, 1909-07-22
CHAPTER XIV.
In Which We Learn the Story Of tn.
Donna Isabel.

Inc snort ANTARCTIC uay leIt us lii.
tie opportunity for the york on deck
However. ! kept the men employed az
long as possible. first setting them at ,
hauling up the %longboat and Slowing
it safely away under shelter. and then
at untangling some of the rafle forward.
They went at this asst task rather
nnvillingly, for 1t was carried on in
full view of that ice-casketed figure
guarding the forecastle, yet they got
out two fairly s~erviceable spars and a
considerable amount of cordage so
protected by the ice coating as to
he still of value. When we finally
knocked off and started aft in a body.
/ DARK. cloudy night was about us. the
now falling so thickly as to make IL.
impossible to see across the deck,
Dade was busily p%reraring supper in
the wrecked galley. the red glare OF
mis- FIRE shining forth through The
drifting flakes. while glimpses of iight
stole out in welcome from the forward
cabin windows.
Tie latter appeared shipshape and
cheerful enough as we slid back the
aoor and stepped within. Scarcely
a reminder was left of that horrible In.
orio" fcmim ted by death which had
pcen revealed to me a few hours be.
arc by the smoky glare of the torch.
While we we're laboring forward to
lear the deck. Doris and Celeste evi.
'ently had also been diligently EN-.
,;loyed. AMI with womanly intuition
nj given to the desolate interior a
'cme.like touch which vas irresistible.
could only come to a pause-gazing
~ ut an! wondering if ~ oud.G ~
" be .1oat upon a centdTy uid VI A.,
ossed helplessly III the waters Of the
o-Ir sea. The oGd, old-la 3hiOned
swinging lantern threw viClet-hued
rays over the snug scene, while in the
center the table. covered by a spo less
cloth, was fairly glistening In e bril-.
liant display of ancient silver. newly
10 .sled, aid of decorated glass. Doris.
WHO had been engaged in giving the
arrangement some final deft touches.
tHiH-d Instantly at the sound of our
entrance, her sweet face Frightening
with interest as size red the amaze,
mint ictu:e ed in my eyes.
You have actually worked a
Glar,eI!" exclaimed. admiringly.
w here in the world did you unear,h
such a display?"
From a locker behind the stewards
entry" s1e replied, smilingly. But,
Oh with a SILVER, 1t was most bittel-
iy cold in there when we first opened
the GoCr. | actually had to wait half
IN hour before venturing in. Yet you
; cu.d have seen wat we found; this
is not half-the silver service was
simply magnificent; and soe-every
piece is beautifully engraven with a
f-c-simile OF the SIP. and a master
piece of art
sazed al the bit of plate handed
E4e, weighing 1t in my hand, and study
ing the decidedly elaborate scroll.
Il AVE read thai these old saileons
we're often furnished regardless of en-
'ense, said, and the Dons were
high livers. Did you max any other
discoveries
Only several cases of liquor. but ali
were frozen solid. The lazarette opens
rom the pantry, and we succeeded in
lifting the trap-door, but the cold of
tie air which came up was so intense
hat we were compelled to drop 1t
again Immediately. I never imagined
such an atmosphere possible
1T is the breath of l26 years of
polar winter" ! explained. This very
cabin was of that same temperature
when we first broke through its ice
covering"
She pressed her palms to her TEN
pies, staring about her at the gray,
g"old-decorated Interior.
ID you actually mean to tell me
that-that this wreck has been drift
ing n tossing about all that ime?'
she questioned unbelievingly.
NO, not drifting and tossing about.