The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-10-21

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Captain Brown Got Information About
the Erinna.
nation about the Erinna, If there were
any to be had at the harbor-master's
office. 1t would have been folly tn
run out of the straits without at least
looking in to see if she were there. Iy-
ing quietly moored behind the fortress
OF San Salvatore and the very high
mole.
She was not there, and had not
been heard of, but Paris Herald was
procured in which it was stated that
the Erinna had arrived in Naples,
owner and party on board"
We'll" said Mr.. Van Torp, Tets
get to Naples, quick. How long will it
take, captain"
About eight hours, sir, counting
our getting under weigh and out of
this crowded water, which won't take
long. for the tide will soon turn"
60 ahead" said Mr.. Van Torp.
Capt. Brown prepared to get under
weigh again as quickly as possible
The entrance to Messina harbor In
narrow. and it was natural that, as he
was in hurry, huge Italian man-of-
war should enter the harbor at that
very moment, with the solemn and
safe deliberation which the move
ments of line-of-battle ships require
when going in and out of port There
was nothing to be done but to wait
patiently till the fairway was clear.
1t was not more than a quarter of an
hour, but Capt. Brown was in a hur-
ry, and as there was fresh morning
breeze blowing across the harbor he
could not even get his anchor up with
safety before he was ready to start
The result of all these delays was
that at about nine o'clock he saw the
Erinna right ahead. bows on and only
half mile away, just between Scylla
and Faro, where the whirlpool is still
danger to sailing vessels and slow
steamers, and just as the tide was
turning against her and in his own
favor. He did not like to leave the
bridge, even for a moment, and sent
the second mate with an urgent mes
sage requesting Mr.. Van Torp to come
up as soon as he could.
Five minutes earlier the owner had
sat down to breakfast opposite Lady
Maud, who was very pale and had
dark shadows under her eyes for the
first time since he had known her. As
soon as the steward left them alone,
she spoke.
1T is Leven." she said, land he
wants me to take him back" =
Mr.. Van Torp set down his tea I'M
tasted and stared at her. He was NOT
often completely taken by surprise.
but for once he was almost speech
less. His lips did not even move 81
lently.
Il was sure it was he" Lady Maud
said, but | did not expect that"
Well" said Mr.. Van Torp, finding
his voice, he shan't. That's all"
No. | told him so. If had been
dressed | would have asked you to put
me ashore at Messina. / thought you
were going to stop there-the stew
ardess told me where we were, but
she knew nothing else-and now we're
off again"
Il can't help it, Maud" said Van
Torp, almost in whisper, Il don't be-
lieve it. ! don't believe in impossf-
bilities like that beard of his. 1t may
sound ridiculous in the face of your
recognizing your own husband, but
it's solid fact, and you can't get
over 1t. | wish l could catch the Erin
ma and show him to that Tartar gin.
Shed know in minute He can't be
her man and Leven, too. There's only
one thing to be done that can see"
WHAT asked Lady Maud sadly
and incredulously
Tell him you'll take him back on
condition that he'll shave"
Mr.. Van Torp who was in dead
earnest, had just given his best friend
this piece of sound practical advice
when the door opened, though he had
not rung, and the steward announced
that the second mate had a message
for Mr. Van Torp. He was admitted,
and he delivered it.
The owner sprang to his feet
by thunder, we've caught 'em," he
cried, as he rushed out of the deck sa-
loon.
Lady Maud leaned back and stared
at his empty chair, wondering what
was going to happen next
This was what happened. The Ian
cashire Lass reversed her starboard
engine with full speed astern, put her
helm hard over to port, and turned.
back towards the straits in the small
est space possible for her. passing
less than a cables length from the
Scylla rock, and nearly running down
half dozen fishing boats that pulled
like mad to get out of her way: for
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