Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1906-03-12

yours. And now that L am Tree, he
added quietly, "let me say that this
boat Toes not 60 to Boston"
Just what 1 expected" cried Van
derpool.
shes going straight to New York.
declared Monty. The words were hard
" uttered when a heavy sea sent him
sprawling across the cabin. and he con-
cluded. 'or to the bottom"
Not so bad as that" said Captain
Perry. whose entrance had been some
what FASTENED by the lurch of the boat.
But until this blows over | must keep
you below" He laughed, but he saw
they were not deceived. The seas are
pretty heavy and the decks are being
holystoned for nothing, but | wouldn't |
like to have any of you washed over
board by mistake"
The matches were battened down, and
it was a sorry company that tried to
while away he evening in the main
cabin. Monty's chatting about the ad-
yantages of the North cape over the
stormy Atlantic was not calculated to
raise the dropping spirits, and it was
very early when he and his shattered
guests turned in. There was little
sleep on board the Filter that night.
Even if it had been easy to forget the
danger, the creaking of the ship and
the incessant roar of the water were
enough for wakefulness. With each
lurch of the boat it seemed more IN
credible that it could endure. 1t was
such a mite of a thing to meet so furl-
Gus an attack. Through the night
the fragile little craft fought its lone
ly way, bravely ignoring its own weak
ness and the infinite strength of its en-
envy. To the captain, dashed to the
bridge, there were hours of grave anX-
iety-hours when he feared each wave
as it approached and wondered what
new damage it had done as it receded.
AS the wind increased toward morning
he felt a sickening certainty that the
brave little boat was beaten. Somehow
she seemed to lose courage, to waver
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 Z o'clock that the crash
came which shook the passengers out
of their berths and filed them with
shivering terror. The Whirling of the
broken shaft seemed to consume the
ship. In every cabin it 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
t the cry of the wind.
1t was a terrified crowd that quickly
! gathered in the main cabin, but it was
a 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. II
was Mrs. Dan who broke the tension
81 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. 81 like your nerve, people!" he ex-
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 DeMille claimed tina
the only thing that bothered him tina
night was the effort to decide whethe
the club of which he and Monty wer,
members would put in the main hall
way two black bordered cards, eacl
bearing a name, or only one with bot
names. Mr.. Valentine regretted tina
he had gone on for years paying lf
| insurance premiums when now his onl
| relatives were on the boat and woul
die with him.
| The captain, looking pretty rock
| after his twenty hour vigil, summone
his chief. Were in a bad hole. NJ
H. Brewster" he said when they wer
alone, 'and no mistake. A broke
Do shaft and this weather make a prett
poor combination"
u rs there no chance of making
Il. port for repairs?"
u Il don't see it, sir. 1t looks like
IT. long pull"
at I'VE are way off our course, 1 sui
pose.' And Monty's GOODNESS won CA
ey tain Perry's admiration.
10 81 can't tell just how much until
get the sun, but this wind is bad.
suspect we've drifted pretty far"
'e Come and get some coffee, capital
While the storm lasts the only thir
eo' to do is to cheer up the women al
trust to luck"
ISL You are the nerviest mate l ev
d shipped with, Mr.. Brewster" And Il
!. captains hand gripped Monty's in
ne way that meant things. 1t was
sH tribute he appreciated.
During the day Monty devoted hir
1ei self to his guests, and at the first sig
ne of pensiveness he was ready with
jest or a story. But he did it all wi
ne a tact that inspired the crowd as
whole with hope, and no n suspects
te- that he himself was not cheerful. f
40 Peggy Gray there was a special tie
ely dernesS, and lie made up his mind tn
if things should go wrong he won