Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1901-01-28
CHAPTER XII.

The afternoon and night that follow
ed brought little comfort to the cabin
passengers Not till nearly dark did the
steamer find the shelter of another is
land, and all the intervening hours she
wallowed in the trough of the sea, with
the wind abeam, and by the time the
heights of Carmen island doomed be-
tween them and the red glow of the
sunset skies Turnbull had thrice wish
ed himself in hotter chimes than even
Arizona and could only feebly damn
his junior for coming down to ask if
there wero not something he could do
for him.
Eyes; take this pistol and shoot me-, %
mOaned the sufferer mo, of course, l
don't want brandy and water nor you
nor anybody It's simply scandalous
for you to be up and we'll Go away !"
And, though Loring sorely needed
counsel he felt that TurnbuIl was in
no mood for talk and SO climbed back
on deck again. He had made up his
mind to tell the purser the whole story
and to ask him to examine the contents
Of the package. All the iivelong night
the Idaho plowed and careened through
the rolling seas, gaining scant relief
off Santa Catalina and San Jose, but
when in the undimmed splendor of the
morning sun she swept proudly into the
placid, landlOcked harbOr of old LA Paz
Loring was The only man among her
passengers to appear on deck Even
after she dropped anchor and one or
two bedraggled victims were hOisted
from below and dropped over the side
20 bo ~,
of the gay Guaymas party was able to
climb the stairs. The wind was gone
by shutdown, and the Idaho once more
steered coastwise for Cape San Lucas.
The night wore on and Loring was still
alone when, just as the tinkle of the
ships bell told that o'clock had come,
with a soft, warm air drifting off the
land, fragile little form issued slowly
from the panionway, and the stew
ardess smiled invitingly on the blue
eyed officer, as though begging him to
aid her feeble charge to a seat.
Il have brought the senorita up for
half an hour. l made her come, - said
she as she dumped the pile Of shawIs
into spreading chair and began pre-
pairing a nest, while Pancha, turning
away at sight of Loring, sank to the
end of the bench, the very seat she &C.
cupled as they put to sea from Quay
mas. But now it was Loring who ten
dered his arm, and, calmly ignoring her
evident if unspoken protest, aided in
lifting her from the bench and seating
her in the depths of the easy reclining
chair. The stewardess, with practiced
hand, carefully tucked the rugs about
her and, bidding the little damsel make
the most of the soft, salt air while she
herself ran below to prepare her chocO-
late, would have gone at once but for
Pancha's trembling yet restraining
hand. The child seemed to cling to her
in desperation. Rapidly and in low
tone she poured forth torrent of plead
ing, and the kind hearted woman look
ed about her in peprlexity and distress.
"What can I do, STRIP said she to
Loring in English. "This poor little
thing has eaten nothing since she came
aboard. She has cried herself sick. She
is as weak as baby and must have
food, yet she will not let me 60
''Stay with her until she is calmer,
said Loring. "I'll get what is needed. -
"But I cannot. The other ladies call
for me incessantly."
A little disk of gold was slipped
quickly into tho disengaged hand. Let
them call awhile, but don't you go. -
was the double answer.
It is odd to note how soon the trou-
bled waves subside along those summer