The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1908-04-23


/ officer appeared, his wet oilskins gleam-
ing and dripping.
"Dr. Christobal, the captain wishes
to speak to you," he said.
ChristobaI rose and crossed the sa-
lon.
"As you are here, won't you tell the
ladies there is nothing to be afraid Of
In the mere stopping Of the engines?"
he suggested.
"Oh, the ship is right enough" was
the hasty response. There has been
an accident in the stokehold. That is
ALL
want any help" demanded the
American.
"Well-I'll ask the captain"
Evidently anxious to avoid further
questioning he ran up the companion
way. Christobal followed, and the
door was closed and bolted again.
Il hate the word accident 1t COW
ers so many horrid possibilities" said
Isobel.
Il am afraid some poor fellows have
been injured and that Is why Captain
Courtenay sent for DR.. Christobal,"
said Elsie.
"Oh, of course, l meant that. l was
not thinking Of the mere delay, though
it is annoying that breakdown should
occur here"
1T would be equally bad anywhere
else" put in the missionary's wife tim
idly.
by no MEANS was the sharp re-
Spouse. IF we were in the strait,
for instance, we could signal to San
Isidro or Sandy point, and there would
be other vessels passing. Here we
are in the worst possible place."
To all appearance, Miss Barring alone
among the passengers, now that Chris
tobal was gone, realized vaguely the
perilous plight of the Kansas. In a
maritime community like that Of Val
paraiso there was every reason to
know and dread the rock bound coast
which fringed the southern path to-
ward civilization. Strange, half forgot
ten stories of the terrors which await
q disabled ship caught in southwest
del Fuego rose dimly in her mind, and
the advancing darkness did not tend
toward cheerfulness.
The curious sense of waiting, they
knew not for what, which dulled the
thoughts and stilled the tongues Of the
municated itself to the stewards. The
men stood in little knots, exchanging
few words, and those mostly meaning
less. But the chief steward, whose
trained ear caught the regular beat Of
the donkey engine. woke them up with
a series of sharp orders.
'"Switch on the lights" he said loud
~. Clear the table and hurry up
with the coffee. Get a move on those
fellows, Gomez. Have you never be-
fore been in a ship when the screw
stopped?"
Englishman's second in command. He
acted as interpreter when anything
out Of the common was required. He
muttered few words in the Hispano-
Indian patois which his hearers best
understood, and the scene in the sa-
Ion changed with wondrous sudden
ness. The glow Of the electric lamps
banished the gathering shadows. The
luxurious comfort Of the apartment
soon dispelled the notion of danger.
The noise of the steam exhaust ceas-
ed as abruptly as it began. The ship
was riding easily in spite Of the heavy
sea. And then, while the occupants
Of the salon were endeavoring to per-
suade each other that all was well. the
loud wall of the siren thrilled them
with increased foreboding. 1t was not
the warning note of fog or the sharp
course signal for the guidance Of a
passing ship, but sustained trumpet
hidden in the darkening waste of wa
tiers that the Kansas was not under
control. 1t was wild, sinister ap-
peal for help, the voice of the dis
abled vessel proclaiming her need, and
the answer seemed to come in fiercer
shrek of the gale, while the added
fury of the blast brought a curling
sea over the poop. The Kansas stag
gered and shook herself clear.
1t was a nerve racking moment. 1t
demanded the leadership of strong
man, and there are few gatherings in
Anglo-Saxondom which cannot pro-
duce Caesar when required.
"Say," shouted the American, his
clear voice dominating the turmoil,
that gave us a shower bath. If we
could just stand outside and see our
selves we should look like an illumi-
mated fountain"
That was the right note-belief in
the ship, contempt of the darkness and
the gale. The crisis passed.
There really cannot be q heavy
sea-" said Elsie, cheerfully inaccurate;
otherwise we should be pitching or
rolling, perhaps both, whereas we are
actually far more steady than when
dinner commenced"
Il find these lulls in the storm most
trying" complained Isobel. "They re-
mind me of some wild animal hunting
its prey, creeping up with silent stealth
and then springing."
II have never before heard fog
horn sounded so continuously" said
the missionary's wife, a Mrs. Somer-
Vile. Don't you think they are
whistling for assistance"
Assistance? What sort of assist