The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-30

stopped over the pinnacle. Almost at
once his face clouded again.
There is anothe right ahead he NUT
tered. Hang them!'
The oiptain gave short laugh 10 re-
assure his subordinate. whom he knew 10
bc an anxious, careful man-on his pro-
motion. tapt. Dixon was always self
the Senators hospitable bottle made hun
feel doubly capable tonight to take his
ship out into the open Atlantic; and then
Ia bed with that easy heart which skipper
only knows on the high seas.
suddenly he turned IL look sharply at
his companion, whose eyes were hNed on
the fog bank, which was now looming
high above the bows. There were stars
above them, but no moon would he up Tor
another three hours.
Dixon seemed about TO say something.
but changed his mind Tie raised his hands
10 the earilapa 81 his sou'wester and. loosen
ing the string under his chin, pushed the
flannel lappets up within the cap
The second officer wore the ordinary
seafaring cap known rs cheese cutter.
He was much too anxious man to cover
his ears. even in clear weather, and said
with his nervous laugh that tine color did
not come out OF his hair, II any one sug-
gesed that the warmer headgear would
protect him from rain and spray.
Dixon stepped nearer to his companion
and they stood side by side looking into
the fog bank. which was now upon them.
Any d. gs On board?" he asked casually,
"No-whv do you ask
Thought | heard little bell, such a
thing AS a lady's lapdog wea'N round it's
neck On n ribbon
The second officer turned and glanced
sharply up az the captain. who, however.
made no further comment and seemed
to be- thinking Of something else.
Couldn't have been a bell buoy, | sup
pose?" h" suggested With a tentative laugh
rs he pushed his cap upward away from
his ears
NO bell 5uov. out here" replied the
captain rather sharply with his usual self
confidence.
They stood side by side In silence for
five minutes or more. The mist as "A
little thinner now and Capt. Dixon looked
upw ard 20 the sky hoping 10 see the stars
He vas looking up when the steamer
struck. and The shock threw him against
the after rail of the bridge The second
Officer WIS thrown down and struggled for
and instant before getting to his feet again
"God Almighty" he said and that vas all
Capt. Dixon was already at the engine
room telegraph wrenching the pointer
round to Full Speed Ahead" Tn" quarter
master on watch was AZ his side in a moment
and several men in shining oilskins ~ armed
up he ladder to the bridge for their orders
The Grandhaven was quite still nov,
bur trembling ike a horse that had stumbled
badly and recovered itself with dripping
knees Already the seas we're beating
the buT sides OF the great vessel, throw Ing
pyramids Of spray high above the tunnels;
Capt Dixon grabbed the nearest man by
the arm.
The boats he shouted in his ear. Tell
Mr. Stoke TO take charge leh MN II 5
the Manacles.
There seemed 70 be no danger. for the
ship was quite steady With level decks
Turning to another quarter master DIXON
gave further orders clearly and conciseIy.
Keep her at that, he sad to the Sec
ond officer, indicating the dial of the engine
room.
STAY where YOU are" lie shouted TO
| the two steersmen who were preparing
| 10 quit the wheelhouse.
If Capt Dixon had never made mis-
| take in seamanship he must have thought
| the possibilities f this mistake out in all
| their bearings. For the situation was
| quite clear and compact in his mind The
! orders he gave came in their proper se-
quence and were given to the right men.
| From the decks beneath arose con-
| fused murmur like the stirring of bees
| in an overturned hive. Then "A sharp
| order in one voice, clear and strong, fol-
| lowed bv n dead silence.
Good" said the captain. Stoke has
| got EN- IN hand
He broke of and looked sharply fore
and aft and up above him at the tower
EShe is heeling,' he said. Martin
she's heeling,'
The sNip was slowly ,,yning on her side,
| like Some huge and stricken dumb animal
LAYING itself down to die.
yes" said the captain with n bitter
| laugh to the two stcorsInen who had come
! a second time 70 the threshold Of the wheel
| house. -Yes--you can go.
| He turned 10 the engine room telegraph
| and rang the .Stand by" But there WIS
no answer. The engineers had come on
| deck.
"She's got 70 go" said Martin, the second
syon had bo,ter follow them replied
the captain with n Jerk Of his head toward
the ladder down which the two stcersmen
had disappeared.
60 be damned" said Martin, -My
| place is h,r," There was no nervousness
| about tho man now.
The mrrn,ir on the decks had suddenly
risen TO shrieks and angry shouts. Some
were getting ready To die in q most un-
soomlv manner. They were fighting for
| the boats.
The clear strong voice had ceased giving
| orders Il aftcrward tranSpirod Tint the
| chief officer, Stoke, was engaged az TINS
time on the sloping decks in tying life
| belts round the women and throwing then
! overboard. despite their shrieks and struy
! glos The coast guards found these woinor
! strewn along the beach like wreckags
below St Keverne some that night. some
! AT daWn-aui ONLY two were deil
! The captain snapped his finger hno
! thumb, a gesture Of annoyance which was
, hahirIal TO him. Martin knew the meaning
of tho sound, which he heard through the
shouting and the roar Of the wind and the
I Kissing of u cloud of steam
He placed his hand on the deck OF the
| bridge a. IL to feel IL He had only I,
| stretch out his arm to touch IN" tlinhcrs
| for the vessel was living over further now
, There was no vibration beneath his hand
| the engines had ceased to work.
Yes" said Dixon, who was holding &c
the rail in front Of him with both hands
| "Ics-she has got to go.
And az he spoke the Grandhaven slic
slowly backward and sideways into the
! deep water. The shrieks were suddenly
| increased and then died away in con
fused gurgle.
Martin slid down on to the captain, anC
together they shot into the sea. They
sank through stratum OF struggling
limls
The village Of 81, Keverne lies nearly
two miles from the sea, high above II on
the bare falkland that juts out ten miles
To the Lizard lights. 1t is rural villag,
far from railway or harbor It's men arr
agriculturalists following the plough anc
| knowing but little of the sea, which is -
far below them that they rarely desc'nc
To the beach, and they do no business II
the great waters,
| But their churchyard il full OF drowned
folk. There are l4 in one grave, l2O II
another, 1906 H. a third, An old ~; koVern'