Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-29

his record. Captain Dixon had never made
a mistake in seamanship.
He a handsome with a trim
brown beard cut to a point in the naval
style. gay blue eyes and a bluff way of
carrying his head. The lady passengers
invariably fell into the habit of describ-
ing him as a splendid man, and the word
seemed to fit him like a glove. Nature
had certainly designed him 10 be shown
somewhere in the front of life. to be placed
upon a dais and looked up to and admired
by the multitude. She had written sue
cess upon his sunburnt face.
He had thousands of friends. Every seat
at his table was booked two voyages ahead
and he knew the value of popularity. He
it simply and heartily. He had fallen in
love summer voyage with a tall and
soft-mannered Canadian girl. Hebe with
the face of a Madonna, with thoughtful.
and, OF course, Capt. Dixon carried every
thing before him The girl was astonished
at her good fortune. For this wooer was
a king on his own great decks. No princess
could be good enough for him-had prin-
Cesses been in the habit Of crossing the
Atlantic Capt. Dixon had now been mar
rie6 some years.
His marriage had made perceptible
change in the personnel of his intimates.
A bachelor captain appeals TO different
world. He was still great favorite with
men.
Although the Grandhaven had been only
d,
vacant seats These were all old travellers,
and there had been libations poured to the
gods, now made manifest by empty bottles
and not a little empty laughter. Dixon,
however. was steady enough. He had re-
luctantly accepted one glass Of champagne
from the bottle of a senator, powerful in
shipping circles. He and his officers made
point Of drinking water at table. The
modern sailor IS one Of the startling pro-
ducts of these odd times He dresses for
dinner, and when off duty may be found
sitting on the saloon stairs discussing with
a lady passenger the respective merits of
Wagner and Chopin set forth by the
ships band-when he ought to be asleep in
bed in preparation for the middle watch.
The captain received the message with
curt nod But he did not rise from the
table. He knew that a hundred eyes We're
fixed upon him, watching his every glance.
If he had jumped up and hurried from the
table the nights rest of half a hundred
anxious ladies would inevita bly, suffer.
He took his watch from his pocket and
rose laughing at some sally made by a
neighbOr. AS he passed down the length of
the saloon he paused to greet one and ex-
change a laughing word with another. He
was very gracious monarch
On deck It was wet and cold. A keen
wind from the northwest seemed to prom
Use heavy sea and dirty night when the
Lizard should be passed and the protection
OF the high Devon m0Orlands left behind.
The captains cabin was a the head of the
saloon stairs Captain Dixon lost no time
IA NA4d4Iblib HIS smart mess jacket Tor a
thicker coat. Oilskins and souwester
transformed him again 10 the seaman that
ne was, and he climbed the narrow iron
ladder into the bowling darkness of the
upper bridge with a brisk readiness to
meet any situation.
The fog bank was thick one II was
like sheet of thin and very wet cotton
wool laid upon the troubled breast of the
sea. The lights at the forward end of the
huge steamer Were barely visible There
was no glare aloft where the mast ad
light stared unwinking into the mist
Dixon exchanged few words with the
second officer. who stood rather restless
by the engine room telegraph. They spoke
in mOnosyllables. The dial showed Full
speed ahead Capt. Dixon stood chewing
the end OF his golden mustache which he
had drawn in between his teeth. He look
cd forward and aft and then up aloft in
three quick movements of the head Then
he laid his two hands on the engine room
telegraph and reduced the pace TO half
speed. There were a hundred people on
board who would take note of il with a
throb of uneasness at their hearts hut
That could not be helped
Inc second officer stepped sideways into
the chart room, reluctant to turn his eyes
elsewhere than dead ahead into the wind
and mist, TO make note in two books tba r
lay open on the table under the shaded
electric lamp. 1t was twenty minutes to
nine. 20
The Grandhaven was a quick shin hut
she was also safe one. The captain had
laid course close under the Lizard lights,
He Intended to alter II. but not vet. The
mist might lift. There was plenty of time
for, BY dead reckoning. they could scarcely