The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-10-06
lConttnuedt CHAPTER XIV.
THE PERILs OF THE SEA.

E2 pIJcnlnSs tossing, pOuuQHaS dAoHS
 stnrdily as best she could
 through the night. For ten! hours she had fought her way up the coast in the face ot the worst storm Of the season. Now, or Hatteras, the danger spot in the route from Porto Rico to New York, the sturdy little liner scarcely seemed able to make any progress. liShA had been forced miles on her course and closer in toward the dan xaions reefs than her captain liked.
 Not that the liner herself was in any gr&ve danger. for the old Mongolian l and her experienced captain had faced ! tod many Atlantic storms for even biz one to alnrm them. The matches had all been battaned down, the pas. sengers were below, and the stanch steamer, stripped as much as, possible, | slowly rising to each attack of the waves, drove on with all the power of her engines under the storm. up in the little wireless room, the highest point on the ship, Harling, the youns operator, clung to his berth and wondered what was going to happen. l It was his second trip to sea and his fHst big storm, 90 no wonder the young operator felt the thrill of the strug- gle and just the faintest fear for the outcome.
 Every officer and man connected with the liner was on post, waiting aIlxiously for whatever might happen. Tfey had little fears for the. stanch Mongolian, but there were many ships less sturdy In those waters, and on such a night, with the vessel ont of her course, there was no telling what might occl1r TheA captains last ,in- struction had been to look out for wrecks.
 Most of the vessels of any size In these waters carried wireless outfits, and in case of trouble they wonld be sure at once to send out broadcast their appeals for help. Little could be ' done in any case, but at least the Mon golian could stand by to help as much as she could or, if absolutely neces- sary, take sadvantaGe of the warnings to keep clear of wrecks.
 For hours the pitching of the ship, timed irregularly to the roaring drive of the storm, had held the wireless man fast at his post. It was now past
  any abatement before dawn. A HarIing's nerves were on edge as he chung to his berth, wide eyed, alert waiting, listening to the fAintest click that might be the forerunner to tell of disaster and death. Half dozen times his strained nerves had brought him struggling from his berth to receive such a message, only to find his imag- 14ation had been playing tricks with his fear.
 Suddenly there came from the in- sRument clicks so sharp, So distinct and yet so hurried that the young fel- low sprang from the berth and stum- : bled to the table, sure now that at last something was coming.
 Again the instrument clicked wildly. To the ears of the strained operator it brought a chill, for he knew it was the sending of some one wild with fear. Anxiously, impattently, he lis- tened. At first he could make out nothing.
 They're crazy!'' he exclaimed to himself. What's the matter with them2 They're crazyg'
 The wild rattle of the receiver stop ped, and Harling seized his own key.
 Whats wrong? Don't be a fool. Keep your nerves. Send sense''
 The touch of the key had brought him Thoroughly to himself His nerve frightened and his head grew cool as he drove his message ferceiy out into the storm.
 He paused, listening eagerly, and again the receiver began to click. al most as wildly, as insanely, as before. Only the skilled operator could make out AC-Q-D.'' "A distress signaly' he gasped .Its come
 Again the Mongolian's wireless oper- orator seized his key and drove out his answer into the night
 As he waited he seized the tele- {, phone connected direct with the cap < tain's stateroom.
 Captain, have just received a dis tress signa1w he shouted 'Have sent them our position in course, but the fool seemed to have lost his nerve Have not been able to get anything from him yet"
 The answer of the captain came back cool and sharp.
 Make him tell where he is and who he is at once. I'll be with you.''
 The receiver had begun to click again wildly, and Harling, gripping the Mhle to keep himself steady, listened with disgust, for the sending now was that of a man absolutely insane from tear.
 X~HeIp! Help! For Gods sake 11eip
 r was all the receiver clicked.
 At last it stopped moment, and
 e Mongolian operator managed to @ht in.
 "Send name and position" he pound
 fercely. Send position. Keep Aerve. Send position
 He stopped, grasping the table and Waiting anxiously.
 @"M-o-n-g-o-l-i-a-n!" the receiver click h wildly.
 s.The foolr' gasped Harling. "The dirty coward! Sending that way at such a tfmep'
 sHe seized the key and drove out 6ercely his comnlRnd: