Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-09-04

performed our 0AW3I4s tasks automatic.
ally. almost unconsciously. johnson,
De Nova and took our tricks at the
helm, with ore man always awake
forward to manage the running gear.
and only once during those FIRST six
days we're we compelled to lower
our sail or take q reef IN the lib.
Thsa . fierce sQuall came tearing
down upon us from out the northwest,
. swift. sharp blow. heralded by a
blfnding SNOW furry, which kicked up
an ugly sea, lashfng sss with heavier
singing spray, and coating every.
thing With ice. For seven hours We
fought IN blinlihe smother. every
man awake, croueAtns beneath blank.
ets, the women slowed away under
the thwaTts, and De Novs aud at tho
til1sr, the huge surges pounding
against our backs. a. we thus kept
them from sweeping the laboring boat
fore and aft, andf swapping her. I
never believed We could weather IL.
the increasing waves tossing us about
like q cork. yet. as the dawn"broke.
We succeeded in preaching to, with
canvas drag holding her. and the very
moment I realized she would ride
safely I, fell forward dead asleep,
Either Doris or one Of the men GOV.
cred me with blankets, my icy cloth
Ing drying on my body. But it was
Doris who welcomed me- back to life
again, as a little glimpse Of westerins
sun grew barely visible through rift
In the dun clouds, with the mainsail
again spread. and the .longboat leaping
to the foaming SUBMITS. oh, but It
was worth all suffering just to read
the confession Of her eyes, and to
feel her bend down over me In sudden
tenderness! Lam not ashamed that
the tears dimmed my eyes so I could
scarcely see her dear face or that my
voice choked so could do no more
than whisper her name. She must
have understood, for her soft hands
touched my cheek, and SO we rested
for long time, scarcely exchanging
. word between us.
Il WAS later that same day, Just at
the edge Of twilight, when Kelly
called. "A sail!" pointing eagerly out
over the port quarter. Then, some
upon knees. some standing, We all
saw It. . misty. white reflection, show
Ing vague against the darkening hori-
ION. knowtnot what It really was
"A CLEAN Of canvas. speck Of cloud,
or the pinnacle OF an iceberg-but az
We swept toward 1t, the night
T dropped down over the waters plotting
the last faint vestige from view. Yet we
hung on desperately, the man staring
out into the black void. grumbling and
cursing. until the long night wore
away vithsno reward.
That was ABOUT the last recall
clearly; afterwards all grew indis-
tinct. comminsisl. confused. It was
like dream rather than reality. I
performed my work as before, the in
stincts Of seaman leading me right
ly, and out Of the mist NUMEROUS in
cidents arise to memory proving that
/ observed and thought. Never can
forget the sightsof that narrow boat,
tossing about on the crests Of great
seas. or plunging down into the black
hoilows: the green water pouring in
cataracts over the gunwale; the con-
slant battling; the vet, soggy blankets:
the moaning of wind through the icy
cordage; the tapping of the sail; the
gray masses Of water curling over us
in continuous threatening: the awful
expanse Of ocean revealed by day
light; the black loneliness through
which we swept at night. We ceased
to talk, to think, even, growing more
and more sullen, moody, dull-eyed,
cramped of limb and benumbed Of
brain. We sat silently staring into the
smother, forever beholding the mirages
OF distorted minds. Men would spring
to their feet, yelling out some discov-
cry. only, to sink back again, with
CHASTITY faces buried in their hands. It
was all illusion; the waves, the clouds
unnatural. our faces growing unfa-
miliar.
Only Doris; Doris did not change
not. at least, to my eyes. Az, she be-
came winter. weaker, the shadows
growing darker beneath her eyes, yet
she still sat at my knee. looking up
into my face, yielding me new courage
out OF her heart Of hearts. God knows
1 believe she saved me. saved me-
from going mad, saved me with the
power of her love-held me sane, held
me steadfast, when the very soul in
me had given way. think Of, those
other faces now with shudder. It
SENS - II all that was human had
gone out Of us; We were NO longer
men. eAly things. We crawled about.
We gsewled rakher than used articu-
late speech, bruised by the constant
bu1 citing Of the :s:, sore With the
smart Of salt water. chilled through
BY the Icy wind. we snarled like wild
beasts, our eyes bloslshot, our faces
hasgard and unclean.
I knew not how long II endured. 1
lost Ill track Of day and night. L
merely remember this and that out OF
the mist. Dsris' gray eyes ever upon
me. her hand clasping mine; Celeste
lying motionlsss day after day under
the blankets: D Nova rocking. back