The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1908-03-16

Io her complement had kept q
private and personal lookout all day
for some explanation of the previous
nights phenomenon. All that reward
ed them were sky filmed with lofty
clouds and the holiday parade of the
| epauletted waves.
Nor did evening bring a repetition of
that strange glow. Midnight found
the late stayers still deep in the dis
cussion.
zone thing is certain" said Ives; at
wasn't volcanic"
why soi" asked the paymaster.
because volcanoes are mostly sta
| tionary, and We headed due for that
light"
Yes. but did we keep headedy" said
Barnett. who was navigating officer as
well as ordnance officer, in queer
voice.
what do you mean. sir?" asked Ed
wards eagerly.
"After the light disappeared the com
pass kept on varying. The stars were
hidden. There is no telling just where
we were headed for some time"
"Then we might be fifty miles from
the spot we aimed at"
Hardly that" said the navigator
I'VE could guide her to some extent
by the direction of wind and waves
II II was volcanic we ought certainly
to have sighted 1t by now"
Always some electricity In volcanic
|eruptions," said Trendon. makes com.
pass cut didoes. Seen 1t before"
where" queried Carter.
"Of Martinique. Pelee eruption
Needle chased Its tail like n kitten"
Are there many volcanoes here.
aboutsf" somebody asked.
We're In 1872 west. 81 north. about"
said Barnett. NO telling whether
there are or not. There weren't at last
accounts. but that's no evidence that
there aren't some since. They come
up I'm the night. these volcanic islands"
Just east an eye on the charts" said
Billy Edwards Full OF T.. D.'s and
u. DIS all over the shop. Every one
of 'em volcanic"
"E. DIS and Il. D.'sf" queried the
paymaster.
Existence doubtful and position
doubtful" explained the ensign, "Ev-
wandering trade ships gets speck in
his eye he reports an island. II he
really does bump into a rock he cuts
in an arithmetic book for his latitude
and longitude and lets II go at that.
That's how the chart makers make
living, getting out new editions every
few months"
But it's fact that these seas are
constantly changing" said Barnett.
They're so little Travelled that no
one happens to be around to see an
island born. | don't suppose there's a
part on the earth's surface more liable
to seismic disturbances than this re-
glon."
"Seismic!" cried Billy Edwards. al
should say II was seismic! Why, when
a native of one Of these island groups
sets his heart on a particular loaf Of
bread up his breadfruit tree he doesn't
bother TO climb after it. Just waits
for some earthquake TO happen along
and shake it down to him."
Good boy. Billyr' said DR.. Trendon
approyingly. do another"
Its fact said the ensign heated
ly. why, couple OF years back
there was a trader here stocked up
with lot of belly mixture In bottles.
Thought he. was going TO make his
pile because there'd been a collie cpl
demic in the islands the season before.
Bottles were labeled DO not shake
That settled the business. Might as
well have marked 'em Keep frozen
in this part of the world. Fellow went
broke"
'In any case" said Barnett, "such a
glow as that We sighted last night
I've never seen from any volcano"
"Nor l." said Trendon. Don't prove
1t mightn't have been"
'I'll just bet the best dinner In San
Francisco that it isn't" said Edwards.
You're on" said Carter.
Let me in," suggested Ives.
"And I'll take one of It," said Nc
CURE.
Come one, come ALL" said Edwards
cheerily. I'm live high on the col
lective bad judgment of this outfit"
Tonight isn't likely to settle 1t any
how" said Ives. II move we turn
in"
Expectant minds do not lend them
selves TO sound slumber All night the
officers of the Wolverine slept on the
verge OF waking, but it was not until
dawn that the cry of Sail ho!' sent
them all hurrylng to their clothes.
Ordinarily officers of the United States
navy do not scuttle on deck like
crowd of curious schoolgirls, but all
hands had been keyed to high pitch
over the elusive light, and the bet with
Edwards now served as an excuse for
the betrayal of unusual eagerness;
hence the quarter deck was soon alive
with men who were wont to be deep
In dreams at that hour.
They found Carter, whose watch on
deck 1t was, reprimandiDg the lookout
"No, sir" the man was insisting
'she didn't show no light, sir. I'd "a
sighted her an hour ago, sir, IL she
had"
I'VE shall see," said Carter grimly
who's your relief?"