The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1908-12-15
CHAPTER XII.

Rock, rock, rock, rock-from side
to side, slowly, and with every now
and then just perceptible pause, as
if the monotonous movement caused
fatigue; and the impulse was to rest
had rest been permitted, which appar-
entity was not the case, for the rock
ing never ceased--rock, rock, rock,
rock, with a sort of running accom-
paAiment and gurgle and splash of
water in response to the swaying,
and the sound Of voices, either
muffied by distance or subduedl SO
as not to be heard-this was what
Gertrude's mind awoke to.
She was lying on her back. Her
head rolled helplessly from side to
side, and she felt the discomfort,
but she did not at first think of pre-
venting it by voluntary effort. In
the end, however, it served to arouse
her. Instinctively she tried to steady
herself, and at the same time she
found strength to open her eyes and
look up. Above her shone world
of stars set in the indigo darkness
of clear sky. Where was she?
What had happened? All! it was
painful the rush of recollection. Her
husband-the ship-the fire-drown-
ing! But she was not drowned. She
was wet and cold and weak and
miserable, but she was alive, and this
was fishing smack, and that was its
big brown sail, and those men in
blue jerseys over there round the
stove were sailors, and the one face
among them which struck her as
familiar she presently recognized as
that of the captain of the steamer.
They had been saved, then, and were
going on somewhere. Where?
There are SO many places one can
go to in ship. She tried to think.
She was quite conscious of making
the effort. And then, all at once,
she found herself lying beside the
fire leaning against somebody who
was forcing her to drink something
hot, while the sailors in the blue
jerseys, with great boots and canvas
trousers, tar-besprent, and long SOU
westers painted yellow, lounged or
sat around and contemplated her
with a large, silent interest that was
impressive.
Wen get her in in twenty min
utes," one of them remarked. He
alluded to the boat, but Gertrude
thought he meant herself, and tried
to thank him.
Then came another interval of 81
lence, which was broken by tramp
ling feet, clanking blocks. hoarse
81, .tr ,...s<& -
tongues, in the midst of which Ger
trude felt herself lifted up carefully
and carried off-she knew not
whittier. nor did she trouble to in
duire.
Had she kept her consciousness
a few minutes longer when she was
in the water, she would have seen the
night become alive with twinkling
lights. A ship on fire could not
fall to attract attention in those busy
waters 1t had been seen at ST.
Malo, and also at the Channel ISL
ands, and boats were heading tow
ard it from every direction to render
assistance, and were close at hand
at the very time that the panic broke
out among the men and so many
lives were lost. They might have ex-
pected help, considering their where
abouts, but they could not have seen
it approaching, for the blaze of the
fire was SO fierce that those on board
the steamer could see nothing beyond
it. AS it was, however, many were
saved, among whom were the two
French Sisters of Charity in spite of
themselves, an intrepid sailor of gil
gantic stature having ventured onto
the burning deck, picked them up and
carried them off, one under each arm,
in a scorched condition, without cere-
mony. 1t was a serious disappoint-
ment osthem, which saddened them
for the rest of their natural lives.
When either of them told the story,
she would shake her head at the
end of 1t, and add sorrowfully, "Je
n etais pas digne!" she was not
not worthy to be made a martyr.
Young Redmond was not among
those who were saved. The captain,
himself a strong swimmer, had been
attracted by Gertrude'E cries and
came to the rescue. but the lad sunk
before he reached him, and had
never risen again There was, there
fore, one martyr made that night
not the boy himself. but the mother.
who was left to linger on lonely
life for years and mourn him.
It was back to Southampton that
Gertrude had been taken. In her
weak, exhausted condition she
troubled herself little enough at first
about events past. present or to come.
Passively she submitted to be taken
to big hotel, and put to bed by some
kindly women folk, paSsively she
gave her sister-in-law's address when
asked II she wished TO telegraph to
any friNnd, passively she took some
restoratlves that were brought to
her. and then she silent. It had been
the very luxury 81 laneuor q stato