St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-05-11
CHAPTER II.


~HE following night Captain
Macpherson. in his cabin, roll
ed up carefully the chart he
had been scanning. deposited
it in a copper cylinder and drew
from his pocket a small pipe. The
weather had turned nasty again;
above the wind sounded loudly. Now,
1t descended on the ship like fierce
scolding virago. then rushed on with
wild, shrieking dissonance Suddenly
something happened that caused him
to change his mind; abruptly hurled
to the other end of the cabin. he found
himself lying half stunned on the
floor. A hubbub of noises filed the
air-snappings. crashings, the rending
of woodwork.
Captain Macpherson staggered to
his feet and, swaying like a drunken
man, stood a few moments holding
his hand to his brow. Then his fist
clinched, and he shook 1t at the cylin-
der that had fallen from the table.
"Ye vigorous, lying thing!' he cried
and ran from the cabin to the deck.
A single glance told all: two Of the
ships giant spars had gone by the
board; entangled In her own wreck
age, the vessel thumped and pounded
with ominous violence against some
sunken reef. Captain Macpherson
groaned.
'tMr. O'Brienr he called loudly.
AYE, aye. SIR"
'How long do you give herr"
'sHalf an hour. sir.''
The master shook his head. "She'1
nae last that long"
stAny orders. STRIP asked the chief
mate.
Captain Macpherson recovered him
self; his tone became once more quick
and incisive. "Ye're right; I'm gone
daffy. Wen get this business over in
a decorous and decent manner" A
number of orders followed.
AS the chief mate disappeared to ex-
ecute the commands he had received
the harsh noises of the breaking ship,
the seething of the sea about her, the
tapping of canvas like helpless, broken
wings, was supplemented by a babel
of new and terrifying sounds. the
screaming and cursing of the convicts
below, their blasphemous shrieking to
be let out! To this turmoil and uproar
were added the frantic appeals and in
Quiries of the passengers who, more or
less dressed, had hurried to the deck
and who were now speaking to the
master of the Ill starred vessel. He
answered them briefly. What could be
done would be done.
Its a question of the boats, sup
poser Sir Charles, one of the calmest
of the ships cabin party, asked quick
~. .
an ten minutes they'll be ready for
the launching with nae lack of water
and provision. Get plenty of wraps
and greatcoats. It'll be a bit disagree
able nae doubt out yon in the wee
craft"
The boat was soon overhauled, the
lockers and water butt were filed, and
the passengers, one by one. set into it.
On the whole, at that moment for Ieav-
ing the ship their conduct left little
room for criticism. One or two of the
women who had appeared on the verge
OF Mysteries now restrained audible
manifestation of emotion. Sir Charles
proved monument of helpfulness, as
sisted in placing the women here and
there and extended helpful hand to
Lord Ronsdale. who had become some
what dazed and inert Total darkness
added to the difficulties OF their task,
Tor the moon, which until then had
shone with much luster. now went be-
hind a curtain of cloud But Captain
Macpherson coolly called out by name
the men to handle the nfeboat, and
with no evidence Of disorder they