Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-08-27

barton sailing steadily to the south
ward. The wind remaining west, she
had no alternative. At about four bells
in the morning watch the second mate
reported that the pumps had sucked.
The hands then went below for coffee
and after brief spell were turned to
again by Hawkins to repair the breach
in the vessels quarter. A new MAIN
sail was taken from the sail locker,
and, stout lines being attached to the
clews and earrings. 1t was weighted in
the center and dropped across the bow.
Keeping it spread as much as possible,
the sail was slid aft under the keel UNI
til it rested abreast the damaged part.
The port lines were then made fast
and the canvas hauled up on the star
board side until it completely covered
the jagged hole that so nearly caused
the Dunbarton's destruction. The car
penter was now set to work snoring
I'D from inside, and before midday
things were tight enough to allow the
vessel to be put on the other tack and
headed for Cape Town.
When this was accomplished, Haw-
kins reported to the owner.
mo, no, Hawkins" said the old gen.
tleman in reply to the stowaway's sug-
gestion that Mr.. Outram should now
assume command, "since you have n
masters certificate, for the remainder
of this voyage you must remain cap
tain. Poor Pugley is in bad way.
I'm afraid. I shall send him home as
soon as we reach port. The saving of
the ship and in all probability our lives
as well are due to your manliness and
courage, and you will find that l am
not ungrateful, Hawkins"
And now that the Dunbarton was
running back into warm water and
under the guidance of n man whose
force Of character filled every soul
aboard with confidence the ship as
sumed lively air, and all seemed well
content.
On the evening of tho seventh day
after the collision she dropped her an
Choir in Table bay. 1t was somewhat
late for shore going, and the passengers
were satisfied to walk the deck for one
night more and after seventy days Of
water anticipate the pleasure Of being
again on land.
Shoreward the lights Of Cape Town
blinked and sparkled against the mass
i've wall-like base Of Table mountain,
and the air was laden with the muffled
sounds Of the city and the smell Of
grass and earth. Out in the bay the
spars Of many noble ship rose heav-
onward, and the great black hulls lay
like silent shadows. Occasionally n
boat FLASHED swiftly by or there came
q bar of some sailor song from dis
tant forecastle head.
When the tinkling bells of the feet
announced 10 o'clock, three figures only
were visible on the Dunbarton's deck.
One was the anchor watch pacing back
and forth abaft the galley; the other
two were Beatrice Armstrong and the
stowaway, who, seated on the wheel
box grating, were deeply engaged in
conversation. He had been telling her
a story, and as he neared the end he
paused and looked down at the fair
girl by his side. Her face was turned
away from MN, ana She was silent
Perhaps she was counting the riding
lights in the harbor.
But" he went on, "the ambition of
this fellow Munro was not to earn COM
mand Of vessel nor to be rewarded
for simple act of duty. His aim from
first to last, from the time he threw
over his chances Of advancement to the
time when fortune again gave him po-
sition, was to win the woman upon
whom he had set his heart. Beatrice"
he continued, taking her hand and
speaking low, what hope is there for
him"
'None, fear, for the Mr.. Munro you
speak Of" she answered, "but if his
name be Hawkins, then indeed is he
not only captain Of the Dunbarton, but
my captain"
In the letter which Bob Munro sent
his friend Moreton he wrote: Its an
example of what told you that day in
the park. There is no such word as
Obstacle in mans dictionary"