Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1908-06-09
tnues- 7se,uh1irus aarsIalltnaus, anuu aurn 1903

Though the Kansas was not fast
ship. she could have made the entrance
to the strait Of Magellan on the even
ing Of the fourth Cay 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 Bvangelistas
light about midnight and then crack
ahead at fourteen knots, SO as to be Oh
Felix point, on Desolation island, by
dawn.
This was not only prudent and sea
manlike course, but 1t would conduce
to the comfort Of the passengers. The
ship was Low running into 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,
cheered only by the knowledge that
as soon as the vessel reached the lee
of Desolation island the giant waves
Of the Pacific would lose their power
and all on board would enjoy q quiet
nights rest.
There were no absentees at the table.
DR.. Christobal strove to enliven the
others with the promise OF peace ere
many hours had passed.
"Pay no heed to those fellows!' he
cried as the ship quivered unde. the
blow of heavy sea, and they heard
the thud of many tons Of water break
ing over the bows and fore hatch,
while the defeated monster washed
tho tightly screwed port with ven
omous swish. "They cannot harm us
now. Let US rather thank kindly Prov
idence, which provided Magellan's wa
terway. Think what 1t 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 creaked as though
she were in pain. She staggered an In
slant and then swung irresistibly for
ward with fierce plunge that made
the plates dance and cutlery rattle In
the fiddles.
~ suppose we must endure i've hours
Of this?" said Elsie bravely.
II don't like 1t. Why does not Cap
tain Courtenay or even Mr.. Boyle put
In nm appearance? have hardly seen
either Of them since the day came
aboard"
"All ladies like to see an officer in
the salon during storm" commented
Christobal. II plead guilty to a weak
hess In that direction myself, though
I know he is much better employed on
the bridge"
A curious shock, sharper and alto
gether more penetrating than the
Thor's hammer blow Of huge wave,
sounded loud and menacing 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 tur-
moil Of her fight against wind and
wave passed away into sustained 81
lence.
! The half caste stewards glanced at
each other and drew together in whis-
perlng groups, but the chief steward,
an Englishman, who had turned to
leave the salon, changed his mind and
uttered a low growl of command which
sent his subordlnates' attention II 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
be 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 ship
against sea. The Kansas was strick-
en- dumb If not dead.
Something has gone wrong" said
Elsie In low voice.
DIR. Christobal nodded carelessly.
"a burst steam pipe probably. Such
things will happen at times. We are
hove to for the moment"
He traded on the ignorance Of his
hearers. The chief steward heard his
explanation and looked at him fxedly.
Christobal caught the glance.
II suppose we shall lose an hour or
so now?' he asked.
Eyes, sir. It will be all right by the
time you have finished dinner"
The meal drew to It's close without
much further talk. An American en-
gineer was the first passenger to rise,
but the chief steward whispered In his
ear He returned to the table.
"Say," he said calmly, I'VE can't
quit yet. The companion hatch Is
closed. We must remain here BIZ"
"Do you mean that we are battened
DOWN." demanded Isobel shrilly, and
her face lost some of its beauty in an
ashen pallor.
something Of the sort, Miss Barring.
Anyway, we can't go on deck"
..But-I insist on being told what is
the matter
The American knew little Of ships,
but he knew a great deal about mines,
and In a mine If an accident happens
the man in charge cannot desert his
post to give Information to those who
are anxious for 1t. So he replied la
conically:
"Guess the captain will tell US all