The Huttig news., 1917-11-24

aFation for the nights watch on deck, and later carefully figuring out in de- l tail the exact course l should attempt i to follow during the period of dark ness.
 Before the call to supper came, l called on Bascom to explain to him the situation, but found the man stupefed ] by some drug, taken perhaps to allevi- ate pain, and scarcely capable of con- pretending my meaning. Satisfied that l could gain no assistance from him, I left the man lying helplessly in his bunk, and returned to the main cabin. Vera did not appear until after Lea yord and I were seated at table, yet she had been on deck during the after i noon, and had much to say relative to the beauty of the ocean scene through which we sailed.
 It was pleasant hour we passed at the table, Leayord relieving Olson, but the girl and l lingering in rather idle conversation before we went on deck.
 In spite of the pleasant day, and that the sun was still visible in the west ern sky, the air on deck was chill, and 1 returned below for heavier coat, and also brought back with me a cloak belonging to the late commander with which to protect Miss Darlington. But for faint trail of smoke far to the westward, barely visible as the sun sank below the horizon, no evidence l was discernible of any other vessel in the wide circle. I hailed the lookout in the maintop, but the wisp of smoke WAS too for away for his eyes to deter mine the course of the distant steamer although as he swept his glasses a bit farther northward, they became fixed and motionless. AS stared up at him, his voice reported:
 Sail hol"
 "Where away?"
 About three points off the port bow, sir-a schooner's topsail."
 "Very well, keep her in sight-a fish ing vessel likely"
 Both watches were on deck. clus- tered in q restless bunch before the fofecastle, or oyerhanging the rail, evi- dently deeply interested in observing our efforts to get all possible speed out of the Indian Chief. The fading light gave me g glimpse of their faces, and l noticed that both Liverpool and White were circulating freely from group to group. However, the men responded readily enough to Olsons orders, and sang cheerily as they tailed onto the ropes, Liverpool himself lead ing the way up the ratlines and out upon the mainyard as they sheeted home.
 The stars began to pop out in the arch of sky above, sllvering the Wa ters, and We could no longer perceive what was taking place forward. The night shades settled about us, and the staunch Indian Chief drove her sharp 1 bows. through the black waste of sea in race to cross the zone of danger before the coming of another dawn Apparently everything was in our fa- vor, and I stood there, leaning against the rail, chatting with Miss Vera, our conversation drifting idly.
 It must have been after nine when the girl left, complaining of being chilled even in the protection of the great cloak. 1 crossed the deck with her to the head of the stairs, and our hands claSped as we fingered there a moment, the dim light revealing her face uplifted toward mine.
 You are not going below. then, Mr. Hollis?a she questioned. Surely all goes well?"
 50 remarkably we'll" I admitted, 'as to rather puzzle me. No, I shall remain on deck until morning; not that l really anticipate trouble, but the entire responsibility rests with me-"
 You do not feel that your officers are efiicient?"
 Only within their limits of knowl- edge. 1 like the men, and trust them, but at that they are only promoted from before the mast in an emergency. Neither possess any real knowledge of sealnanship. You can go to your berth, and go to sleep. Miss Vera, assured that the ship will be in safe hands"
 "I know it will, if you remain on hNNA, SAAG stilSNtItd tdI iitStiy. have learned to trust you
 The hours of the night gave me ann pie opportunity for thought, and care ful consideration. The wind held steady, and while the sea roughened somewhat this slight change was not sufficient to diminish our progress, or cause any swerving from the course set. All remained quiet forward, the watch on deck finding little to do other than their routine duties, and no mem- Der of the crew had any occasion to come aft, except those detailed to the wheel. There seemed no reason why I should remain on deck, yet the respon- sibility rested upon me, and the impor- tance of the nights run prevented my having any wish to retire below. How ever, l found no occasion to interfere with the operation of the ship. and re- mained mostly on the main deck, where my watchfulness assured me there was no communication passed, between forecastle and cabin.