Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-14

The second officer. outside on the bridge,
had to 'linJ 10 S~tnnchton for his life.
way by hosting the foresail. Will you
see to it? Then I intend to warn the
passengers and make such prepare
lions as are possible before we strike"
Huh" agreed Mr.. Boyle. He took
the short cut over the rails. In a few
seconds the captain heard a flow Of
ornate Spanish, and he knew that Mr..
Boyle was getting the scared Chileans
to work.
Then Courtenay went to his own
cabin. in which, in the haste of his
exit, he had imprisoned Joey. The
dog received him with delight, for Joey
knew a real gale from n sham one as
we'll as any man before the mast.
Courtenay patted his head. opened a
drawer in the writing table and drew
forth two photographs. which he kiss
ed. He replaced them, locked the
drawe: and ven out. letting the dog
IN with him. That was his farewell
to his mother and sister. 1t was the
first and last sign Of sentiment he ex-
hibited during that night Of great en-
durance.
When he returned from the salon he
found the chief officer examining the
chart.
do you think we have any chance
Of making Conception straitT' he ask.
ed, pointing to the doubtfully marked
channel which separates Hanover and
Duke of York islands.
az we set the mains'l we might
bear up a bit"
TRY it,"
"Iiuh,' said Mr.. Boyle, and he was
Off again into the spindrift.
BE it understood that the sails car
ried by a big vessel like the Kansas
are of little practical value save under
certain conditions of wind and sea.
when they ere rugged to steady her and
thus give help to helm and propeller.
St!ll, they might serve now to carry
the ship a point or two toward the
north. and this was the sole avenue OF
escape which remained.
Leaving the chart on the table, where
it was secured by drawing pins, Cour,
tenay went back to his cabin to obtain
a pair Of sea boots. Seeing Joey sitting
on his tail and shfvering, unable to in.
dulge in q comfortable lick because the
taste Of salt water was hateful, lie
hunted for Il padded macintosh coat
which he had procured for the dogs
protection in cold ATTITUDES. He ran
sacked two lockers before he found it
| Saynr11 ortin1nu urarn t,ynLiA1 Ia N
heap en- the floor in his haste, and he
did not trouble to pack them away
again. He buckled Joey into the gar
ment, fastened his own oilskins and re,
joined the second officer on the bridge
A glance showed him the dark wall OF
the mainsail rising abaft the after fun
mel. The quartermaster at the wheel
having recovered his wits, was keeping
the ships nose up to the wind by q
steady pressure to port. The gale was
as fierce as ever. The second officer
shouted in C~ourtenay's ear:
Il am afraid, sir, the wind has shift,
ed a point"
Courtenay looked at the compass
The ship was bearing exactly north,
east. He had hoped that the sails
would enable her to shape due north
at least. Unquestionably ome spitsfuI
fiend was urging her headloRg TO ruin
Had the wind but veered as much te
the south he might have CHANGED thu
run through Conception strait or ever
weathered Duke Of York island. He
nodded to his junior. whose presence
ON Tho hrtdnn T0G n Vnnvn r,attor -
form owing to the powerless condition
Of the ship and the impcnetrable wracl
Of foam and mist that barred vision
ahead, and strobe off on a tour of In
specti0n. AS wind and sea were nov
beating more directly ON the port side
there was some degree of shelter aionl
the covered-in deck to starboard. II,
found that two boats had been cleare,
of their hamper and lowered on tn
1avits until they could be swung in Of
! the promenade deck. The men wcr
= thus able 10 provision them more cas-
ly than in their exposed berths on tn
: spar deck. He watched the worker
I to stow and lash some biscuit tin
more securely and continued his SUI
vey, meaning to look in or Walker an
the doctor.
He had to pass the cabins set apar
for the two girls. The ports wer
: lighted, and through the window b
could see some n peerng out at hin
Owing to the thickness Of the glas
and its blurred condition be could no
tell whether the occupant was Elsie 9