The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-04-04
VOYAGE OF 7HE PULO WAY
RECORD SOME STRANGE poNos At SEA
BY CARLTON DAVE Copyright by r. F. Fenno Co.

Oh US spoke. Inc man, growing I'm
patient, hurled at us some insulting
epithet, and then cried, suddenly
She's sinking, lads. Pull for YOU
lives! And away the boat sho,
into the mist.
l really thought it was the trutu
he spoke. for the ship gave a per
ceptible lurch and seemed rapidly
to settle down. Fully believing ii
was my last moment in this world
turned to give Hayling a final
grip, to say goodbye to Ethel.
CHAPTER XXI.
But, curious to say, the expected
did not happen. The ship gave a
sudden lurch. and showed q, most
uncompromising dist to port, Truly,
she seemed to be settling, and set
Ting fast; but after time lit ap-
| peared to me that she SHOULD have
was. l looked, listened, but could
neither see nor hear anything of a
forbidding nature. Then l turned
to Hayling. He had already left the
girl and was peering down over the
side. | touched him on the Shout
der and he looked up.
What does it mean, old man.
I'm almost afraid to say" he
| replied; "but | believe she's stuck
fast on a ledge, or in cradle of
some sort"
"Then We are saved?"
"Well," said he, "if it turns out
as I believe, the ship will not sink
while this weather holds"
After an hours anxious watching
our fears gradually began to sub
side. The ship made no sign of
moving, and though she was fright
fully down at the head, and show
ed a somewhat unnatural list to
port, the Inconvenience was forgot
ten in the Joy Of our deliverance.
It was pleasant to wander about
| the deck once more, even though
at an acute angle; and though we
could not see SO yards away from
us, for the fog had not yet lifted.
the awful loneliness was not half
so oppressive as might be imagin-
ed. The saloon was just as we had
left 1t, the cabins intact; and after
we had INDUCED ~ hearty break
fast, bath and change of clothes
made new creatures of us.
AS the mist did not lift all that
day, Hayling had no opportunity of
discovering our whereabouts; but
he gave it as his opinion that we
were stranded on one of the islands
somewhere at the head of the Mo-
lucca passage. | confess | was
not much the wiser of all this,
though | may as well here admit
that he was right. Still, it was
gratifying to know that the steam
ers to and from Port Darwin went
through this passage
That night Ethel slept in, her
cabin. and | can imagine with what
joy the poor girl found herself
alone once more. Above deck, Hay
ling and l took it in turns to watch
and the night passed without oc-
casiOning us any alarm.
Towards morning the mist rose,
and as the day grew stronger our
position gradually began to unfold
itself. When Frank came up on
deck 1t was broad daylight, and
about mile away fair sized isl-
and was discovered, lying low on
our starboard box Beyond that
again, but injistinctly seen, was; a
still larger island, which lost itself
in mist, and which we took to be
the mainland. We ourselves had
struck upon small cluster of
rocks, SO that we doomed up large
out of the sea, practically an ISL
and in ourselves.
II wonder # our friend Gupp is
over there" he said. pointing to
the little island.
feared he might be. though |
Jevoutly wished he had put out to
sea and lost himself in the fog.
Anyway, Frank told me to go for
ward and have a look while he
would prepare the breakfast. SO
away | went, and succeeded in
clambering on to the bridge and
so into the chart-room, where the
captains glasses hung.
A short survey of the distant
shore fully realized my worst an
ticipations. The boats were dis
tinctly to be seen, beached high
and dry; and presently the smoke
from couple of fires curled up
against the dark trees. | could not
even hope that l was mistaken.
and when presently the daylight
grew stronger, the men themselves
were seen sauntering upon the
beach.