The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-03-09

Annette checked the incipient mutiny
by cloSetlng herself in the chart room
with the captain for two whole hours
When they emerged both We're smiling,
No orders were given TO change the
course OF the yacht.
The waters of the north coast met
them week later. They were cold
and icy. with the breath OF floating
bergs lowering over them. Bogges
was consulted by the captain. and his
meek, submissive air sloughed Off to
make place for the official bearing OF
"Mr. Boggles, the north coast pilot"
BoggleS was to report for duty the
following morning, As his last unoiii.
cial act he helped the mate to repair
the small aceylenc gas generator in
the forward part of the yacht. This
was used in emergencies for the for
ward searchlight.
We've got to keep sharp lookout
for icebergs now" Captain Reed had
warned. "and that forward searchlight
must be fixed up"
Boggles didn't know much about acct
ylene gas. Neither did the first mate
They tampercd with the plant for two
hours. and then mutiied explosion for.
ward alarmed every member Of the
crew. Ii WAS the first mate who eX,
claimed incoherently:
The thing the tank exploded right
in our faces. 1t was SO sudden that
could not say how"
Boggles couldn't explain, for he was
blinded and his body was blazing like
human torch covered with pitch The
captain and Or. Langion squelched the
flames, SO the yacht was safe, and An.
nette, with two sailors, rescued Bog
gles from mcineration.
Mr.. Pierce was angry and bored to
the point Of saying;
How annoying! Any one hurtf'
"Boggles is pretty well done up" the
doctor replied, scraping the chared
skin from the hlackened face. He's
blind as bat for one thing. and
BoggleS groaned and stammered in n
hoarse whisper:
Il knew I'd never see Straddle Rock
Cove agin. / might have knowed
something would happen. oh. why
didn't stay away"
Captain Reed called another meeting
to consider the question Of changing
the yachts course MIR. Boggles is now
incapacitated," he exclaimed, "and OF
course no one else is familiar with this
coast
That's So retorted Mr. Pierce, with
sudden enlightenment. "Then we must
return-at once"
A malevolent light of JOY illumlned
his features.
Exactly replied the captain. Il
shall order the course changed"
Not today, captain" interrupted An
nette sweetly. 1T seems like-like sac.
rilege to turn around and run home so
soon after Mr.. Boggles is laid up. IL
think we should keep ON a day or two.
There is some hope, DR.. Langdon, isn't
there?"
The doctor shook his head. Tin
sorry to disappoint you, Annette, but
there's none. Boggles is blind--totaly
blind. He may in six months or a year
recover some of his sight, but it is
forlorn hope"
Annette's face darkened. Mr.. Pierce
thought she was about to cry, and lie
hastily said:
I'VE might keep on the same course
for day or two. captain, out of re.
spect for B3ggles, and
Yes, yes, certainly"
Annette gave them both a grateful
smile, and the conference was ended.
Boggles absorbed more attention now
than before the accident. Every one
paid him Difference, but that was partly
because all, from the humblest to the
highest, knew that the trip was to be
abandoned in day or two. But Bog
giles didn't know, and he kept moaning:
'I'll never see the Straddle rocks
agin! If | could see 'em I'd die in
peace. All, there they are! Are you
here, ma'am? Look at 'em! See the
sun on 'em. There's where | was
born-twenty, thirty, forty, fifty years
ago, ma'am~
"Oh, Bogglesr moaned Annette in
return. why did this happenT
Now, the meeting of the cold breath
from the north coast and the warm
wind Of the southern summer plays
havoc with the sea at many points
between Newfoundland and Labrador.
Fierce elemental struggles of the at
mOsphere shake the sea and earth, and
for days and nights no ship is safe in
those far regions.
The Grayling was a stanch yacht,
but rather understood for a cruise 50
far from port. When the wind struck
her she danced lightly In the choppy
seas, but as the storm developed she
grew troubled and frightened.
Boggles had recovered from his
feverish delirium and was rational.
He heard the storm and found an
atom of consolation in it, 1t relieved
his mind of the weight pressing upon
1t.
For night and day the yacht drift.
ed. Then in the blackness of the scr,
ond night the vortex of the frightfU!