The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1905-06-15


read. It was difficult task. Her
eyes wandered from the printed page
to mark the absurd antics Of her gar
ments swinging on their hooks At
times the ship rolled so far that she
felt sure it must topple over. She was
not afraid, but subdued, rather aston
lshed, placidly prepared for vague
eventualities.
Things were ridiculous. What need
was there for all this external fury?
Why should poor sailors be cast forth
to instant death in such awful man
ner? If she could only sleep and for
get-if kind oblivion would blot out the
storm for a few blissful hours! But
how could one sleep with the conscious
ness of that watery giant laundering
his summons upon the iron plates
few inches away?
Then came the blurred picture of Cap
tain Ross high up on the bridge peer
ing into the moving blackness. How
strange that there should be hidden in
the convolutions Of a mans brain an
Intelligence that laid bare the pre-
lenses Of that ravenous demon without!
Each Of the ships officers, the COM
mander more than the others, under
stood the why and the wherefore of
this clustering combination of wind
and sea. Iris knew the language of
poker. Nature was putting up huge
bluff.
Oh, dear! She was so tired. 1t de-
manded physical effort to constantly
shove away an unseen force that tried
to push you over. How funny that
big cloud should travel up against the
wind! And so, amid confused Won
derment, she lapsed into an uneasy
slumber, her last sentient thought be-
ing a quiet thankfulness that the
screw went thud, thud, thud, thud,
with such determination.
After the course was changed and
the Sirdar bore away toward the south
west the commander consulted the ba-
rometer each hIf hour The telltale
mercury had sunk over two inches in
twelve hours. The abnormally low
pressure quickly created dense clouds,
which enhanced the melancholy dark
ness Of the gale.
For many minutes together the bows
Of the ship were not visible. Masthead
and side lights were obscured by the
pelting scud. The engines thrust the
vessel forward like a lance into the
vitals of the storm. Wind and wave
gushed out of the vortex with impo-
tent fury.
At last soon after midnight the ba-
rometer showed a slight upward move
ment. At 100 a. m. the change became
pronounced. simultaneously the wind
swung round a point to the westward.
Then Captain Ross smiled YEARLY.
His face frightened. He opened his
o1lskin coat, glanced at the compass
and nodded approval. Then he turned
to consult chart. He was joined by
the chief officer Both men examined
the chart in silence.
Captain Ross finally took a pencil.
He stabbed it's point on the paper in
the neighborhood of II degrees north
and 112 degrees east.
1--WE are about there, think"
The chief agreed. "That was the To-
cality I had in my mind" He bent
closer over the sheet.
Nothing in the way tonight, sir" he
added.
Nothing whatever. It is a bit of
good luck to meet such weather here.
We can keep as far south as we like
until daybreak, and by that time
How did it look when you came in?"
"A trife better, I Think
II have sent for some refreshments.
Let us have another look before we
tackle them.''
The two officers passed out into the
hurricane. Instantly the wind endeav-
ored to tear the chart house from off
the deck. They looked aloft and ahead.
The officer on duty saw them and nod
ded silent comprehension. 1t was use
less to attempt to speak. The weather
was perceptibly clearer.
Then all three peered ahead again.
They stood, pressing against the wind,
seeking to penetrate the murkiness in
front. Suddenly they were galvanized
into strenuous activity.
A wild howl came from the lookout
forward. The eyes of the three men
glared at a huge dismasted Chinese
junk wallowing helplessly in the
trough Of the sea dead under the bows.
The captain sprang to the chart house
and signaled in fierce pantomime that
the wheel should be put hard over.
The officer in charge Of the bridge
pressed the telegraph lever to "stop"
and full speed astern,' while with his
disengaged hand he pulled hard at the
siren cord, and a raucous warning sent
stewards flying through the ship to
close collision bulkhead doors. The
"chief" darted to the port rail, for the
Sirdar's instant response to the helm
seemed to clear her nose from the
junk as If by magic.
1t all happened so quickly that while
the hoarse signal was still vibrating
through the ship the junk swept past
her quarter. The chief officer, Joined
now by the commander, looked down