Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1907-07-11
CHAPTER VIII.
GROUND RAFT.


For reasons the Port Edes tool the
north about" course-that is, she
headed across south Of the banks of
Newfoundland nearly to Cape Hatteras
and then braved the three knot current
of the gulf stream by passing down the
Florida hanne on the western side of
the Bahamas. They mad carried good
weather with them-light head breezes
or calmS--al the way. and although
Goals were dear. owing to a strike, and
the days outlay was limited to twen-
ty-eight tons by order, the steamer
usually averaged 1Oh knots despite the
unskillfulness of the engine room staff.
In a canvas chair on the bridge deck
under the lee of the fiddle sat Patrick
Clnlbcl with a pipe between his teeth
and Pierre Lofts "Faatome d'Orient"
In his lap. He was distinctly idling.
For the moment he was wondering
row.. from so transparency blue sea,
the spray which jumped from the wave
crests could be %colorless and OPAQUE
Then by following with the eye a
tangle of yellow gulf weed which float
ed just past his attention was carried
away to some little gray spouts of fog
which told of whales and their calves
taking a summer outing in the milk
warm waters of the south. Beyond his
eye fell upon one of the screw pile
lighthouses with which the United
States government has fringeG the
Florida shoal. and on the far horizon
spouted the wind thrashcd tops of some
scattered cabbage palms, which told
that there at least the shallow sea was
sea no more. At the back of these
palms lay the mysterious shelter OF the
Everglades.
A thought passed through Patrick
Cambc!s mind, a thought Of tho drama
to be played under shelter Of those re-
cesses within the next few days. and he
frowned. He thrust the thought from
him as an ilnpertinence and turned
again to his novel. But he was des-
tined just then to read no more from
that dainty vignette Of Stampool.
Through the grating Of the fiddle
EOove his head came a frightened
shout. then a chorus. then a prolonged
Gathering ss iron tools were thrown on
the floor plates and the boots Of
scared men smOte the rungs of the
ladders.
Cambel gave a quick smile to him
self as though he understood
thing. then mounted a lock Of concern
on his face. and getting up from his
chair crossed to port and strobe up to
the break Of the bridge deck The
captain. coming out OF the c%harthouse,
Joined him. From the door OF the al
leyway beneath them rushed a crowd
Of fright n mcn-trimmers, stokers.
stripped to IT, waist; engineers in
dungar.e. all the hu,nsn contents Of
the lowest hold. Kettle singled out
The chief with his eye and addressed
him with o III irony.
Afternoon. Mr.. McFee. Fine, isn't
1t. for the time of the year? Have your
ours forgotten they're paid to work this
steamboat up Mississippi river to a
city called New Orleans, or have they
Induced the other watch to 90 below
apd give them a spell?"
the chief. "Ye remember what yon
scoundrel said on Liverpool dock wall?
Weel. he's been AZ guild as his words.
cir. We've found an Internal machine
'Well?" drawlea Kettle.
Man We may be blowed to the sea
floor any minute
sea whisky! Sea grandmother"
Man. str. see with your own cen.
By Code guild mercy the donkeyman
picked It from among the. Goals, OF
we'd b with him this moment-oe With
the Devil"