The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1908-04-23

"vvVVVVVVVVV
"Pay no heed to those fellows-' be
cried as the ship quivered under 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
he tightly screwed port with ven
emous swish. "They cannot harm us
now. Let us rather thank kindly Prov.
6ence, which provided Magellan'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 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.
II suppose we must endure five hours
Of this?" said Elsie bravely.
II don't like it. Why does not Cap
tain Courtenay or even Mr.. Boyle put
IN an appearance? have hardly seen
either Of them since the day l came
aboard"
:. "All ladies like to see an officer in
the salon during Storm commented
Christobal. 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
Thor's hammer blow of a 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 ST.
lence.
The half caste stewards glanced at
each other and drew together in whis-
pering groups, but the chief steward,
an Englishman, who had turned to
leave the salon, changed his mind and
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
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 a low voice.
DR.. 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 fixedly.
Christobal caught the glance.
81 suppose we shall lose an hour or
90 now?' he asked.
Eyes, sir. 1t will be all right by the
time you have finished dinner"
The meal drew to its 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 bit"
do you mean that we are battened
Down." demanded Isobel shrilly, and
her face lost some of it's 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 it, So he replied la
eonically:
"Guess the captain will tell US all
about it after awhile, Miss Barring"