New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-06-26
anxiety

here; we II do better beyond the island
There further Words-the passenger straning
to lessen the distance by the force of his will. the
old Waterman simply ebert. giving his wheel
turn this way that, taking advantage OF every
vaSary of the
Away off from the left somewhere came the deadened
sounding whistle of a coaster working her way into
the harbor i'll the distance doomed the bell of
the island: and everywhere and all around the
silent black water Smothcred into sullen reStleSSness
by the rain that less than rain, more than a
mist
Were halfway" The passenger let the words
from between his set lips if he could hold them
back no longer.
Yes. and gaining now We're out of the worst of
the current said the Captain.
The man shot him questioning glance. then esti-
mated the distance again.
They came opposite the bell the island. and ID
changed its warning brazenly. hunderously. and
the light above the bell streamed out scintilatng
beam that fought with the mixed elements and partly
oyercame them
eve are nearer" said the man Were coming
up. But blazes how Slow They'll be in before
get there They'll bc in before catch them sayl"
he exclaimed hoarScly
But Captain Moran answered never a word but
kept his eye only the great bulk of the ferry
steamer in front
They were nearer. without doubt; but there YET
nearly third of the way to 60 Though the Cap
said nothing. appeared 10 feel nOthihg the wrin
klcs drew from the leathcry skin about his eyes
a bit and the muscles punched his jaws They
doubt for they could hear the splash of the big side
wheels Then in little more they felt the
effects Of the great swell from the steamer. The
little launch the crest of waves when the men
could make the lowermoSt lights III the steamers
hold then they sank the trough till only glimpse
OF a single light would show.
Abruptly the passenger turned to the waterman.
putting a hand his shoulder. digging his fingers
into the rock-likc flesh You'll do it, he said
You re my of mani
DO you want to board herr" asked the Captain
The passenger hesitated Run her close. he
finally said. BE guided by circumstances. Leave
the ME.
They were passing the end of the long wharf now.
few minutes more and the steamer would be gliding
into her slip; but the launch only little way
behind, catching up.
slipped the deck and to the extreme of the
bow, where he stood misty figure blending in with
the rain and the night
They were closer the ferry now, coming up with
it RAPIDLY for the larger boat had diminished it's
speed. preparatory making the slip Captain
Moran kept the Flyer her best Only twenty
feet between the two boats the smaller gaining:
in two minutes the launch would shove her
under the ferrvs ovcrhanging deck. The commotion
of the water tossed the launch around vciousy.
The old waterman kept his eye on the man IN the
bow He could that the passengers who happened
to be the lower deck had hurried to the cham and
were leaning over gesticulating, waving the small
craft off
The man in the bow could have climbed aboard now
for the big had slowed Instead, he searched
the deck below then the above; then he put his
fingers to his lips and -wllistcd There stir
the upper deck; woman came running to the rail.
"Iieeni" The man i'll the bow shouted the name
commandngly The woman called something in
swcr unintcligbe the Captain; then she vanished