Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-06-08

WfCnout tne horses.
Even a. Brennan spoke the Nebraska
seemed TO halt. TO jerk backward I'm
der his feet. O'Neil. who was standing.
flung out an arm 10 steady himself: the
empty ginger ale bottle fell from the
sideboard with thump. Loose ar
ticles hanging against the side wall
swung 10 and fro; the heavy draperies
over Captain Johnny's bed swayed-
Brennan leaped from his chair: hi
ruddy face was notified his eyes wer'
wide and horror stricken.
'Damnationr' he gasped. The cabin
door crashed open ahead OF him. and
he was ON the bridge. with O'Neil ~
his heels They saw the first office
clinging Imply To the rail; from the
pilot house window came an excited
burst OF Norwegian. then out OF the
door rushed u quartermaster.
The steady. nuflied beating OF the
machinery ceased. the ship seemed sud
denly to lose her life. but IL was plain
that she was not aground. for she kept
moving through the gloom. From down
forward came excited voices as the
crew poured up out OF the forecastle.
Brennan leaped to the telegraph and
signaled the engine room. He was
calm now. and his voice was sharI
and steady.
Go below. MIR. James, and find thu
extent OF the damage" he directed. and
moment later the hull began TO throb
once more TO the thrust OF the pre-,
peller. Inside the wheelhouse Swan
had recovered from his panic ana re
peated the masters orders mechanic
ally.
Tell me where and how | can help
Murray offered His first thought had
been " the possible effect of this ca
tastrophe upon his plans. for time was
Pressing AS for danger, he had looked
upon it so often and In so many forms
that ii had little power TO stir him,
but shipwreck, which would halt
his northwsrd rush. was another mat
ter.
Brennan stepped into the chart room,
but returned In a moment TO say:
There's no place to beach her this
side OF Halibut bay" rzr
How far L that ss--~~s
"F1vs OF six miles" II
'Youll-have to beach herr
I'm afraid So She feels queer"
Up from the cabin deck came hand
full Of men passengers 10 inquire what
had happened; behind them woman
haoo, ao H. ,,., shrfff,. 60, ho, tr.hara
I'VE touched rock" the skipper ex.
planned briefly. Kindly 20 below and
stop that sguawking. There's no dan
ger" sv
The captain rGDz for full speed. and
the decks began TO strain as the engine
increased its labor. Set your passen
gers out and stand by the boats" hs
ordered. Take II easy and don't alarm
the women. Have them dress warmly.
and don't allow any crowding By tb.
men. Mr.. Tomlinson. you hold the
steerage gang in check. Take your re.
volver with you" He turned TO his
silent friend, In whose presence b
seemed TO feel q cheering sympathy
Il knew IL would come sooner OF later.
Murray" he said. "But-ma9nifcen
mummies! To touch ON a clear night
with the sea like glass; He sighed
S5s<zI1iy. -; u, tosss::s oai nsy mis-
aus.'
ONen laid a hand upon his shoulder.
'It wasn't your fanlt, and there will
be room In the last boat for you. IN
derstandY' Brennan hesftated, and the
other continued roughly no nonsense,
nowl Don't make a dashed fool of
yourself by sticking to the bridge.
PromiseT'
II promise"
Nov, what do you want me TO do?'
Keep those dear passengers quiet
I'll run for Halibut bay. where there's
a sandy beach. II she won't make 1t
III turn her into the rocks. Tell 'em
they won't wet foot n they keep their
heads"
Good I'll be back 20 see that you
behave yourself" The speaker laughed
lightly and descended 10 the deck.
where he found an incipient panic
Stewards were pounding on stateroom
doors, half clad men were rushing
about aimlessly, pallid faces peered
forth from windows, and there was the
sound OF running feet, Of slamming
doors, of shrill, hysterical voices.
O'Neil saw a waiter humping lus
lily upon a door and heard him shout
hoarsely:
Everybody out The ship is sink.
mgr AS he turned away Murray seiz.
ell him roughly by the arm and, thrust.
ing his face close to the others. said
harshly:
IF you yell again like that I'll toss
you overheard"
God help us, we're going
O'Neil shook the fellow until his
teeth ratified: his own countenance. or
dinarily so quiet. was blazing.
There's no danger. Act like man
and don't start a stampede
The steward pulled himself together
and answered in calmer tone:
VERY we'll sir I'm sorry. sir"
Murray O'Neil IS known u most
Of the passengers. for his name bad
gone up and down the coast. and there
were few places from San Francisco e.
Nome whore his word did not carry
weight A. be went among his fellow
travellers now. smiling. self contsined
mrufiled, his presence had its effect.
Women ceased their shrilling, men
stopped their senseless questions and
listened TO his directions with some
comprehension. In a short time the
passengers were marshaled upon the
unnnr dock whore the lifehnats hung