The Lamar register., 1917-12-12


complete circle"
Caldwell examined the box attentive
ly, but could discover nothing ex-
traordlnary about the needles action.
He looked sharply at his subordinate
to see If he had been drinking, but
could find nothing to Justify the sus-
picloR-
Just before noon the clouus parted
and for the first time during the day
allowed n glimpse of the sun.
I'VE shall have fine day after all,
said the captain as he came on deck
with his seXtant and took observations.
He appeared puzzled. Good heavens,
Caldwell he exclaimed suddenly. 1--WE
are out of the course. Fully 40 miles
to the northward. What do you sup
pose is the matterT"
at must have been the hurricane Of
last night" replied the mate, cor per-
hnps-"
"shlp ahoy," cried the man on the
lookout.
"Where?' shouted the captain.
Fright ahead. She is flying a signal
Of distress"
The captains glass revealed craft
not far off laboring heavily in the
waves. In an hour the Oceanic caught
up with the disabled ship. She proved
to be the Dorothy, a sailing vessel
which had been caught by the awful
storm and was fast going to pieces.
By this time the passengers of the
steamer had assembled on deck to wit
ness the unwonted and exciting scene.
Irene stood by the rail and gazed in
fascinated wonder at the spectacle Of
n wreck in mldocean. The hurricane
had dlsmantled its victim, the vessel
had sprung leak. which was fast be-
coming larger and her sinking was
only u matter of few moments. The
lifeboats had been washed away ana
the bulwarks were ON n level with the
sea. The crew, driven by the en-
croaching waters from the deck, had
lashed themselves to what remained of
the masts and were helpless to avert
their certain doom.
with infinite trouble and by dint of
great personal risk and courage, the
Oceanica's boats were lowered and
piloted through the tempestuous waves
to the sinking ship. Caldwell directed
the operations with skill, and after
each boat had received It's allotment
Of rowers, he swung himself into one
Of them. Before cutting loose, how
ever. he glanced up and sought a face
on deck. Irene had watched him and
waved her handkerchief encouraging
ly. 1t was all he needed. He would
have gone to certain death for that
smile.
The work of resculng the imperilled
crew was not easy. The sea was dan
gerously turbulent and 1t required
courage, endurance, herolsm to achieve
success
At length the 10 souls who had
manned the Inflated Dorothy were
transferred from the Oceanica's boats
to the Oceanica herself, where they
were met with loud acclamatlons and
general rejoicing, Suddenly the
wrecked ship gave a lurch and sank,
while the sea closed over her in
seething maelstrom.
Caldwell was the last to climb on
deck. The captain shook his hand en-
Enthusiastically.
"You did WELL" he said. at was a
risky business, and you proved your
self a hero. I shall see to II you re-
ceive a proper recognition when we
reacl port" ,..-...,f'
"Let me add my congratulations"
said Irene, sweetly. NO. l am not
afraid Of getting wet. One does not
see n hero every day" This praise
was dearer far than even the captains
words Of encouragement.
But" said the captain, 81 cannot
understand by what singular good for
tune we managed to go so far out Of
the way. Had we kept on our course
we would never have come across the
Dorothy, and these poor fellows would
now be at the bottom of the sea-"
at must have been the storm of last
night"
"Nonsense. The wind was from the
north, and could not have blown us 40
miles to the northwest. There must
be something wrong with the steering
gear"
81 have It," cried Caldwell. Brown
said this morning that the needle was
erratlc. Perhaps that Is the cause of
it"
The captain made n rush for the
bridge, followed by the mate. The
needle was normal