The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-10

- melton. MOVING eioNly. yct stszdfiy.
tornri the black YRrancy outlined by
the harbor iighta Oh either hand.
There was no disturbing sopnd 10 be-
tray progress. the yachts SHARP, cut
water eleayiag its passage through
the liquid With the merest faint ripple,
scarcely leaving q CLEAN Of white foam
behind, the oars dipping silently, the,
two; lines held taut to The strain. ! Ell.
.tultantS ] climbed once again to the
bridge. gave a few directions to the
obserrant Johnson standing motion.
less at the wheel, and leaned anxious.
lly over the rail-, studying the water.
front through leyeled glasses.
It was a barren, deserted waste, ex.
cept for a. deeply laden schooner beat.
ing slowly up along the north shore
under closely. reeied topsails. and the
cleaning lights of large steamer
Just beginning to emerge family,
through the curtain Of fog a trlhe 10
the left Of our course. The towing
boats appeared as two insignificant
blots on the surface, but that they
were making excellent progress was
proved by the way we were steadily
drawing up toward the outerSllghts.
already shining round and yellow
through the increasing haze.
{ How dark. silent. uncanny the
gloom-enshrouded yacht appeared as I
leaned over the tarpaulln.protected
rail and gazed down on the deserted
decks, no movement, no CLEAN OF light
anywhere visible. The, two. masts, for.
the vessel was schooner.rigged, rose ra.
kishly and with noble sweep into the
sky, yet ! could trace little OF the
cordage against the expanse OF cloud.
They appeared skeleton-like reeds to
be broken By gust OF wind. A slight
fringe Of white water alone marked
our progress, while a misty vapor Of
escaping steam spoke Of the chained
engine and Kissing boilers below. As
] rested thus. the watchful Johuson
grasping the spokes behind me, the
momentous events Of the past few
hours swept through my mind like
fragments OF a strange, disconnected
dream-my seemingly hopeless plight
In Valparaiso; my controversy with
Lieut.. sanehez; my brief meeting
with the Elglishman; the friendly
eyes Of Doris; the throb Of sudden in.
terest aroused by her presence and
as quickly lost again: the sudden
swinging Of the pendulum OF Fate; the
approach Of De Castillo bringing unex.
pected opportunity for action and es.
cape, and those later events which had
so rapidly followed. struck my hand
hard against the iron rail to assure
myself ! was awake, and to arouse my
dormant faculties to action.
Hold her steady as she Is. Johnson"
said. my voice tremulous from sud.
den awakening. I'm going down to
recall the boats"
STEADY as she Is, SIR"
In the engine room. two seamen,
each crashing gun, leaned negligent
ly against a bulkhead, while De Nova,
bare.headed, bis little black mustache
clearly outlined against the olive OF
bis cheek, occupied the stool between
them. The Kanaka firemen were out
Of sight, but the rcd-faced engineer
was on his knees tinkerlng over
refractory bolt with monkey.wrench.
Everything working all right. Mr..
De Nova?" | questioned, quietly.
The eyes OF the four men instantly
turned toward me, the engineer
Strengthening up. monkey-wrench In
hand.
mo troubles here, monsieur" and
the mate rose TO his feet. his white
teeth showing. Were are we noS?"'
"Just of the point, with the light.
mouse dropping astern, anu Tue swell
Of the ocean under our forefoot. ! am
going to call in the boats. HIVE you
plenty Of coal?"
"Bunkers all full. monsieur"
How Is your steam?"
He stepped over to the gauge. peer.
Ing at It across the burly shoulder OF
the engineer, who still stood staring
at me.
Pretty near up to re danger mark.
monsieur"
Then stand by for signals"
The engineer came TO life as though
treated 10 an electric shock. his fist.
still grasping the monkey-wrench.
suddenly extended, his red face pur.
pling with, passion.
you damned, bloody plrate!" he
yelled. glazing at me sayegly. ITS
r.. 05HA..IM