Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-10-17
The Daily Story
A Wonder of the sea-By Oscar Cox.
,-onvr,xh.ed 1911. by Associeted Literary Bureau.

10 get sight OF the monster unoer n,
fog.
"CaIl up the crew." he said
Bunsby, who was glad enough IN ca.
something 10 do to divert bis mir
went below and came back, follovvsd
by the mate and a dozen seamep.
"Mr. Hawkins" said the captain %
the mate. there's some sort OF M
rfne animal near u.s. I wish to gst
view of bin from the water surfaca
Lower boat and put in the larges,
harpoon aboard"
AYE, aye. SIR responded the mat.
But just as the men grasped the rorss
that held the boats TO the dav Wits to
snorting recommended. Every naa
stood still, and all turned pale. In a
few moments swirls Of foam came N.
ward the ship.
Its swimmin' away from u.s." said
the mate.
Hadn't we better let her goY' cried
Tim Bunsby.
LET her go? We can't help our.
selves with no wind. We may be los.
ing hundred barrels of OIL"
The fog thinned, and through II those
on the Molly Stark could discern n
dark mass, protrusion on either side.
the whole resembling huge duck with
wings partly stretched. But the vision
lasted only a moment. for the FOG
thickened again and shut it of. The
snorts grew fainter, as did the strik-
ing of the feet of the huge bird On
the surface of the water as it padded.
It's not a whale" said the mate;
ITS a mammoth duck"
Ducks are web footed" suggested
one of the men. This thing doesn't
draw back its feet through the water:
IL hits the surface every time"
The snorts ceased, the hammering on
the water stopped, the foam swirls
came less rapidly and soon ceased al
together.
Thurs a leetle breeze, cap'n," said
Bunsby. Don't you think we'd better
take advantage of it to git away"
The captain paid no attention to this
timid request. He said that since the
thing was of the bird rather than the
fish variety there was no hope of get
ting oil from it, but there might be
feathers such as the world had never
seen, and fortune might be reaped
by securing them and towing than
into port. But the mate was OF opin-
ion that feathers were only used 10
America to decorate women's hats,
and, judging from the size of the bird.
a woman to wear its plumage must be
400 or 500 feet high.
While they, were debating this mat
ter the fog was suddenly illuminated
and a horrible Kissing sound emerged
from the monster bird. This noise
awakened all who had remained asleep.
and they came pouring up the COM
panionway.
What is it?' asked the captains
wife In terror.
I'VE don't know" replied her hus-
band. There's some strange monster
varmint out there that's been padding
about and snorting and blowing fire
and smoke"
Dear me, will it sink us?''
1T certain will, num-" Tim Bunsby
broke in, unless you can persuade the
cap'n to get out of its way"
The kissing sound continued. Har-
riet Nicholson listened to it, but appar-
emily without any terror. She was
the only one of the party who had
heard the sounds made by steam en-
CINE. Some twenty miles from her
home a railroad was being built while
she was on a visit there, and she had
heard the sound made by the blowing
Off of steam
There's a steam engine out there"
she said
"a steam enginep' exclaimed her fs-
On the ocean? I've heard they pull
on the land, but how can
4 track be laid on the water?"
81 don't know" persisted the girl,
but that's a steam engine. I've heard
,ne before"
Suddenly the fog lifted, and there in
plain view was the dark hull OF one
u the first ocean steamers ever built
A midships was a stack vomiting smoke;
IN either side was an arched box, be-
heath which the paddles of the huge
Wheel were visible beating the water
4 stoker was shoveling coal into the
,pen furnace door, and the fires cast
bright light through an open port.
Terror on the part Of those on the
Molly Stark gave way TO wonder as
be stern of the steamer grew smaller
n the distance, giving it the appear
nee of a huge bird.
I'm going TO retire. sure enough
acclaimed Captain Nicholson, las soon
8 l reach port. / don't care TO run
ny such fire bird as thatr'
The Great Western-thiS was tue
teamer's name-croSsing the ocean
ad met with a mishap TO her macnin
~ and had been Obliged 70 stop "
y IL. She had started on once %
vice. but something. proved "rons'
nd she was obliged 10 stop. Hearins
ounds from the Molly Stark, she Dau
lown her whistle.
Captain Nicholson on the compeu0H
his voyage retired with fortune
lie went to Boston TO live and becah.
iuch interested in steam as mou's