The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-25

nduuO NOrOnn ma.
Iris on hearing the stewards version
OF the affair came to The bridge for
further enlightenment. bur Coke mere
" told her that the island was
Lloyd's signal station. 80 she could ca
BILE to her uncle.
Can I 60 ashore7" she asked.
Il dunno. Wen see. It's a convict
settlement for the Brazils, an they're
mighty particular about lettir' people
land. but they'll 'ardly object to
nice young lady like you 'avir' a peep
az 'em"
As bis tone was unusually grufr,
not % say jeering, she resolved to
md nm opportunity Of seeking Ho-
sxcr's advice on the cablegram prob
lem But the portent Of the blood red
water was not to be disregarded. New
er was Delphic oracle better served by
nature. The Andromeda began to roll
ominously. Masses Of black cloud
climbed over the southern horizon.
AZ midday the ship was driving
through heavy sea. As the day
wore the weather became even more
threatening A sky and ocean that
had striven during three weeks to
produce In splendid rivalry blends of
sapphire blue and emerald green and
tenderest pink were now draped In
shroud Of gray mist. With increasing
frequency and venom vaulting seas
euried over the bows and sent singing
showers OF spray against the canvas
shield OF the bridge. Instead Of the
natty white drill uniform and canvas
shoes OF the tropics the ships officers
dcnned oilskins. sou'westers and sea
boots Torrents swept the decks. and
IN occasional giant among waves
smote the hull with thunderous blow
under which every rivet ratified and
every plank creaked. Despite these
drawbacks the Andromeda wormed
her way south. she behaved like the
stanch old sea prowler that she was.
Iris. Of course. thought that she was
experiencing the storm Of a century,
Badly scared at first. she regaiped
some stock OF courage when HozIer
came twice to her cabin. pounded on
the door and shouted to her such
news as be thought would take her
mind on the outer furies. The first
time he announced that they were
Just crossing the line" and the girl
smiled at the thought that Neptune's
chosen lair was uncommonly like the
English channel at Its worst. On the
second occasion her visitor brought
the cheering news that they would be
under the lee Of Fernando Noronha
early next morning. She had sufficient
sea lore to understand that this i'm
piled shelter from wind and wave. but
Hozier omitted 10 tell her that the
only practfenble roadstead In the Is
land. being on the weather side, would
be rendered unsafe by the present adj
verse combination OF the elements. In
fact. Coke had already called Watts
and Hozier into council. and they had
agreed with him that the wiser plan
would be to bear I'm toward the island
from the east and anchor I'm smooth
water as close to South point "a the
lend would permit.
As for Iris wild foreboding that the
ship was Intended to be lost. Philip
did not give II other than a passing
thought Coke was navigating the An
dromeda with exceeding care and no
little skill. lie was first rate prac-
tical sailor. and u was an education
90 the younger man To watch his han
ding Of the vessel throughout the
worst part OF the blow About mid
night the weather moderated. II Inn
proved steadily until a troubled dawn
heraIded some ntful CLEANS OF the
sun By that time the magnificent