The Savannah morning news., 1900-06-17

at once. I want to speak to you"
Everybody within earshot gasped for
breath, for the captain was one of thA
hottest tempered and one of the most
dignitied men on the Red Crescent line
But they gasped again when he left the
bridge and came to Alexander, quite an
If it was the most ordinary thing in the
world for a boy to call him down
What do you want, young MANI" said
he in an anna bic tone.
The Bishop, who had expected to see
Alexander thrown into the sea, heaved
sigh of relief and opened his eyes as wide
as he could. for he expected to be aston
ished for the next few minutes, and he
wanted to be prepared.
Il want to go TO Paris directly but thew
tell me it is physically impossible. so
want you to let me out at Havre I've
made mistake in the steamer. Just let
me out at Havre; that's ALL"
"All right" said the captain. II feel
that ] am putty in your hands But
am likely to lose my position If do it,"
mot if I see your bosses, whoever they
are" said Alexander. Simply You'll he
pleased to know that Bishop Durham has
offered me his upper BERTH"
Pleased. but not astonshed. If YOU
hold up all the passengers l won't he at
all surprised
Alexander flushed. 81 am as honest az
YOU are. Ion let me Keep you from
your duties Tell the man that runs the
rudder to change our course before YOU
forget it, or we may go to Southampton
after ALL"
The Bishop expected trouble from the
passengers. For himself, as he was only
going for the sea voyage, il did not make
so much difference TO him, but he looked
to see the rest of the passengers make
great to do. But in this he was mistak-
en- The news quickly spread throughout
the steamer, and in about half an hour
the passengers assembled and gave three
ringing cheers for Alexander
Whats that for?" asked the boy Of
the bishop
why. it seems that you have inadvert.
emily done them a favor. They were all
going to the exposition. and none of them
was able TO get passage on the French
lines, and you have saved them a least
a day"
After that Alexander was a great favor
lite with all on board Even the Captain
felt that boy with such a wonderful viii
could make it right for him and as he
was the only one responsible to the agents
the rest of the crew did not care at all
Ihey We're glad of a change in the route.
But the Captain had forgotten one thing,
and that was that to him the route to
Havre was strange one. That is why
az noon, on the sixth day out, there was
terrific shock that told every one that
the ship had struck something.
All was confusion in an instant. Pas
sengers shrieking, sailors commanding
GOODNESS, and the Captain, as pale as
death, but perfectly calm.
Alexander and the Bishop rushed from
the siateroom together. The boy kept on
until he had reached the bridge where the
Captain was standing.
Boy, this is your fault. Can YOU make
TINS right with my bosses as you call
them? We are surely lost"
Alexander hung his head For a min
ute ne was utterly cast down and fully
realized that he was to blame for the aw-
full disaster. For it was plain that the
ship could not keep afoat a half hour.
A large French steamer. the Vile da
Dreyfus, hove in sight She was Just
Aarge enough to save the crew and pas
sehgers of the Bucolc. But she contin-
ued on her way. A groan went up from
the Bucolic's passengers. The Captain
straig htened his shoulders and PREPARED
10 accept death like an English sailor
Alexander felt that on him lay the re-
sponslhllity for the affair. He seized
speaking trumpet that happened to DO
nancy and yelled: Come and save u.s.
The French captain heard him and rec
ognized the authority of the tones. but
ala not understand what was said He
continued TO sail away.
say 1t in French" said the bishop.
What is it, French?' said Alexander
Il don't know a word, but 'oui' aud non
Il don't know much myself but think
II is 'Nenez, ct nous sauvons.'
Alexander had a quick ear, and with
out knowing what the words meant by
themselves he shouted what the bishop
had told him.
1t must have been a vilainous accent,
ana bad French, too, but the imperiouS
tones had their due effect and the French
man hove TO and rescued the passengers
and the crew of the doomed Bucolic and
not moment too soon As the bishop
and Alexander and the brave captain step
ped aboard the Vile de Dreyfus the
Bucolic went from the sight of the NOR
tai man forever.
Alexander learned more French before
he returned TO America. but he never sail
anything half as effective as these four
words. He did not have 10 make it right
with the captains bosses. for the capita n
who was an elderly .man, resigned and
went to live at Portsmouth. AIeKander
and Bishop Durham went to the exposition
together and the boy sent home in let
ter to his parents a beautifully engTossed
resolution from the Bucolic's passengers
praising him for saving. first a day IN the
voyage, and then the rest OF their lives, 30
good came Of evil after all. But it never
does to bank on il.