Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-14
CHAPTER III CONTINUED.

Between Elsie and De Poincilit the
chorus made quite n respectable din.
Few noticed that the salon main COM
panion had been opened again until
the sharp bark OF a dog joining in
the hand clapping turned every eye
toward the stairway. Captain Courte-
nay was descending. In front ran
Joey, who of course imagined that the
p%laudits of the audience demanded
recognition. Courtenay had removed
his oilskius before leaving the bridge.
Ills dark blue uniform was fcckcd
with white foam. and a sou'wester was
tied under his chin: otherwise his APP
p%earance gave little sign OF the wild
tuinult without. Joey. on the other
hand, was a very wet dog and inclined
to be snappy.
81 regret to have TO inform you" said
Courtenay. with the measured dclib-
Grafton of a man who has made up his
mind exactly what TO say, that the
ship has been disabled hy some accl-
dent, the cause of which is unknown
at present. The unfortunate result is
that she is in n position of some peril"
There was a sudden stir among the
Chilean stewards. whose wits were
sharpcned sufficiently TO render the
captains statement quite clear TO them.
Isobel uttered a little sob of terror,
and Mrs. Somerville gasped audibly,
ooh, my poor childrenn' Elsie, her
lips parted, sat forward on the piano
stool. Her senses seemed to have be-
come intensified all at once. She could
see everything, hear everything Some
of the Chileans and Spaniards crossed
themselves, others swore. Count Ed
Guard breathed hard and muttered,
Grand Dieu.' She wondered why the
captain and Mr. Tollemache, who had
returned from his stateroom and was
standing in the half light of a door
way, should simultaneously drop their
right hands into a coat pocket. Mr..
Tollemache. too. gave a queer little
nod to the American. who had moved
near to Isobel and placed a hand on
her shoulder. Elsie was quite sure that
Gray whispered, For goodness sake,
don't cause n scene" And indeed he
did ask Isobel and Mrs. Somervillc,
with some %curtness, to restrain them
selves.
Courtenay with one cold glance chill
ed into silence the muttered prayers
and curses of the Chileans.
1T may be necessary about day
break to endeavor to beach the ship"
he continued. Il wish you all, there
fore, to guard against possible exposure
by wearing warm clothes, especially
furs and oyercoats. Money and jew
elry should be secured, but no baggage
of any sort, not even the smallest
hand bng, can be carried, as all other
personal belongings must be left on
board. Passengers will gather here
and remain here until | send one of
the officers for them. The companion
doors will not lie closed again, but the
decks are quite impossible. You hear
for yourselves hat they are momen-
tarily swept by heavy seas
He turned to the chief steward.
"Your men, Mr.. Malcolm" he said,
Twill begin at once, under your direc-
tions, to draw stores for each boat
There need be no hurry or excitement,
We are as yet many miles distant from
the nearest known land. If the wind
changes or one of several possible
things happens. the Kansas will suffer
no damage whatever. ! wish all hands
10 be prepared. however. for the
chance-thc remote chance, | trust-ol
the ships being driven ashore, and
beg each one Of you TO remember tina
discipline and strict obedience to or
ders are not only more necessary o
than ever, but also that they will bt
strictly enforced"
The concluding sentence was uttered
very slowly and clearly. 1t was evi
dent he meant the ships company tc
understand him. Before any Of hi.
hearers attempted to question him hi
damned the sou'westcr on his heat
and ran up the stairs. The dog fol
lowed somewhat ruefully, the cozy sa
Ion being far more to his liking thar
the wind swept, spray dashed char
house. Mr.. Malcolm promptly stirred
his myrmidons with a command to fal
In by boats crews, and Gomez VOL
,is chiefs approval by quietly translat
ng the captains orders. Beyond Mrs
Somerville's subdued sobbing Their,
was little outward manifestation tina
another crisis in the history Of tn
rome and gone.