Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-08-20
CHAPTER XIX.

%oSSu WAS plun&inS InrOuSn an an.
cry sea, in the midst Of a raging
snow storm which effectually con.
cealed all our immediate surroundings
With vivid remembrance of those vast
Ice fields lying off our starboard quar-
ter, and the certainty that numerous
bergs were drifting not far ahead, we
were compelled to slow down our en-.
gines. feeling a way cautiously through
the white fog. The ice-cakes buffetin8
our bows, and scraping along the sides,
were a constant menace, requiring
men to fend them off SO as to keen
rudder and screw uninjured: the
mainsail had broken loose from it's
gaskets, and, frozen stiff as the heavy
canvas was, proved difficult to secure !;
while the ice on our forward deck
had accumulated to such a thickness
as to be weighing us down by the
head, and had to be chopped loose and
flung overheard in great blocks.
1t was not far from noon when the
heavy snpw-clouds broke and went
scurryfng away like a flock Of birds,
leaving the wide sweep of waters
clear to our view, with yellow sun
hanging cold in the pale blue of the
| sky.
hardly knew where we were not
feeling at all certain about the extent
OF our drift during the past "a hours,
and so hastily brought my instruments
on deck and shot the sun, stepping in.
to the chart house to figure out our
position. The result sent a sudden
thrill of exultation through me-
1--WE have attained the spot" I ex,
claimed, as glanced up, and saw
her gazing in at me through the open
door. Now we will ascertain the
truth Of TuttIe's vision"
''The spot? Do you mean this is
the point Of sea we have been seek.
ing?"
GAY! and now, thank God! we can
head the other way"
sprang eagerly past her, clingfns
to a lifeline SO as to keep my feet
on the deck, too thoroughly excited
by my discovery to remain any long.
er in idleness.
johnson, run below, and call Mr..
De Nova Have him turn out at
once"
I watched the fellow slide to the
companion, and made my own way to
the bridge, sweeping my glasses anx.
iously about the clearing horizon.
Within minute De Nova had Joined
me. his eyes still heavy from sleep.
Mr. De Nova" l said, rapidly, my
gloved hand sweeping semicircle in
our front, Il have Just taken an OBJ,
servation, and this is latitude GO IT
south and longitude 110e 80, west.
Send your sharpest-eyed lookout to the
foretopsail yard with these glasses.
Then call all hands,
He went down the bridge stairs
as though shot from a gun, and a
moment later young seaman named
Symes was swiftly footing the rat.
lines, their coating of ice breaking I'm.
+, der his tread and rafting on the deck
below. The men swarmed out from the
forecastle and up the main hatch, rang.
Ing themselves about the foot of the
| foremost, watching me eagerly, and
| occasionally peering up at Symes, now
| we'll above the cross trees.
Lads" I cried, bending over the
| rail of the bridge. and staring down in.
to their upturned faces I've just
figured out our position, and this is
the spot we've been hunting after in
these seas I've sent Symes aloft to
look out for Tuttle's island. If there's
any land in sight, well and good:
Wen have try for looting the Donna
Isabel OF those Spanish pesos. But il
not. then we'll call it a wild goose
| chase, and the Sea Queen points her
nose north"
There was faint, half-hearted at
| tempt at cheer, which ended In q
muttering of oaths and shutting OF
feet on the icy planks. The chances
| OF the fellows turned upward toward
symes, now securely posted on the
foretopsail yard, the glasses to his
eyes. One or two among them, in.
! GLIDING Anderson, clambered to the
top Of the forecastle where they could
| sss ahead.
How the hell" the latter yelled
suddenly from that point Of vantage
do We know this is' the place, and
that you amt foolin' US just to get
back!"
The crowd turned their eyes on me-
and heard growl of approval.
Principally because say SO, An.
derson. The chart, with our course
prfcked on it day by day, is yonder
in the chart-house. And my figures
are there also for this days reckon.
ing"
"But we don't any Of us know any.
thing about that"
True enough, but there happens
to be one on board who can figure It
out for you If you doubt my word.
Lady Darlington can do it."
The rising medley Of growing voices
ceased almost instantly. and IL had
felt any question as to what her lady
ship would do It was Immediately 81
fenced. She slipped to the rail Of the
stairs, her hood thrown back, her hair
blowing in the wind.
! IL believe thoroughly In Mr.. Ste
phens." she said. clearly. but it ii
true. that know something Of nayiEa-
ton. and IL you really doubt his state
ment will figure 1t out for you.'
f Now you hear that, lads" my
voice ringing out stern over the hub
bub. You'll believe this lady II hel
results are the same as mine. Nov
stop your growing"
holldwed my hands for Q hail
] aidtt