Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-22

3
cruiser. In letting 90 the sDchor an I'm.
fortunate accident occurred. Tine hawse,
became entangled In the screw. As thii
very much endangered the screw, the mes
were set to work at once to clear it. II
order to work better the Alceste was listed
to starboard at an angle which to War
rington, landsman, seemed dangerous
An apprehension Of evil quickly possessed
him. and he determined to remain on decl
instead OF going below. Sir Kenneth VA
on the bridge, his tall figure standing OH
distinctly In the white radiance of thu
great bright moon. The sky, however
which had been beautifully clear aud
studded with lustrous stars, suddenly b.
came obscured by seudding clouds, thraash
"h'ch the moon 'glared fitfully. Great
! !, OF black clouds came rushing from
the southeast and piled up from the tori.
zon 10 the zenith. so dark Il grew that
ianterns were found necessary n orde,
that the men might see while working ID
disentangle the hawser. The Hight. and
the noises IN the Alceste attracted ~.
attention Of the cruiser, which set mn :
signal. DO you need assistance?v q
Nnlch rhe Alceste signalled back. mo helm
required. Repairing triling accident"
Inc work proved extraordinarily tedious
ana at two o'clock in the morning 1t vas
sun going on. Warrington, who had
never left the poop, felt his apprehension
OF danger become a conviction. II IN.
auced him to take the precautiou Of mt.
ting the manuscript into leather pocket.
Dook ne carried and placing 1t inside his
shirt. = ~
A faint chill wind had sprung up-the
wind called by the CingaIese ''the wind
a Wind Sprang u a hug. d.rs ss. -.
Up-fhe Wind pie began to "a.
or Death. vance over the sur
an at once there burst from the threaten.
ing sky a terrific gust Of wind, which
struck the Alceste as If with giant hand.
warrington felt the deck slipping from
under his feet and saw the yacht turning
slowly over to starboard, +h,n, suddenly
losing her equilibrium, sber plunged head
foremost into the black and seethins
waters. A fearful cry arose from the soula
engulfed.
There was roar Of cracking timberu
ana shattered metals and crash a tn
great cataract Of water forced the air from
the yacht. Warrington felt himself hurled
into the sea. The suction Of the vessel
was so tremendous that although Warrins.
ton was a>strong swimmer and struck ont
quickly, 1t was only by the utmost effort
he could drag himself away from the mael.
strom that would have carried him down
with the doomed Alceste and her comnany.
he fought and struggled with the waves
ne knew not how long; but after 1 time.
recovering himself enough to raise hls
head above the water, he found himself
floating close under the quarter Of Tho
cruiser, upon which many lights were
shining.
lie had strength enough TO utter faint
cry; the next moment life buoy vas
thrown out to him. followed By rome
with blight in it. This Warrington man
aged to catch and was hauled on board
the cruiser. As he was agsed out OF the
sea and laid upon the forward deck bs
tainted. When consciousness returned be
was lying In comfortable berth and Al.
tended by surgecsi. He felt only a Ian.
guild interest in life, and after few mo-
ments Of semi-consciousness he dropped
into heavy sleep.
When he awakened>next he realized that
it was morning and he was lying In the
sickbay Of the cruiser His clothes dried
and pressed, were lying on chair beside
him. Anxiety concerning the fate Of tia
Alceste and her company made him rise
from his berth, and although feeling
strangely weak he dressed himself quickly
and went on deck. All was bright and
orderly and gave no indication Of tho
storm through which the ship must have
passed during the night. Warrington went
up to the officer Of the deck and, after
expressing his thanks for his rescue, asked
eagerly about the Alceste.
beg your pardon" replied the iieu.
tenant, looking slightly puzzled, 'but I
know OF no such vessel as you describe
Last night was perfectly calm. About
two o'clock your cry was heard and We
picked you up. We supposed you had
1dicA VI peIHdpO udu DeeH IQrOWu IfOm
one Of the native boats which ply about
these waters and which Europeans some-
times employ and are occasionally robbed
and murdered for It,"
Warrington's heart stood still and his
pulses seemed to freeze within him. He
only asked quietly, however, il he might
see the captain Of the cruiser.
s"Certainly," replied the lieutenant, and
in few minutes Warrington was seated
in the cabin with the captain, keen eyed
man. To him Warrington told with per.
feet clearness of detail all that happened
since the night before, when the Alcests
came to anchor by permission Of the
cruiser The captain in silence heard him
through and then said =
II know of no vessel seen by US last
night, nor do know Of any signals Of
any kind that were exchanged"
A cold sweat broke out over Warring.
ton and his pale face grew paler. The