Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-05-31

inlet SO narrow that the somber spruce
trees seemed to be within a short
stones throw, again blowing across
some open reach where the pulse Of the
north Pacific could be felt Out through
the openings to seaward stretched the
restless ocean, on across uncounted
leagues, to Saghalien and the rim OF
Russia's prison yard.
Always near at hand was the deep
green of the Canadian forests, denser.
darker than tropic jungle, for this
was the land of plenty waters" The
hillsides were carpeted knee deep with
moss, wet to saturation. Out Of every
gulch came q brawling stream whip
ped to milk white frenzy; snow lay
heavy upon the higher levels, while
now and then from farther inland
peered glacier, like some dead mon
ster crushed between the granite
peaks. There were villages, too, and
fishing stations. and mines and quar-
ries. These burst suddenly upon the
view. then slipped past with dreamlike
swiftness. Other ships swung into
sight. rushed by and were swallowed
up in the labyrinthine maze astern.
Those passengers Of the Nebraska
who had never before traversed the in
side passage" were loud in the praises
of its pictureSqueneSs, while those tC
whom the route was familiar seemed
TO find an ever fresh fascination In its
shifting scenes.
Among the latter was Murray O'Neil
The whole north coast from Flattery
/ to st. Elias was as well mapped in his
mind as the face of an old friend, We,
| he was forever discovering new vistas
! surprising panoramas, amazing varia
! tons of color and topography. TIL.
! mysterious riffs and passa Geways tina
! opened and closed as if to lure the shiI
/ aStray. the trackless confusion of islets
the siren song of the waterfalls. III.
silent hills and glaciers and snow
/ soaked fOrests-all appealed to hin
strongly. for he was at heart dreamer
Yet he did not forget that scener,
such as this, lovely as it is by day
may be dangerous at night. for h
knew the weakness of steel hulls. o.
some sides his experience and business
training had made him sternly practi
cal and prosaic. Ships aroused II
manner of enthusiasm in him eScep
! as means to an end. Railroads had N
! glamor of romance in his eyes, for
having built number of them, he hat
outliVed all poetic notions regardin.
the iron horse" and once the rail
were laid he was apt to lose interes
in them. Nevertheless he was almos
! poetic in his own quiet way, inter
weaving practical thoughts with fanci
! full visions, and he loved his dreams
| He was dreaming now as he leanet
upon the bridge rail Of the Nebrask
peering into the gloom with watchfu
eyes. From somewhere to port cam
! the occasional commands of the Office
On watch, echoed instantly from tn
inky interior Of the wheelhouse q
oversize rose the whisper of rushin
waters: from underfoot came tn
rhythmic beat Of the engines far be
| low. O'Nefl shook off his mood an
began to wonder idly how long l
would be before Captain Johnny woul
be ready for his 'nightcap."
He always Travelled with Johnn
Brennan when he could manage it, TO
the two men were boon companions
O'Neil was wont to live in Johnny
cabin or on the bridge, and their night
ly libation to friendship had come t
be a matter Of some ceremony.
The ships master soon appeare
from the shadows-a short, trim ma,
with gray hair.
Come he cried; Its waiting TO
| u.s."
O'Neil followed into Brennan's lux
urious, well lit quarters, where on
mahogany sideboard was a tray holdin
decanter, siphon and glasses, togethe
with bottle Of ginger ale. The car
tain, after he had mixed a beverag
for his passenger, opened the bottl
for himself. They raised their glasse
silently.
Now that you're past the worst o
it." remarked O'Neil, Il suppose you
turn in. You're getting old for har
| run like this. Johnny"
Captain Brennan snorted. "Old
I'm better man than you. yet I'm
teetotaler, that's why. l discovere
long ago that salt water and whisk
don't mix"
O'Neil stretched himself out in on
of Brennan's easy chairs. Really,
he said, II don't understand why
ship carries a captain. Now, of wha
earthly use to the line are you, for in
stance, except for your beauty, which
no doubt. has its value with the VIC
men? I'll admit you preside with som
grace at the best table in the dinin
salon. but your officers know thes
channels as well as you do. They coul
make the run from Seattle to Junea
with their eyes shut"
Indeed they could not, and neithe
could l.
ooh, well, of course l have no re
spect for you as man, having see
you without your uniform"
The captain grinned in thorough en-
| joyment OF this raillery. "I'll say moth
ing at all OF my seamanship." he said
] relapsing into the faintest Of broguef