The news=record. [volume] (Enterprise, Wallowa County, Oregon) 1907-1910, 1910-11-05
CHAPTER ".

~ OKU remained on the DTluSe uh-
E Ill long after Iris had seen and
W admired the cluster OF stars
which old time navigators used
TO regard with awe. When shafts OF
white light began to taper pennoh-liNe
in the eastern sky the girl went Dack 10
her cabin Contrary to Hoziers eApec-
tation. Coke did not attempt to draw
from him any account of their CONVEX
sation prior to the inexplicable mlshap
TO the wheel. He examined couple
of charts, made a slight alteration ID
the course and at o'clock took charge
of the bridge
"Just ave q look around now while
things is quiet" he said, nodding TO
uoZier conGdentlally. "Tll tell you
wot | fancy. A rat dragged a bit OF
bone into Il gear box. If the pIanEin
is badly worn anywhere get the car
penter to see to It, do 'ate to ave
feelin' that the wheel can let you
down. S'p0se we was maxim Bahla
Oh the homeward run an that 'appen-
ed, II 'ud be the end of the pore ole
ship, an ood credit it? Not soul
They'd all say, Jimmie threw er
away"
Hozier found a gnawed piece of ham
bone lying in the exact position anticl-
pated by Coke.
The carpenter busted himself with
saving and hammering during the
whole of the next two days. for the
Andromeda revealed many gaps III her
woodwo but the escapade or an er-
rant ham bone was utterly ecllpsed ny
a new sensation. At daybreak one
morning every drop of water III the
vessels tanks suddenly assumed Il
rich blood red tint. This unnerving
discovery was made by the cook, who
was Mortified TO see Il ruby stream
pouring into the earliest kettle. lhinR-
ing that an iron pipe had become oxl'
died with startling rapidity. lie tried
another tap Finally there could be no
blinking the fact that by some uD'
canny means the whole of the fresh
water on board had acquired the color
If not the ttste of Il thin burgundy
Coke was summoned hastily. No
blesse oblige, being captain. he val
iantly essayed the task OF samplinG
this strange beverage.
1T amt p'ison." he announced. gaz
ing sIspiclohsy at the little group ol
anxious faced men who awaited hk
verdict. III sartinly amt p'ison. but
it's wuss nor any teetotal brew I've
tackled In all me born days Ere
Watts. you know the tang of every
kind o. likker-'ave sup"
mot mer' said Watts. Il don't lik'
the look of it. First time Eve eve
seen red ink on tap. For the rest o
this trip | stick to bottled beer o.
something with label"
ut smells like an infusion of per
manganate of potash" volunteered Ho
zier.
Does it?" growled Coke. who seem
ed to be greatly annoyed. "Wot a pit
It amt an infusion of whisky an pot
ash" and he glared vindictively q
Watts. "Seme ijjit as bin playin'
trick on us, that's wot 1t is-som
blank soaher 100 don't give hooraN
In hados for tea an coffee an cocoa
but wants tonic. Stooardw
"Yes, sir" said the mess room attend
ant.
Portion out all the soda water
the lockers an whnck II on the tabl
every meal till It gives out See thu
nobody puts away more'n is prope
allowance too. I'm not goin' to CIR
hush baby w'eE the Andromeda get
this sort OF kids dodge worked OF o
'er."
IF you're alloodin' to me-" put
the mcensed chief" whose te tii,
rose ON this direct proyocation, 81 wa
to tell YOU now
Does the cap iity" sneerod Coke
mo. II doesn't | never card of tn
kind OF potash in me life, Dye tai
me for chemists shopT
Never card OF It.. cried the lncer
ed skipper, who had obviously ma
up his mind us to the person respon
Bile FOR the outrage. "rhcre's 'arf
dozen cares of II in The after hold
there was wen NE put the 'atches oi
Gwen II some of the cases We're bl
ken, sir, the contents could not rea
the tanks," said uozier, But the co