The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1909-06-24

face. impressed the toughest there
She paused, her head still lowered; |
heard some one say Amen" soIemnly,
and raised my hand in signal Noise
lessly the ends of the planks were up
tilted, and the two sneeted figures slid
downward into the gray water. In
stantly they disappeared beneath the
unfathomable depths So silently and
eXpeditiOusly was this accomplished
that she even failed to note the action,
lifting her eyes wonderlingly to the
bare planks, and with a choking sob
burying her face in her hands. With
out venturing a word I led her gently
to the companion. Five minutes later
| stood again upon the bridge. the
deck beneath throbbing to the pulse
of the released engine, as the Sea
Queen raced recklessly forward
through the ice-girded waters in des.
perate effort to attain her goal.
It was not dark night, for the stars
were out-such cold, dead stars they
{ seemed-and a little later | knew the
moon would come stealing up above
+ LllC StC VI waters. YET there was
haze lowering all about US, as though
the entire surrounding atmosphere was
thick with frost | crouched down
behind the slight protection of the
tarpaulins, sweeping the horizon with
/ my glasses. but discovering nothing
! to awaken alarm. saw nothing Of
/ the watch except as | called for them
/ Then they came, Clawing their way
out of the snug holes where they hid
from wind and water. However. there
was little enough for any Of us to do;
We could simply hold on, trusting in
, the strength Of the keel under Us. and
steering to eastward OF the ice-pack
/ 1t was wild mad night, the wind
freezing to the marrow, and every
wave dashing its icy spray hurting
against the front Of the whee,hOuse
/ At eight bells | went below again,
/ every muscle of my body aching, and
/ my face tingling as though pierced by
a thousand needles. | sal down before
/ the red-hOt stove in the cabin. think
ing | should never get the cold thawed
out of me Yet inside OF ten minutes.
with head resting on the chairb back
and legs extended to keep nay balance.
/ | was sound asleep.
/ Whether a sudden leap of the yes
sci or some unusual noise aroused ME
| cannot say. Dazed confused, I sat
upright, staring about me. for the mo-
ment scarcely realizing where was.
could hear the fierce poun ling Of the
( sea without, the shyieking of wine
through the Cordage. and the rattle
and grooming Of the woodwork as the
struggling vessel diyed into the hol-
/ lows and fought her way back TO the
I cres's. A shower OF hail dashed the
windows, rafting like shot against the
shutters As glanced backward
across my shoulder, | heard. above
all that heilish uproar. a hollow.
/ unearthly groan. | was upon my feet
/ in an instant grasping at the edge OF
/ the table, striving yainly to place the
/ sound. For some cause I could not
keep my eyes off Tuttles door. every
nerve pulsjng with agony. Was It
Imagination, illusion? BY all the gods,
I | beheld a white visionary form glide
noiselessly forth and disappear as
though dissolved IN mist. It was Ger
tainly there, yet, in another instant
had vanished, | knew not how
stared about into the dim corners. then
lsaped toward the door, seeking to
open It. 1t was locked; of course it
was for the key was in my own
pocket
Many times ! have known fear, but
/ not such fear as this which now smote
me. Here was something intangible.
something could not reach and throt,
/ tie, a dim, frightful shade, coming
from God alone knew whence |
| pressed my hands to my head and en-
/ deavored TO laugh, to WOO back my
/ courage. Great heavens, was | also
| losing my mirt? Was | 70 be haunted
/ and pursued by evil fancies? Had the
| curse of this ship now descended upon
/ me? | staggered TO my feet. holding
/ on desperately TO the table, seized the
| decanter from on the swinging shelf
and drank deeply. Lord, what grim
/ fancies a man may have when the
| physical organism is unstrung, |
| glanced at my watch. discovering |
still had two hours below, and crossed
over to my statsroom, nerving myself
to play the man, yet glancing about
/ fearfully into the dancing shadows |
! laughed as closed the door but shot
the bolt hard, and lay there for an
/ hour listening every nerve a-tingle.
before fatigue finally closed my eyes