The Columbus journal. (Columbus, Neb.) 1874-1911, 1910-05-18

fur aft as the engine-roOm. Both boil
| ers blew up. an then nothin' held the
stern in the air but the after bulk
head. When that finally gave way the
| Of hooker dropped to Davy Jones.
There wasn't q man ahead o the main
hatch that had a chance even to run
for It,"
caught my breath. feeling a SILVER
shake me.
Il am unable to make out who are
on board" said at last Name your
selves. beginning at the bow"
"Jem Cole. sir" 1t was the voice Of
the negro.
Next Speak up. men,"
johnson"
kelly"
Mcknight"
"Dade."
Sanchez"
There was a pause. the last voice
sounding just abaft the mast-butt.
rs that all?"
That's all. sir"
with De Nova. myself. and the
two women II makes the count ten.
Well, We sha'n't be crowded for room.
This is going to be hard cruise, lads
but we'll make a stiff fight for ii.
We're sailors. with a Stanch boat I'M
der us. and a chance to win out"
There was a faint cheer. rumbling.
as if II had caught In their threats,
and the negro asked
How much Of a run Is IT, boss?"
Il am unable to tell you. Cole"
answered. endeavoring to make my
voice sound hopeful. because | have
not had any observation for three
days. There is no use lying TO you
fellows There is mighty long
stretch between US and any land worth
trying after. We are out of the track
Of ships. and our only hope is to keep
the long-boat right side up. and get out
of her all the speed possible. Two of
you stand by TO watch the running
gear: the others had better lie down
and get some sleep while the wind is
light. Turn In with them. De Nova:
you will have to relieve me at the TIL
Ter later"
The breeze perceptibly freshened.
but not sufficiently 10 require any reef
ing of canvas. and the fog began drift
ing away like a great white cloud,
leaving revealed the vista of cold gray
sea stretching about US. Lord. but il
did look barren and desolate, that
ceaselessly heaving expanse OF water.
amid which We were but the merest
speck. scarcely more important than
those floating cakes Of ice. tossed by
the waves through which we sought
passage.
At six O'Clock We took careful stock
of our supply Of provisions. and served
ont small ration all around, after
ward arranging the several watches
for the night and distributing. as equal
ly as possible. the blankets and extra
clothing. The wind felt colder, the
sea coming up bit, and Dade and
Kelly fixed up piece of spare can
vas at the stern to protect the steers
man from the dash Of icy SPRAY De
Nova took the tiller. and seeing no
SaSiaS Va a bau AiSEl lay uONn amid
ships. though not until / had COM
PEELED Lady Darlington to seek rest
also. Whether she found 1t or not l
can not say, but was asleep instant
". and knew nothing until Johnson
called me at midnight.
There was no great change in con-
diuons as | stumbled sleepily aft to
take the tiller. The boat was sailing
free. but with reef in the mainsail,
owing TO marked stiffening of the
wind. The intense loneliness of the
scene cast an even stronger spell over
me now.-thoSe awful wastes of soli-
tude above and below; the far-otf
stecly glitter Of stars; the nearby
white crested waves: the little. insig-
nificaut dot of boat in which We
tossed. thought upon those leagues
upon leagues of barrenness stretching