The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-09-21
as ,e..ce1ul as ever had seen ,t--r,gn,

as; peaceful as ever had seen it-b1lgn.
.nnsL;ae, geatlo breezes and sea al
hao@ti as polished silver. After break
fast Inc awning, which on account Oh
tho storm had been unshipped the day
before, was rugged again, and, drawing
deck clair aft, settled myself down
to read beneath its shade. A few min
utes later Allie and her companion join
ed mo. ! brought them seats, and then
for the first time saw the Beautiful
White Devil-for must sometimes call
her by her picturesque Chinese ccgno-
men engaged in needlework. Why l
should have found anything eStraor-
binary in such circumstance cannot
say. Possibly it may have been because
had never imagined that there could
be sufficient leisure in her lifa for such
a homely occupation. At any rate, l
know that to watch her bent head, with
its glorious wealth of hair; to see those
beautiful white fingers, unadorned by
jewelry of any sort, twisting and twin
ing among her silks, and to make out
one little foot peeping beneath her snow
| white dress sent thrill through me
that made me tingle from top to toe.
| Suddenly one of the hands engaged
/ upon some work in the fore rigging ut
/ tered cry in the native. Allie and her
companion sprang to their feet, and
| though 1 did not understand what had
j happened followed their example. We
ran to the starboard bulwark, but moth
| ing was to be seen there. Not being
able to make it out, asked what had
! occasioned the alarm.
! "One of the hands reports a boat
away to starboard. - said Allie.
] She turned to one Of the younger Off
i GERS, who was standing near, and order
ed him alcft to take the boats bearing.
as soon as this was discovered the yacht
/ was put over OF a tack that would bring
, US close up with it, end after that there
/ was nothing for it but to wait patiently
! for the result.
For some time we could not see any.
thing; then small blecl; spsck made it's
appearance about two points off our star
board bow and gradually grew palmer.
Keep her as she goes, said Allie to
the man at the wheel, while we strain
ed our eyes toward the tiny dot.
! Little by little it became more dis
tinct until we were sufficiently near to
make out with glass that it was a
man-of vars gig pulled by two men
and containing three others. Ten min
utes later the yacht was hove to, and
! Patterson clambered on to the rail of
the bulwarks.
Are you strong enough to bring her
alongside, do you think" he beloved,
"or shall we send a boat to tow you?"
The man steering, who was evidently
an officer, funneled his mouth with his
hands and shouted back that they
thought they could manage it, Then,
as if to prove his words, the men who
had been rowing, but had now stopped,
resumed their monotonous labor. Bit
by bit tie tiny craft crept over the oily
surface toward us until she was close
enough for US to see with our naked
eyes all that she contained.
AS she came alongside our gangway
was lowered, and within an hour from
! the time of our first sighting her the
boats crew stood upon our deck. In
spite Of their man-of- war dress more
miserable, woebegone appearance could
not have been imagined than the party
! presented. It consisted of one lieuten-
ant, a midshipman and three able sea-
men, and out of curiosity glanced at
the cap Of the man standing nearest me.
! 1t bore the name Fl. M. s. Asiatic. Then
looked round for Allie, only to discover
that she had mysteriously disappeared.
! 1t was left for Patterson to welcome the
poor fellows to the yacht, and this he
accordingly did with a hearty kind
ness that should hardly have expected
from him.
"Before you tell me anything about
yourselves, :" he said, "let me arrange
for the comfort of your men," Then,
calling hand to him, he continued,
pointing to the three Jacks who stood
sheepishly by: "Take these men forrard
and tell the cook to give them all they
want. You can supply them with ham
mocks among you and find room some
where for them to sling them.' Then.
turning to the officers again, he said,
"Will you be SO good as to follow me,
gentlemen?' and led the way down the
companion to the cuddy. Thinking my
professional services might possibly be
required, 1 followed with Walworth.
On reaching the cabin they were con-
Quoted to seats, and food was immedi-
ately set before them. They fell upon it
like starving men, and for some time
/ only the sound of steady munching and
the CHATTER Of knives and forks were to
be heard. When they had finished, the
midshipman without warning burst
into flood of tears and was led by Wal.
worth to cabin near by, where when
his torrent had worn itself out, the poor
little chap fell fast asleep.
/ CHOW, +" said Patterson as soon as the
lieutenant had finished his meal, "per-
haps you will tell me your story?''
sit Won't take long to do that, - the
officer began. 81 am the first lieutenant
of her majesty's cruiser Asiatic. We
were sent out from Singapore last Sat-
urday in pursuit of this very yacht, if ]
mistake not. AS you know, we almost
picked you up in the fog, but when it
lifted your superior steaming power en-