Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-11-06
THE CAPTAIN OF THE KANSAS
By LOUIS TRACY,
Author OF "The Wings of the Morning." Etc
by BdwardJ CIcdeJ
By LOUIS TRACY,
Copyright, 1905. BY Edward J. Clode.)
Author OF THE Wings of the Morning." Ell

make such preparations are possible
before we strike
Huh" agreed Mr. Boyle. He took the
short cut over the rails. In few seconds
the captain heard flow of ornate Span
ish, and he knew that Mr.. Boyle was get
ting the scared Chileans to work.
Then Courtenay went to his own cabin.
N which In the haste of his exit, he had
imprisoned joey. The dog received him
with delight, for joey knew a real gale
from sham one, as well as any man be-
fore the mast COurtenay patted his
head. opened a drawer in the wiring tabl..
and drew :orth two photographs which
ne kissed. He replaced them, locked the
drawer and went out, letting the dog
cJme with him. That was his farewell
to his mother and sister: it was the first
and last sign of sentiment he exhibited
during that night of great endurance.
When he returned from the saloon he
found the chief officer examining the
chart.
DO you think we have any chance of
making Conception strait" he asked,
pointing to the doubtfuliy marked cham i
which separates Hanover and Duke of
York islands.
IF we set the mains'le we might bear
up a bit"
Try 1T
Huh. said Mr. Boyle, and he was off
again into the spindrift.
Be it ind arstood that the sails carried
by big vessel like the Kansas are of lit
tie practical value save under certain con-
ditions of win and sea, when they ara
rigged TO st ady her and thus give help
to helm and propeller. Still they might
~" now TO carry the ship a point or
two toward the north. and this was tae
| sole avenue of escape which re nainpd
| ttere, again, was one of those trivial cir
cumstances which are so potent in the
| Shaping o events. Had either Of the
| sails blown out, or had the mainsail been
set at the same time as the for sail. the
| course followed during the next few hours
! must have been deviated from 20 some
extent, and the alteration OF a Caol. 5
! length in direction could not fail to exer-
cisa the most momentous result on the
| fortunes of the Kansas. But ships are
| singularly akin to men in respect to the
appar Mt vagaries of fate. A moment S
| hesitation. mere pace to right or ielt,
may mean all the difference between sue
| cess and failure, safety and danger.
Leaving the chart on the table, where
1t was secured by drawing pins. Courte-
nay went back to his cabin to obtain a
pair of sea boots. Seeing Joey sitting on
! his tail and shivering, unable to indulg
In a comfortable lick because the taste
salt water was hateful, n hunted for a
padded macintosh coat. which he haG
! procured for the dogs protection in cold
| ATTITUDES. He ransacked two lockers be-
| fore he found it. Several articles w:re
! tumbled in heap on the floor in his
| haste, and he did not trouble to pack
! them away again. He buckled Joey into
! the garment, fastened his own oilskins
and rejoined the second officer on the
/ bridge. A glance showed him the dark
wall of the rnainsail rising ahaft tn after
| funnel. The quartermaster at the wheel,
! having recovered his wits. was keeping
| the ships nose up to the wind by a
steady pressure to port. The gale was as
! fierce as ever. The second officer shouted
! in Courtenays ear:
| Il am afraid, sir, the wind has shifted
point"
| ship was barring eva"'''
| 1ad hoped that the sails would enable her
to shape due nortu, al
ably some spiteful flend was urging her
headlong to ruin. Had the wind but
veered much to the south he might
have CHANGED the run through Conception
strait. or even weathered Duke of York
Island. He nodded to his junior, whose
/ presence on the bridge was mere mat
ter o. form. owing to the poweress con-
dition of the ship and the impenatrable
( Wrack of foam and mist that barred
vision ahead, and STROBE off on a tour Of
inspection. AS wind and sea were now
beating more directly on the port Side,
there was some degree Of shelter along
the covered-in deck to starboard. H
found that two boats had been cleared of
their hamper and lowered on the davits
until they could be swung in on the
promenade deck. The men were thus
in their exposed berths on the spar deck.
He watched the workers for a few min
utes showed them how to stow and lash
some biscuit tins more securely, and con-
tnued his survey. m aiming to look in on
Walker and the doctor.
He had to pass the cabins set apart for
the two girls. The ports were lighted,
and through one window he could see
some one peering out at him. Owing to
the thickness Of the glass and its blurred
condition. he could not tell whether the
occupant was Elsie or Isobel, or Isobei's
maid, but, whoever 1t was. a hand seemed
to signal to him to open the door.
He unfastsned the bolts, and held a half
door slightly ajar. Joey, ever eager to b.
out of the peIting storm. hoped inside.
and Courtenay heard Elsie exclaim:
Good gracious, Joey. Where is your
life beit?''
DO you want anyth1ng?" asked Courte-
I nay. through the chink.
/ Elsie smiled at him. She was wrapped