side until 1t COM
pletely covered the jagged hole that SO
nearly caused the Dunbarton's destruction.
The carpenter was now set to work snoring
up from inside, and before midday
things were tight enough to allow the YES
sci to be put on the other tack and headed
for Cape Town.
When this was accomplished Hawkins
reported to the owner.
No. no. Hawkins" said the old gentle
man In reply to the stowaway's suggestion
that Mr.. Outram should now assume COM
mand, since you have a masters certif-
cate. for the remainder Of this voyage you
must remain captain. Poor Pugiey is in
bad way. I'm afraid. I shall send him
home as soon as we reach port. The saving
Of the ship, and in all probability our lives
as well, Is due to your manliness and
courage, and you will find that I am not
ungrateful, Hawkins
And now that the Dunbarton was running
back into warm weather and under the
guidance Of a man whose force Of char
acter filled every soul aboard with con-
fidence the ship assumed a lively air,
and all seemed well content.
On the evening of the seventh day after
the collision she dropped her anchor in
n fnr
shore-going. and the passengers were sat
isfed to walk the deck for one night more,
and after seventy days of water antici-
pate the pleasure of being again on land.
Shoreward, the lights of Cape Town blink
ed and sparkled against the massive, wall
like base of Table mountain, and the air
was laden with the muff1ed sounds of the
city and the smell of grass and earth. Out
in the bay the spars of many noble ship
rose heavenward and the great black hulls
lay like silent shadows. Occasionally
boat FLASHED swiftly by, or there came a
bar of some sailor song from a distant fore
castle head.
when the tinkling bells of the fleet an
nounced 10 o'clock three figures only were
visible on the Dunbarton's deck. One was
the anchor watch pacing back and forth
abaft the galley, the other two were Bea-
trice Armstrong and the stowaway, who,
seated on the wheel box grating, were deep
iy engaged in conversation. He had been
telling her a story, and he neared the
end he paused and looked down at the fair
girl by his side. Her face was turned away
from him and she was silent. Perhaps she
was counting the riding lights in the har-
Dor.
But" he went on, "the ambition of this
fellow Munro was not to earn command
of vessel, nor to be rewarded for SIM
pie act of duty. His aim. from first to last,
from the time he threw over his chances of
advancement to the time when fortune
again gave him position, was to win the
woman upon whom he had set his heart.
Beatrice, he continued, taking her hand
and speaking low, what hope is there for
him?
None, I fear, for the Mr.. Munro you
speak off, she answered, but II his name
be Hawkins, then indeed is he not only
captain of the Dunbarton, but my cap
tain
In the letter which Bob Munro sent his
friend Moreton he wrote: Its an example
of what l told you that day in the park.
There is no such word as obstacle in a
mans dictionary