Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-09-21
3 TX npDrOa ched and wondered whit

as II approached and wondered what
new damage II had done as 1t receded
AZ the wind increased toward morning
he felt sickcning certainty that the
brave little boat was beaten. Somehow
she seemed to lose courage. to wnver
a bit and almost give up the fight He
watched her miserably as the dismal
dawn came up out of the sea. Yet it
was not until I o'clock that the crash
came which shook the passengers ont
of their berths and filled them with
shvering terror. The whirling of the
broken shaft seemed TO consume the
ship. In every cabin 1t spoke with
horrible vividness of disaster. The
clamor Of voices and the rush Of many
feet which followed meant but one
thing. Almost instantly the machinery
was stopped-an ominous silence in the
midst Of the dull roar Of the water and
the cry Of the wind.
1t was terrified crowd that quickly
gathered in the main cabin but it was
brave one. There were no cries and
few tears. They expected anything
and were ready for the worst, but they
would not show the white feather. It
was Mrs. Dan who broke the tension.
II made sure of my pearls" she said.
81 thought they would be appreciated
| at the bottom of the sea-"
! Brewster came in upon their laugh.
ter. II like your nerve. people," he ok.
claimed. You are all right. 1t won't
be so bad now. The wind has drop.
ped"
Long afterward when they talked
the matter over peMlle claimed that
the only thing that bothered him tina,
night was tho effort to decide whether
the club of which he and Monty were
members would put in the main hall
way two black bordored cards. each
bearing name, or only one with both
names. Mr.. Valentine regretted thai
he had gone on for years paying life
insurance premiums when now his only
relatives were on the boat and would
die with him.
The captain. looking pretty rocky
after his twenty hour vigil. summoned
his chief We're in bad hole. Mr..
Brewster" he said when they wers
alona AMI no mistake. A broken
shaft and this weather make pretty
poor combination"
is there no chance Of making .
port for rcpairs?'
Il don't see it, sir. 1t locks like q
long pull"
I'VE are way off orr course, I sup
pose" And Monty's GOODNESS won Cap
lain Perry's admiration.
Il can't tell Just how much until l
got tho sun. but this wind Is bad.
suspect we've drifted pretty far
Come and got some coffee. captain
While the storm lasts the only thing
to do is to cheer up the women and
trust to luck"
you are the nerviest mate l ever
shipped with, Mr.. brewster" And the
captains hand gripped Montys in q
way that meant things. 1t was d
tribute he appreciated.
) During the day Monty devoted him
self 10 bis guests. and ut the first sigr
| of pensvencss he was ready with {
jest or story But he did it all witt
, a tact that inspired the crowd as {
whole with hope. and no one suspected
that he himself was not cheerful. Fol
. Peggy Gray there was a special ten
derness. and he made up his mind tina,
/ If things should 20 wrong lie would
tell her that he loved her.
1T could do no HARM" he thought ia
. himself, land | want her to know"
Toward night the worst was over
The sea had gone down and the
| attaches were Opened for awhile to al
nit air, though it was still too rough
to venture out. The next morning wa'
. bright and clear. When the compan.
gathered on deck the havoc created by
the storm was apparent. Two Of th'
boats had been completely carried
>. away. and the launch was rendered
useless by a large hole In the stern.
You don't mean to say that we vii
- drift about until the repairs can b'
, made:" asked Mrs. Dan in alarm.
i I'VE are 300 miles off the course al
ready" explained Monty, and it vii
be pretty slow travelling under sail"
1t was decided 10 make for TIL
Canary islands. where repairs could b
made and the voyage resumed. Blu
where the wind had ragged few day
l before II had now disappeared alto
gcther and for a week the Filter toss
ed about absolutely unable to max
Roadway. The LIST of August had al
rived and Monty himself was begin
ming to be nervous. With the fata
day not quite two months away thing
began to look serious. Over S10o,Oo'
would remain after he had settled tn
= expenses of the cruise, and he wa
helplessly drifting in midocean. Ever
II the necessary repairs could be mad
promptly. it would take the Fl.tte
fourteen days to sail from the Canarie
u to New York Figure as hard rs h
could, he saw no way ont Of the unfor
n tunate situation. Two days NOR
II elapsed and still no sign Of breeze
8 He made sure that Sept. % would tin
j.. [ MXsAAH[ 7