The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1913-07-26

could have been no one on board; and
Collinson, an experienced seaman,
who had had the best view, was pre-
pared to wager his last half ounce of
tobacco that she had been a sea-
washed wreck for at least year. AS
for the bell
The man who thought most and
said least was the second officer. He
had something to think of, and his
paucity of speech was due as much
to his good feeling as to his good
sense. He realized that the captains
story was really something confiden-
tial, and that he must not impart it
to anyone else. In this he was I'M
doubtedly right, and his conduct
gained its acknowledgment.
That was late in the afternoon,
when the sensation was over. Mean
time the new south wind gradually.
thinned the curtain of fog until the
telescope could resume its ordinary
functions with good face. Then ex-
pectation became keen, every glass
was brought into use, and every acre
of the tumultuous northern sea was
eagerly scanned And more than a
mile to leeward black spot appeared
and disappeared, looking like anything
but a ship in the bitterness of it's ruin.
But the engine-room bell tinkled
again, and the Northgate steamed
triumphantly on her mission of rescue.
During the next half hour curious
silence held almost every one. They
were in the grip of mystery, but the
circumstances were not of character
to encourage free comment or audible
speculation. 1t lay between the cap
tain on the bridge and the derelict
on the water; and while no one ex-
pected the captain to win, it would
not be polite to say SO aloud. In
deed the silence became even more
general when they drew nearer, and
were able to examine at leisure the
helpless hulk which had so nearly
proved their ruin.
Once she had been ship of some
two thousand tons, but it was gen.
orally agreed that Collinson's estimate
had been overmodest. Of course it
was impossible to say when her ruin
had come, but she had certainly been
the sport and butt of the storms for
long cycle of months. There was
no lift in her CHASTITY hull, but she lay
like log, with the seas breaking
over her and their waters streaming
through the gaps in her shattered bull
warks. Long ago the last fragment
of her Lighthouses had been swept
away, but the stumps of three lost
masts and a bowsprit still reared
themselves in tragic mockery out of
the ruck of disaster.
There was no sign of name on
her painless timbers, no hint of life
from stern to stern. For many min
utes the glasses searched her in vain,
and then, at a signal from the bridge,
three shrill screams from the North
gate echoed over the water. After
that strained silence fell once more.
In response to another command
from the captain, the Northgate moved
round to leeward of the wreck, whose
hulk was listed over to starboard.
Then at two hundred yards they got
square view of her sloping deck,
and there was no further question.
No human being could by any posi-
bility have lived there. AS she lay,
her whole deck was naked to the
seas, and in scores of gales the
laundering pillows of the wild North
Atlantic had hurled themselves upon
it and climbed in triumph over it.
Every fragment of furnishing had long
been swept away, and she lay so deep
that water could be seen yelling from
her gaping matches as she rolled.
There was no shelter on the hull for
anything larger than bird, no rest
ing place for any creature without
wings wherewith to fly.
The men glanced at one another
cautiously. Only one or two could
see the tragic side of the situation,
while it's absurdity was apparent to
all.
Suddenly the captain spoke. "Mr.
Gibbs, come up here"
Eyes, sir" said the second officer;
and when he reached the bridge he
found Captain Pritchard ready to
speak.
'Mr. Gibbs he said CURLY, Il was
convinced that this morning l heard
signal from that hulk yonder-a
bell. AS matter of fact, it is to that
warning that we owe our escape. You
follow me?"
Certainly, sir"
"Well, Mr.. Gibbs, / have eyes, and
can see what is before me. But you
know as much as / do, and / want
your confirmation. After looking at
that wreck, do you agree with my
conclusion, that the thing is impossi-
ble?"
For an instance they stood eye to
eye. Then the second officer touched
his cap.
Nothing but a bird could live
there, SIR" he said emphatically. Its
out of the question"
Thank YOU" answered the captain
in the same curt manner. That will
do"
The mate turned and retired. The
bell rang again in the engine-room,
and instantly the propeller began to
lash the gray water. But no man
smiled as the Northgate resumed her
voyage. That dismal spectre of loss
and ruin, drifting upon a still and
! harron Goa had crent lnon their