The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1900-10-12
CHAPTER V.
THERE SHE FoUNDEREDl"

The tall, straight stem OF the adyanc-
ing steam was less than dozen yards
off now, coming grimly and steadily
on over patch of smooth water, and
all hope of life fled from the heart of
each watcher on board the Eureka A
few seconds more, and the waters of the
Atlantic would have closed over the lit
tie boat and her daring crew forever.
But at the very moment when the
gates of the grave seemed to be stand
ing widely ajar the god of the sea in
tervened to save. A wave, greater and
more cratic than it's fellows, struck
the liner on her quarter. She turned
little on her midships, and her bow fell
off to the starboard, and at that mo-
ment the ketch was sighted by the 9TH
err lookout, for instead of coming on
again, the steamer waved still farther
away, apparently in response to sud-
den application of her powerful steam
steering gear.
Those on board the Eureka saw that
she was great, white painted P. and O
liner, with her square ports all tightly
closed, her boats inboard and everything
snug as could be-a triumph of the ship
builders art. but very .Juggernaut of
the ocean to the little vessel in her path
Under the influence first of the wave
and then Of her helm her stern swung
steadily round to port and actually
scraped the ketch's quarter as it shot
past; SO fearfully narrow had been the
margin of safety But the pressure was
mercifully light. and the Eureka had
not SO much as stanchion carried
away. A couple Of officers who were on
the bridge shouted down to herswhen
she drew abeam. but the furious storm
carried away their words. and as the
Eureka had scraped off scot free none
Of her crew seemed particularly anxious
to make out what the others said They
watched the big liner disappear into
the tempest ahead with devout wish
not to clap eyes on her like again for
the rest of their cruise.
Having braced himself but moment
before for the struggle with King Death,
the revulsion of feeling which the
knowledge of safety brought with it
was almost too much for Guthrie He
hung on to the port mizzen shrouds and,
for a space fairly shivered. Captain
Colepepper, Jelly and Henrietta, sailor
like, returned to their work at once. A
danger over was, to them, a danger
promptly forgotten There is no time
for sentiment at sea- The chances and
haps Of the life are SO many that, once
past, they are little thought of more by
seafaring folk. The doctor had dropped
the glass which he was holding to his
eye when the steamer was near, and was
coolly lingering the hard, wet canvas.
Hans Spiedernichel, unscared by dan
ger which he had not fully understood,
was helping him For very shame the
undergraduate had to pull himself to-
gether and bear hand also.
When at last they succeeded in get
ting her comfortably hove to under
storm mizzen and jib, there was little
else to be done. Utterly worn out,
therefore, by the toll Of the last few
hours as much, probably, through the
heavy pounding of the wind as through
the actual exertion-Guthrie sat down
on the scuttle butt, and holding on by a
blight of rope, began to nod sleepily. In
1 deed he must have dropped off, for al
most, it seemed to him, before ten Sec
i onds had passed he felt the captain g
large hand shaking him by the shoulder
Here, my lad, !" shouted the skipper,
wake upl Dye hear2 don't want
you falling overheard. Now, just go
+ below and turn in. It's too risky for a
green hand like you to take calk
here on deck Make the most of the
minutes now may want you up again
before long. !"
The young man needed no second bid
ding. Pushing back the lid of the COM
panion, he stepped over the doors, closed
the slide over his head and scrambled
down the steep little ladder. Dolly was
in the cabin, reading by the light of the
madly swinging lamp and of course
quite unconscious of the fearful danger
through which she and her friends had
so lately passed. Too tired even to tel
her Of the recent escape from death,
Guthrie babe her short good night an6
turned into his bunk In less than 6
minute he was asleep.
When he had had his sleep out, hi
went on deck. The morning was vel
advanced The Eureka was under mair
trysail and jib and once more stand
ing along her course. Captain Colepep
per was at the tiller. The rest of tn,
watch consisted of the doctor, Henrietts
and Tom Jelly. They were all heavy
eyed and tired looking, plain evidence
that each had passed wearing ant
sleepless night. and, in truth, though
the danger was safely past now, it hat
been terribly anxious time even TO,
such tried veterans as Captain Colepep
per and the two Jellys.
swell, youngster," said the doctor
''had your calk out7 hope you n
ready for work again now and can le
ne others have our watch below. 1t hal
been fearful night, but you were tired
enough to sleep right through it, Iwar
rant. How's Dolly this morning9"
81 haven t seen her, " replied Guthrie
$50 don't suppose she has turned on
yet. .
"was she very much frightened las
nf1ht2h 49,