Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-03-26

lest Of manhood Is applied by ship
wreck or fire.
SCOT a gum" he inquired
"Cabin going for 1t first opportuni
IT,"
~Same here. But the captain will
give us some sort Of warning"
Perhaps not. Die quick, die happy"
Then Gray smiled, and he could not
help saying, "Tell you what, cousin, Il
you shoot as straight as you talk these
stewards will come to heel. no matter
what happens"
"Fair shot," admitted Tollemache,
and he stalked off to his stateroom,
while the count was vociferating for
the last time:
ouel bon pitt roi c,etait la.
La, lai
Between Elsie and De Poincilit the
chorus made quite a respectable din.
Few noticed that the salon main COM
panion had been opened again until
the sharp bark of dog joining in
the hand clapping turned every eye
toward the stairway. Captain Courte-
nay was descending. In front ran
Joey, who of course imagined that the
plaudits of the audience demanded
recognition. Courtenay had removed
his oilskins before leaving the bridge.
His dark blue uniform was decked
with white foam, and sou Wester was
tied under his chin; otherwise his APP
pearance gave little sign Of the wild
tumult without, Joey, on the other
hand, was very wet dog and inclined
to be snappy
II regret to have to inform you,' said
Courtenay, with the measured DELHI
GRAFTON of a man who has made up his
mind exactly what to say, that the
ship has been disabled by some acci-
dent, the cause Of which is unknown
at present. The unfortunate result is
that she is in a position of some peril"
There was sudden stir among the
Chilean stewards, whose wits were
sharpened sufficiently to render the
captains statement quite clear to them.
Isobel uttered a little sob OF terror.
and Mrs. Somerville gasped audibly,
"Oh, my poor children!'' Elsie, her
lips parted, sat forward on the piano
stool. Her senses seemed to have be-
come intensified all at once. She could
see everything, hear everything Some
of the Chileans and Spaniards crossed
themselves; others swore. Count Ed
Guard breathed hard and muttered,
"Grand Dieuw She wondered why the
captain and Mr. Tollemache, who had
standing in the half light of q door
way, should simultaneously drop their
right hands into coat pocket Mr..
Tollemache. too, gave q queer little
nod to the American, who had moved
near to Isobel and placed hand on
her shoulder. Elsie was quite sure that
Gray whispered, FOR goodness sake,
don't cause a scene!' And indeed lie
did ask Isobel and Mrs. Someryille,
with some curtness, to restrain them
selves.
Courtenay with one cold glance chilli
ed into silence the muttered prayers
and curses of the Chileans.
st may be necessary about day
break to endeavor to beach the ship"
he continued. II wish you all. there
fore, to guard against possible exposure
by wearing warm clothes, especially
furs and oyercoats. Money and jew
elry should be secured, but no baggage
Of any sort, not even the smallest
hand bag, can be carried, as all other
personal belongings must be left on
board. Passengers viii gather here
and remain here until | send one of
the officers for them. The companion
doors will not be closed again, but the
decks are quite impossible. You hear
for yourselves that they are momen-
tarily swept by heavy seas"
He turned to the chief steward.
ssYour men, Mr.. Malcolm" he said,
twill begin at once. under your direc-
lions, to draw stores for each boat.
There need be no hurry or excitement
We are as yet many miles distant from
the nearest known land. If the wind
changes or one of several possible
things happens, the Kansas win suffer
no damage whatever. | wish all hands
to be prepared. however, for the
chance-the remote chance, | trust-of
the ships being driven ashore, and |
beg each one of you to remember that
discipline and strict obedience to or
ders are not only more necessary now
than ever. but also that they win be
strictly enforced"
The concluding sentence was uttered
very slowly and clearly. 1t was evil
dent he meant the ships company to
understand him Before any of his
hearers attempted to question him he
damned the sou'wester on his head
and ran up the stairs. The dog fol-
lowed somewhat ruefully. the coy sa-
Ion being far more to his liking than
the wind swept. spray dashed chart
house. Mr.. Malcolm promptly stirred
his myrmidons with command to fall
In by boats crews. and Gomez won
his chiefs approval by quietly translat-