The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1907-09-05
Annette checked the incipient mutiny

NO orders were given to change the
course Of the yacht
The waters Of the north coast met
them a week later. They were cold
and icy, with the breath of floating
bergs lowering over them. Boggles
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
Boggies was to report for duty the
following morning. As his last unofIi-
cial act lie helped the mate to repair
the small acetylene gas generator in
the forward part Of the yacht This
was used in emergencies for the for
ward searchlight.
"We've-got to keep a 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 tampered with the plant for two
hours, and then muff,ed explosion for
ward alarmed every member of the
crew. 1t was the first mate who ex-
claimed incoherently:
'sThe 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 DIR. Langdon squelched the
| flames, so the yacht was safe, and An
| nette, with two sailors, rescued Bog
giles from incineration.
Mr.. Pierce was angry and bored to
| the point of saying:
'How annoying! Any one hurt?''
'Boggles is pretty well done up" the
doctor replied, scraping the charred
skin from the blackened face. Hes
blind as bat for one thing, and'-
| Boggles groaned and stammered in
| hoarse whisper:
Il knew I'd never see Straddle Rock
| Cove ag'in. might have knowed
something would happen. Oh. why
didn't I stay away?"
Captain Reed called another meeting
to consider the question of changing
the yachts course "Mr Boggles is now
incapacitated," he exclaimed, land 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 illumined
his features.
Exactly" replied the captain. II
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 day or two.
There is some hope, DR.. Langdon. isn't
there?"
The doctor shook his head. I'm
sorry to disappoint you, Annette. bur
there's none. Boggles is blind-totally
blind. He may in six months or Il year
recover some of his sight, but it is !.
forlorn hope
Annette's face darkened. Mr.. Pierce
thought she was about to cry, and be
hastily said:
I'VE might keep on the same course
for day or two, captain, out OF re-
spect for Boggles, and
Eyes, yes, certainly
Annette gave them both 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:
iii never see the Straddle rocks
ag'in! II could see 'em I'd die In
peace! All, there they are! Are you
here, ma'am? Look at EN-! See the
sun on 'em! There's where | was
born-twenty, thirty. forty, fifty years
ago, ma'amv'
"Oh, Boggles!" moaned Annette in
return. why did this harpen:"
/ 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
Ihe Grayling was a stanch yacht.
/ but rather understood for cruise 50
far from port. When the wind struck
/ her she danced lightly in the clloppy
/ seas, but as the storm developed she
/ grew troubled and frightened.
Bcggles 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
it,
For night and day the yacht drift
ed. Then in the blackness of the sec.
| ond night the vortex of the frightful
! storm was reached. with the craft III
prepared to meet it.
TIE forward watch reported break
ers ahead, and the jagged outline OF
rocks was seen in the distant back
ground. The Grayling was drifting
steadily toward them. 1t was mat
| ter of an hour before she would strike
Annette heard the summons to pre-
pare for the worst. The two boats
which were left would hold the crew
and passengers, and there was no al
tentative but to trust their lives to
the tender mercies of the breakers in
/ them.
.Boggles, you must. rise and go with
me-" Annette said. 'I'll lead you.
/ We're drifting on the rocks"
s.What rOcks-Straddle rocks p