The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1911-12-01


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 a man ahead O. the main
hatch that had a chance even to run
for It,"
caught my breath, feeling a shiver
shake me.
Il am unable to make out who are
on board" l 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 mastbutt.
rs that all?"
That's all, sir"
with De Nova, myself, and the
two women it makes the count ten.
Well, we sha'n't be crowded for room.
This is going to be hard cruise, lads,
but Wen make stiff fight for it.
We're sailors, with a stanch boat un-
der us, and a chance to win out"
There was a faint cheer, rumbling.
as if it had caught in their throats,
and the negro asked:
How much of a run is It, boss?"
Il am unable to tell you, Cole" l
answered, endeavoEing to make my
voice sound hopeful, because l have
not had any observation for three
days. There is no use lying to you
fellows There is a 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 to require any reef
ing of canvas, and the fog began drift
ing away like great white cloud,
leaving revealed the vista of cold gray
sea stretching about us. Lord, but it
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
out a 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
signs Of bad night l lay down amid
ships, though not until / had com
PEELED Lady Darlington to seek rest
also Whether she found it or not
can not say, but l was asleep instant
ly, and knew nothing until Johnson
called me at midnight
There was no great change in con
ditions as l stumbled sleepi1y aft to
take the tiller The boat was sailing
free, but with a 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-off
steely glitter OF stars; the nearby
white crested waves; the little, insig-
nificant dot Of boat in which we
tossed. thought upon those leagues
upon leagues of barrenness stretching