The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-03-25

;tz,,
Al lifted my hand al signal, but even
3as i aid 50 Lady Darlington spoke, the
men who we're about to tilt the planks
pausing in wonderment. 4
wait, Mr.. Stephens; not without
one word of.prayer. Let me speak It, II
NO one else will"
She came forward, throwing back
her veil, and grasping my sleeve to
retain steady footing on the heaying
deck. For an instant there was an
impressive silence; then her voice
arose. low. yet distinct, trembling 10
the accent Of reverent prayer. ! know
not what she said; merely the simple
breathing upward Of a petition to the
Almighty Father for pardon and guild
ance: yet never before did faith lay
such mighty hold upon me. 1t was
short, only a few falterIng sentences.
but the honesty Of 1t. the faith so
clearly evidenced In both words and
face, impressed the toughest there.
She paused, her head still lowered; l
heard some one say amen" solemnly.
and raised my hand in signal. Noise.
lessly the ends Of the planks we're up.
tilted, and the two sheeted figures slid
downward into the gray water. In.
stantly they disappeared beneath the
uniathomable depths. So silently and
expedItlously was this accomplished
that she even failed 10 note the action,
lifting her eyes wonderlingly 10 the
bare planks, and with choking sob
burying her face in her hands. With.
out venturing word led her gently
to the companion. Five minutes later
! stood again upon the bridge, the
deck beneath throbbing 10 the pulse
Of the released engine, as the Sea
Queen raced recklessly forward
through the Ice.glrded waters in des.
perate effort to attain her goal.
1t 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
the waste of waters, yet there was a
haze lowering all about us, as though
the entire surrounding atmosphere was
thick with frost. cr0uched down
behind the slight protection Of the
tarpauins, 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. clawng 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
sheering to eastward Of the ice-pack.
1t was a wild, mad, night, the wind
freezing to the marrow, and every
wave dashing Its Icy spray hurtllng
against the front Of the wheelhouse.
At eight bells went below again.
every muscle Of my body aching, anu
my face tingling MS though pierced by
n thousand needles. sat 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 chair-back,
and legs extended to keep my balance,
was sound asleep.
Whether n s,idden leap Of the yes
sci or some unusual noise aroused me
l cannot say. Dazed. confused. | sat
upright. staring about me, for the mo-
ment scarcely renlizing where ! was.
could hear the fierce pounding Of the
sea without. the shricking of wind
through the cordagc. and tie rattle
and grooming Of the woodwork as the
struggling vessel diyed into the lol-
lows and fought her way back 10 the
crests. "A shower Of hail lashed the
windows, rafting like shot against the
shutters. AS glanced backward
across my shoulder, heard. above
all that hellish uproar, hollow.
unearthly groan. was upon my feet
In an instant, grasplng at the edge Of
the table. striving vainly to place the
sound. For some cause could not
keep my eyes of Tuttle's door, every
nerve pulslng with agony. Was 1t
Imagination, illusion? By NIL the gods.
! beheld a white visionary form glide
no!selessly forth and disappear as
though dissolved in mist. 1t was Ger.
talnly there. yet, In another instant,
had vanished, knew not how.
stared about into the dim corners, then
leaped toward the door, seeking to
open It. 1t was locked; Of course 1t
was. for the key was In my own
pocket.
Many times have known fear. bu,
not such fear as this which now smo,e
me. Here was something Intangible,
something could not reach and throt.
tie, a dim, frishtful shade coming
from God alone knew vi ence. :!
pressed my hands to my head. and en-.
deavored to laugh, to WOO back my
courage. Great heavens, was also
losing my misd? Was ! 10 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 off the swinging shelf
and drank deeply. Lord. what grim
fancles 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 Stateruam, perving mvseli