Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-07


Mr.. Woodt". she asked him at break
fast.
He CHANGED to notice that she was
speaking to him.
Rotten" he said.
Perhaps he wondered why Miss Max
well flushed and the others laughed.
But in actual fact he was not far
wrong in his curious choice Of an ad.
jective that morning. DR.. Christobal's
dismal forcboding had been justified
on the second day out. Leadcn clouds.
sullen sea and occasional puffs of Il
singing breeze from the southwest
offered n sorry exchange for the sunny
skies Of chile.
Though the Kansas was not a fast
ship. she could have made the entrance
to the strait Of Magellan on the even
ing Of the fourth day had not Cap
tain Courtenay wished to navigate
the most dangerous part Of the mar
rows by daylight. His intent. there.
FORE was to pick up the Evangclstas
light about midnight and then crack
ahead ut fourteen knots. so as to be Off
Felix point on Desolation island. by
dawn.
This was not only a prudent and sea
manlike course. but 1t would cOnduce
| to the comfort OF the passengers. The
ship was now running into a stiff gale.
Each hour the sea became heavier, and
even the 5000 tons of the Kansas felt
the impact of the giant rollers on her
starboard bow. Dinner therefore prom
ised TO be meal Of much discomfort.
chcercd only by the knowledge that
as soon as the vessel reached the lee
of Dcsolation island the giant waves
of the Pacific would lose their power
and all on board wou!d enjoy quiet
nights rest.
There were no absentces Mt the able.
Or. Chrstobal strove to enlvcn the
others with the promise Of peace ere
many hours had passed
Pay no heed to those fcllows! he
cried as the ship quivered under the
blow Of a heavy sea. and they heard
the thud Of many tons of water break
ing over the bows and fore hatcn,
while the defeated monster washed
the tightly screwed port with ven
omous swish. "They cannot harm us
now. Let us rather thank kindly Prov
idence, which provided MaEcllan's wa
terway. Think what it would mean
were we compelled TO weather the
cape"
a spiteful sea sprang at the Kansas
and shook her from stem to stern. The
ship groaned and creakcd as though
she were in pain. She staggered an in
slant and then swung irresistbly for
ward with a fierce plunge that made
the plates dance and cutlery rattle in
the fiddles.
Il suppose we must endure five hours
of this" said Elsie bravely.
Il don't like it. Why does not Cap.
tain Courtenay or even. Mr.. Boyle put
in an appearance? l have hardly seen
either of them since the day | came
aboard"
"All ladies like to see an officer in
the salon during storm" commented
''hristobal. II plead guilty to a weak
ness in that direction myself though
know he is much better employed on
the bridge"
A curious shock, sharper and alto.
gether more penetrating than the
Thors hammer blow of a huge wave
sounded loud and menacinc in their
ears. The ship trembled violently and
then became strangely still. The least
experienced traveller on board knew
that the engines had stopped. They
felt long lurch to port when the next
} sea climbed over the bows. At once
the Kansas righted herself and rode
on even keel. while the stress and t,r.
moi OF her fight against wind and
wave passed away into a sustained ST
ence.
The half caste stewards glanced a;
each other ana drew together in wills.
pcring groups, but the chief steward
an Englishman. who had turned to
leave the salon. changed his mind anl
uttered low growl of command which
sent his subordinates' attention if not
their thoughts back to their work. In
the strained hush the running along
the deck of men in heavy sea boots
was painfully audible. Water could
he heard pouring through the soup
perS. Steam was rushing forth some
where with vehement buster, These
sounds only accentuated the eXtraor
binary truce In the fight of shir
against sea. The Kansas was strick
Ell dumb if not dead.
Something has gone wrong" said
Elsie in a low voice.
Dr. ChriStObal nodded carclcSSly.
"A burst steam pipe probably. Such
things will happen at times. We arr
hove to for the moment"
lie traded on the ignorance OF his
hearers. The chief steward heard his
explanation and looked Mt him tixedly
Christobal caught the glance.
II suppose We shall lose an hour OF
. so now?" he asked.
Yes, sir. 1t will be all right by the
time YOU have finished dinner"
The meal drew to It's close withou
much further talk. An American eli
, gincer was the first passenger to rise
, but the chief steward whispered in hi;
ear He returned to the table.
Say" he said calmly, 1--WE can
quit yet. The companion hatch il
!, closed We must remain here bit"
do you mean that we are battenc(