Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-26

again.
There is another right ahead" he NUT
tered. Hang theml"
The captain gave a short laugh to reas-
sure his subordinate, whom he knew to
be an anxious, careful man-on his promo
tlon. Captain Dixon was always self-con-
hdent. That glass Of champagne from the
senator's hospitable bottle made him feel
doubly capable tonight to take his ship out
into the open Atlantic; and then to bed
with that easy heart which a skipper only
knows on the high seas.
Suddenly he turned to look sharply at
his companion. whose eyes were fixed on
the fog bank. which was now looming high
above the bows. There were stars above
them. but no moon would be up for another
three hours. Dixon seemed about to say
something. but changed his mind. He
raised his hands to the ear flaps Of his
sou'wester, and loosening the string under
his chin. pushed the flannel lappets up
within the cap, The second officer wore
the ordinary seafaring cap, known as a
cheese cutter. He was much too anxious
a man to cover UP his ears even in clear
weather, and said with his nervous laugh
that the color did not come out OF his hair
II anyone suggested that the warmer head
gear 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 dogs on board? 90 he asked casually.
"No-why do you ask?''
Thought l heard a little bell; such a
thing as a lady's lapdog wears round its
neck on a ribbon"
The second officer turned and glanced
sharply up at the captain, who, however.
made no further comment. and seemed to
be thinking of something else.
Couldn't have been a beal- buoy, I sup
poser" he suggested with a tentative
laugh as he pushed his cap upwards, away
from his ears.
mo bell-buoys out here" replied the
captain rather sharply with his usual self
confidence.
They stood side by aide in silence for
five minutes or more. The mist was a little
thinner now and Captain Dixon looked up
wards to the sky. hoping to see the stars.
He was looking up when the steamer struck
and the shock threw him against the after
rail Of the bridge. The second oficer was
thrown down and struggled for an instant
before getting to HE feet again.
God Almighty he said, and that was
all.
Captain Dixon was already at the engine
room telegraph wrenching the pointer
round to full speed ahead. The quarter
master on watch was at his side in a mo-
ment and several men in shining oilskins
swarmed up the ladder to the bridge for
their orders.
Grandhaven was quite still now, but
trembling like a horse that had stumbled
badly and recovered itself with dripping
knees. Already the seas were beating the
blum sides of the great vessel, throwing
pyramids of spray high above the tunnels.
Captain Dixon grabbed the nearest man
by the arm.
THE boats!" he shouted in his ear. Tell
Mr.. Stoke to take charge. Tell him it's
the Manacles."
There seemed to be no danger for The
ship was quite steady with level decks.
Turning to another quartermaster Dixon
gave further orders clearly and concisely.
Keep it at that" he said to the second
ofhcer, Indicating h udial of the engine
stay where you areg' he shouted to the
two steersmen who were preparing to quit
the wheelhouse.
II Captain Dixon had never made a mis-
take in seamanship he must have thought
the possibilities of 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 Sc
quence and were given TO the right man.
From the deck beneath arose a confused
murmur like the stirring Of bees in an
overturned hive. Then a sharp order in
one voice, clear and strong, followed by a
dead silence.
Good said the captain; stoke has
got 'em in hand"
He broke of and looked sharply fore and
aft and up above him at the towering fun
mel.
She's heeling," he said. Martin, she's
heeling.
The ship was slowly turning on It's side,
like some huge and stricken dumb animal
laying itself Town to die.
Yes" said the captain. with a bitter
laugh to the two steersmen who had come
a second time to the threshold of the
wheelhouse. Yes, you can 60"
He turned TO the engine room telegraph
and rang the Stand by but there was
no answer. The engineers had come on
deck.
She's got TO CO." said Martin, the Sec
ond officer, deliberately.
"You had better follow them" replied
the captain, with a jerk OF the head toward
the ladder dow which the two steersmen
had disappeared.
go, be id" said Martin. my place
is here" There was no nervousness about
the man now.
The murmur on the derk had suddenly
risen TO shrieks and angry shouts. Some
were getting ready to die in a most un-
seemly manner. They were fighting for
the boats. The clear. strong voice had
ceased giving orders. II afterward trans
pired that the chief officer, Stokes, was
engaged at this time on the slipping decks
in tying life belts round the women and
throwing them overheard. despite their
shrieks and struggles. The coastguards
found these women strewn along the beach
like wreckage below st. Keverne-some that
night, some at dawn-and only two were
dead.
The captain snapped his finger and
thumb, a gesture OF annoyance which was
habituAl to him. Martin knew the mean
ing Of the sound, which he heard through
the shouting and the roar Of the wind
and the kissing of a cloud OF steam. He
placed his hand on the deck OF the bridge
as IL TO feel II. He had only to stretch
out his arm to touch the timbers, for the
vessel was lying over farther now. There
was no vibration beneath hts hand; the
engines had ceased to work.
Yes" said Dixon, who was holding TO