The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-06
SAILING IN CIRCLES

busy on the bridge 60 be bothered about
this small afair, so he got off with a
rcprimbud and repetition OF the order
denying him the privileges OF the smok-
Tho foR continued heavy. so that
neither sun nor stars could be seen, and
| no boats passed near enough TO give
any news
Had tho ship hcou equipped with wire
less. Captain Rogers would have felt
more at rRtie. But the boat was the
oldest on ca line ana. being used 10
carry cattle rather than passengers. the
expense was not deemed necessary, and
so the WinnCwaba had no way Of com
municatnH with passing vessels unless
he could see them.
The fog hung heavy upon them all
| that day. aud there wa little life on
| board ship; every ore sat around with
q hushed, eNrectunt manner, and every
time the captain appeared he was as
sailed with foolish questions.
He made no public announcement that
/ day, nor did he the morning OF the day
| following.
Eben knew from all that he had
| heard that this was the day they were
/ TO sight land. or, II the fog continued.
| which It did, a light should be seen OF
| Scilly Island.
| where they could look out and watch
| for the light. Eben and Marjory were
| among them.
! wouldn't it be awful IL we had
/ iiliSStO our destination on account oA
| that erratic needle" suggested Mar
| jory.
But the ship has made it's regu-
/ lar average of miles each day. In spite
/ of the fog. II doesn't seem likely.
| does itY replied Eben.
! NO But you can. never tell The
| captain hasn't been around all day and
/ the other officers seem very much wor-
| ried."
The party watching Tor signs of Land
was called away 20 lunch. md during
| the meal khe one topic Of conversation
/ was when they shoulG sight land.
IL was already an hour past the time
! when they should have reached Sicily
| Island. and yet no light had been seen,
! no bell-buoy had been heard. everything
was as quiet as although they were Ia
/ mid-OCean.
From thc number Of miAns run by the
| steamer each day. Sc had been figured
up that they should have reached
Sicily Island and begun to sail past IL.
! Yet there was no sign OF the island.
| The chart was right according &C. the
/ compass. they had sailed across the
ocean and yet had not arrived
| This word began 70 run around from
! one TO another a thousand solutions
! were offered. They had been for over
three days in the fog, and it showed
| no signs Of lifting permanently.
| The afternoon had worn we'll on, ana
| each passenger had appointed himself a
committee Of one 10 find out what was
the matter. and why they had not
Preached land.
/ AT length everybody gave mp in de-
SPAR. Nothing could be learned
/ Suddenly the captain entered the room
lwhere most Of the passengers were gath
cred.
His forehead was knotted with worry
and he staggered into the room, in a
! haggard condition, his eyes wild, and
hair awry.
"Gentleme and ladies'" he said.
1--WE are lost"
! The announcement had an electrical
! effect on the travellers. A few high
eraI nervous men clenched their finger
nails into their palms till they bled. il
was strained situation. and there was
horror written on the captains face.
He went on slowly:
II have been a coward. / have re-
/ peatedly refused TO listen to common
sense. / have stuck 10 my own beliefs
gainst the other officers. and now /
find that l am wrong. We are lost.
I That Is ali there is 10 It. To tell you
frankly. ] do rot know whether we are
within a hundred miles Of Liverpool or
Jericho. II we could get a bit OF the
sun or see the stars for a moment.
could find the direction in which we are
going But as it is now. j do not even
know which way we are headed. a"
! 4 series OF gasps broke from the pas
4 sengeTs as the captain paused for a mo-
meut and left them face TO face with
the absolute truth. which ne had kept
from them.
The Continuation Of This story VIII
he Found in Tomorrow
Issue of The Times.