Smyrna times., 1900-05-02
A SAILORS LOVE,
How He Won the Girl of
His Choice.

The Gray Eagle went on her course,
parting the waves of the Indian ocean.
She was packet steamer in the en-
plOy of a great English company and
carried many passengers Among these.
standing on the promenade deck for
ward and looking across the broad
eXpanse of water before her, was a
beautiful girl. in the flush of her youth
and beauty.
In the wheelhouse stood a Young
man. second mate of the ship, looking
at Mabel Nane. He was young. with
a bold, manly face, curling brown hair
and beard and speaking gray eyes-a
man in grace of person, manly beauty
and pure heart-a man worthy of the
name. He was only a sailor and had
risen to his present rank from cabin
boy, but yet he dared to love the
daughter of the East Indian million
aire, Arthur Vane.
He loved her and had no hope-loved
her as we worship a star which is far
beyond our reach. Nothing was further
from his thoughts than to insult her
by telling her that he loved her. But
TO be near her, to see her often, per-
haps to do some service which would
win a smile from her-that was re-
ward enough for Will Clay.
She never dreamed of his alteration.
and ne had heard her say among her
friends that she liked him better than
any other officer on board the Gray
Eagle. She said it in the careless way
of girlhOOd, and yet he treasured it in
his heart. Standing there watching
the course of the ship and ready to
give word of warning to the wheels
man if it were needed. he never took
his eyes from her long.
'Mr, Clay" said the man at the
wheel as he gave it half turn and
rested there. don't you smell smoker"
1T comes from the galley"
Perhaps so, but what are they burn
ing rosin in the galley for?''
'Rosin!' cried viii. raising his head
quickly and snuffing the air. He caught
the peculiar smell himself and leaped
down from the wheelhouse. keep
steady be whispered to the man at
the wheel. ''There may be danger, but
if there is. for Gods sake. keep it
quiet"
The man nodded quietly and took a
frmer hold on the wheel. Will Clay
crossed the deck without apparent
haste and yet with fearful fear tug
ging at his heart. He caught sight Of
the captain coming out of the gentle
mems cabin and hurried up to him.
There is something wrong" he
whispered. Don't you smell burning
rosin. captain?"
The old sea captain suppressed cry
of horror. With 80 passengers on
board in the midst of the Indian ocean.
far from land. a fire was one of the
most horrible things which could come
upon ship.
GO forward and investigate" he
| said in low tone. "If you find that ii
is a fire. you know what to do. How
are the boatsY'
"All right. sir. You may trust to
them"
They had good cause for fear. The
entire forehOld was filled with rosin. in
boxes and casks. and if a fire started
there it might as well be in a nest OF
fat pine. VIII ran down to the lower
deck. where he was met by crowd OF
excited fremen and coal passers. who
were rushing madly on deck. Quick as
thought he seized the foremost and
hurled him back.
4 GO back. you foolsr' he cried
Where are you running to?"
"Fire!' whispered the man hoarsely
II Fire in the forehold!'
Suppose there is. Is it your duty Il
rush on deck and alarm the passengers
or get buckets and try to put out the
nre! Back. there, all of you, for | viii
brain the man who dares to finch
hair now! Stand back, say!'
The men cowed before his superior
Will and saw that they might yet d.
something to save the steamer.
a guard was placed at the hatch, 81
mat no one could come down, and thu
scuttle which led into the forehold wa
opened. No sooner was this done thai
dense volume of black smoke ROLLED
out and the scuttle was closed again
lor Will saw that nothing could b.
n - mat Wa 1hC LiNh AoA 40
ward with axes, but had scarcely gon
dozen steps when they felt the decl
uemble under their feet and saw small
Ie's OF flame shooting up through tn
piahks. A moment more and there wa
sort of explosion, and the red fiam
RAPED up suddenly and caught tn
planks above.
1here was no hope of concealing tn
uanger from the passengers now, TO
ue steamer was full of smoke, an
"hu cries from the deck announce
uat the danger was known. The
nust race the most terrible situatio
anown to the sea, the one of all other
ue most feared-firel Women shriel
81 and tainted. strong men tremble
su could not move hand or foot, an
Sners ran wildly about the decks rel
eihg no assistance. Mabel Vane, u
er'y bewildered by the sudden horro