Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-03-26

of action apart from the direction and
force of the ocean stream. The two
sails were helpful, and 1t was to as
sure himself of their efficiency that he
put the helm to starboard. The Kan
sas obeyed with an answering roll to
port, showing clearly that she was
travelling a little faster than the in
rushing tide would take her unaided.
He brought her head back to nor'east
again and glanced over his shoulder at
the ships thermometer. 1t was quar-
ter to 1. Two hours must pass before
he would discern the first faint streaks
of light. At any rate, If he were spared
to greet the dawn 1t would be right
ahead, and, as a few seconds might
small point in his favor. Yet, two
hoursi Could he dare to hope for so
long respite? How could the ship
escape the unnumbered fangs which a
storm torn land thrust far out into the
Pacific for its own protection?
He was quite sheltered from the
wind and spray in the chart house, and
all at once he became aware of burn
ing thirst There was water In de-
canter close at hand. so he INDUCED In
long drink. That was wonderfully
vivifying Then his mind turned long
ingly to tobacco. For the first time in
his life he broke the strict rule of the
service in which he had been trained
and smoked n cigar while on duty.
| Now and again he spoke cheerily to
the dog:
well. Joey, here we are; still got
bark In u.s. or "You III must have
our names on the admiralty chart,
Joey-'Channel surveyed by Captain
Courtenay and pup; details uncertain
How does that sound, old chap" And
again: II suppose your friend. Miss
Maxwell, is asleep by this time. If she
calls you Joay, do you call her Elsie?
rather fancy Elsie as name. What
do you Think" To all Of which the
dog, who had found dry corner,
would respond with a smile and a tail
wag
| The long wait in the darkness would
have broken many mans nerve, but
| Courtenay was not cast In mold to be
either bent or broken by fear. When
his cigar was not in his mouth he
| whistled, re hummed snatcbes Of
songs and delivered short lectures to
| Joey on the absurdity of things in gen
eral and the special righteousness of
such a mighty combination of circum-
stances centering on one poor ship as
had foregathered to crush the Kansas
| Ever since he was aroused from sleep
by the stopping of the screw his mind
had dwelt on the unprecedented nature
of the breakdown. Even before he dis
| covered it's cause he was wondering
what evil chance had contrived to Grip
pie the engine at such a moment-in
the worst possible place on the map.
"Joey," he said suddenly. his
thoughts reverting to a chance remark
made to him in Valparaiso by Isobel's
father, what did Mr. Barring mean by
saying there was difficulty about the
insurance."
Joey gave it up, but he cooked his
ears and looked toward the door
Christobal entered.
Boyle will recover" he said wher
he had wiped the spray of his face
HE had a narrow escape. The knife
just grazed the spinal cord. The shocl
to the dorsaI nerves induced temporary
paralysis, and that rather misled me
He is much better now. Under ordinar!
conditions he would be able to ge
about in few days. AS it is, he viii
probably live as long as any of u.s."
Christobal waved hand toward tn,
external void. He was not sailo
enough to realize the change in tn,
weather.
THAT is good news" said Courtenay
81 thought you would like to know
How are things up here?"
Better. The barometer has riser al
inch In less than two hours. Possibl!
nearness to the lard has some effect
but wind and sea are subsiding."
you surprise me, yet that is moth
ing. have had several surprises to
night. What is toe position? o
course we must hit the South Ameri
can continent sooner or later. Cal
you fix an approximate timer"
"We are ras,ling about six knots,
J fancy. If we IRE lucky and avoid an,
} stray rocks we should see daylight be
fore we reach the coast. That is on
! sole hope. The ship is in powerful
tidal current and it is high water a
$50 a. 10. 1t rough estimate Han
! over island is twenty knots distant
, Nov you know all. The outcome 1
mere Suess:gork."
, "Why S'd the furnaces blow upT'
II was crcss examining Joey on tina
point when you came in. He reserve
, his opinion. My own view is that, b
accident or design, some explosive sui
stance found its way into the coal"
: "Shemr Ham and Japheth! Explosiv
substance. Do you mean dynamite o
gunpowder or that sort of thingT'
] Something of the kind. That
t only a eCia osition, but when whisper
} ed 1t to Walker he agreed
: walker: Is he the man who speak
; SO queeriyY'
j eff you ever go to Newcastle, don
E put 1t that way. told him to TAX
|. Miss Maxwell to her cabin. Did he d
I so?o