The Washington times., 1909-09-14

NE, news Travelled swiftly. In ten
minutes every soul aboard knew
that Eben Nash had suddenly
and rnvsteriously disappeared,
and at about the same ume one OF lIe
iifeboats had been found missing Ihey
bad heen hung over the side, in readl-
ness to be lowered ever since the boat
had encountered the fog and become
lost on account OF the neeales- ~ We We
nointed out BY many that II would not
Be hard for a guilty man 10 lower one
OF them. Jump into the sea- make Ior
the boat, and disappear In the iog.
Besides the boat was only 800 miles
from land. and a fishing smack would
give tow TO a man in a rowboat.
All sorts of stories began TO circulate
about one Shing was sure, me Min-
newaba,s dangers were almost over
Many pointed out that they must De or
Nash would not have made his perilous
attempt TO get away
There was no sympathy TOT MN
aboard the whole ship, except from
Bonner and his daughter, who both
worried continually over this surprise.
Eben Nash should wish TO get away,
unless he had turned coward at the
last moment when help was az halQ
and decided that Il was better 70 get
away while he could Inan 10 De taken
back TO stand trial
Meanwhile the bombs were being
exploded at fifteen-mtnute inIerVais,
and everybody was gathered N the
lounge. waiting for news from The ap-
Picketzo Was asked IL he could work
a wireless key, the captain remembering
Nariorv Ronnerss story, and forgetting
that Picketzo had denied H.
yes ne wered without thought.
Then he caught Hicke's watch,tuI ey SS,
THAT is, ] mean TO say, ne hurrleoIy
corrected himself. "'in an Office some
time ago I learned the telegraph Key
but / have forgotten II by now.
s'Of course laughed Hicke, you
could remember nothing Of II no..
How foolish of you 70 think YOU could
Il didn't think so, but for minute"
said the little Italian.
The captain looked at them shrewdly.
but he was too anxious TO get in com
munication with the Sebastian 20 lay
great stress on Picketzo,s poor recovery
II was found that nobody on board
knew how 10 operate the key now that
Eben was gone. SO the only thing leIt
70 DO was 10 signal with the bombs IN
the hope that the sebastian was hearing
There was an hour Of suspense on the
O'clock In the morning. The night had
been so full Of excitement that no one
had thought OF going 10 bed
While the passengers were debating
among themselves. some venturing the
theory that Nash had not commune
Gated with any boat, and others saying
that they would never see land, that II
had been swallowed up, the captain
suddenly entered the room where they
were gathered and raised his hand for
silence.
When the room was calm he said IN
a relieved voice: The fog Is lifting
In a few more minutes we will know
whether or not there is boat IN
sight"
The passengers nnurmured their re-
lief. some prayed audibly, and one or
two started for the doors 10 the deck
Il must ask you all 70 stay inside
until we see how things are coming out.
- rrrcar1d 10 danr-rrgTFE have the
decks crowded: besides. there's the dan
ger OF the bombs"
So the passengers were forced 20 re-
main inside and continue their suspense
for some time longer.
Then came the joyful news that the
Eeba stian was ia sight, and they were
allowed to 20 on deck
A great shout went up from the spent
passengers as they saw relief IN sight.
The fog had lifted and the monotonous
foghorn had ceased TO blow.
Not far away they could see the
lights OF a steamer, and near the top
were two swinging lights, which the
crew explained as signals. passing be
tween a man with lanterns on the
sailor on the Winnewaba
They signaled bach and forth for
some time; meanwhile, the Sebastian
drew closer. until the passengers could
make out figures on the decks.
Finally the steamer stopped just a
little way from the WinneWaba.
A little boat was put out from the
Sebastian and word went around Among
the passer gers that IT vas loaded with
food. While tie boat was coming
across the narrow channel between the
two big steamers passengers on both
ships kept up a continual interchange
OF questions and answers
II put new life into every soul aboard
the Winnewaba 70 know that they
would have a full meal shortly, and
nearly everybody began 20 forget his
troubles and take a new interest In the
life that had seemed 10 be slipping
away up till "A short time before.
Plcketzo and HicI<e We're particularly
enthusiastic II would seem that they
olmost overplayed their relief IN finally
running across help.
CHAPTER XXXIV.