The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-09-22
Women First.
HAT-face that gale with
" u you:' She almost laugh
ed at the idea. He bOlted
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ed at the idea. He bOlted
the door and ran into the
chart house to tap the barometer. 1t
moved appreciably. 1t was rising,
All, if only the wind moderated he
at the compass: still the same course
not a fraction Of a point gained to the
north. That was bad. The ship vas
already within the danger zone. Pray
heaven for a falling wind or ven a
change to the southwark! Still, it was
in IN altogether more cheerful mood
that he regained the promenade deck
and made his way toward the salon.
He was in the very act of entering
the doorway when a %shudder ran
through the ship, and she lifted slight
ly. Clinging to a rail, he waited, rigid
as a statue. a second time the great
steel hull shook, but much more VIC
lently. Then the Kansas ran her nose
into a ShOal, swung round b%roadside to
the sea lifted again, struck heavily
and listed to port.
Courtenay was on the starboArd side.
He heard a yell of dismay from the
mel attending to the boats. Screams
came from the salon. The sea leaped
triumphantly over the rails and nearly
smothercd him with its dense spray.
SO this vas the end? It had come all
too soon. And what a place for the
ship to he cast aWay-twpnty miles
from the nearest land. in the midst of
a sea where no boat could live. God
help them all!
Courtcnay waited for the rending of
plates, the tearing asunder of stanch
steel ribs and crossbeams, which should
sound the knell Of the ships last mo-
ments. But the Kansas seemed to be
in no hurry to fall in pieces. She
strained and groaned and shook vio-
lently when a wave pounded her. 9th
prwise she lay there like a beaten
thing. oddly resembling the living but
almost unconscious men stretched on
the mattresses in the forward salon.
Courtonay did not experience the
least fear Of death. Emotion Of any
sort was already dead in him. He
found himself wondering if an uneX-
pectedly strong current setting to the
southeast had not upset his reckoning,
if there We're any broken limbs among
the occupants of the salon, if Elsie
had been injured by being thrown
down into his cabin. He looked at his
watch. 1t was past II. In four hours
there would be dawn. Dawn! In as
many minutes he might see the day
that iS nvoYlnGtinr AZ, ,,nrhopc NOT
even four minutes. The Kansas, with
a SILVER. lifted to the embrace of Il
heavy sea, lurched to port and settled
herself more comfortably. The deck
assumed an easier angle. Now it was
possible to walk. There We're no rocks
here, at any rate. Courtenay at once
jumped to the conclusion that the pow
erful current whose existence he sus-
pected had cut out for itself a deep
water channel toward the land and the
ship had struck on the silt of it's back
wash. Anyhow, the Kansas was still
living. The lights were all burning
steadily. He could detect the rhythmic
throb Of the donkey engine. He felt
it like the faint beat of a pulse. In
her new position the ship presented
less of a solid wall to the onslaught Of
the sea-. The tumultuous waves began
to race past without breaking so fierce
ly. Had she started her plates? Were
the holds and engine o o full of wa
ter? If So. Walker and his helpers
We're already drowning beneath his
feet. And when next she moved the
vessel might slip away into the depths!
\. man rushed by, or tried to do so.
Courtcnay recognized him as a lead
Ing stoker who had temporary charge
Of the donkey boiler and seized him
w%rathfuIly. his eyes ablaze.
go back" he roareu.
"Senor. the ship is lost.'
SEQ back and await my orders"
He could have %stranglcd the fugitive
In his sudden rage. The fireman en-
deavored to gasp his readiness to obey.
Courtenay relaxed his grip, and for IA
time at least M member of the crew
stuck to his post. fearing the mad cap
tain more than death.
A mob Of stewards and Kitchen
hands came in a torrent up the salon
stairs. Courtenay met them. a terribly
Ing figure, and thrust a revolver in
their faces.
" 'Back," he shouted. 'or some of you
will die here"
Even in their frenzy they believed
him. The foremost skunk away and
fought in a new terror with those who
would urge them on. Gray. bleeding
from Il cut across the forehead, knock.
ed down a man who Brutality tore lSo.
bel out of his path. Tollemache. a
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