The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-11-08

The sun blazed down upon MS out
of II clear sky, gllstening along the
foam of racing waves, but, as noon mp
preached, the southern sky became
misty, the clouds increasing in den
sity until we could see only n few
hundred yards beyond our bow. IL
was not storm cloud. and brought
with 1t no fear OF disaster. but com
pletely blotted out the horizon, and
gave a dark, sullcn gloom to the sur
rounding waters.
1t must have been three o'clock when
McCann suddenly gave vent to n
startled roar. Strengthening to his
knees, and pointing straight ahead into
the smother. / stared, but saw nothing
except the grotesque forms assumed by
the whirling mist, but Vera leaned out
over the side, shading her eyes.
"What Is it" l asked sharply.
MAKE q report, man"
"a ship yonder" he shouted, but
without turning his head. IL saw II
plainly enough, but 1t has gone now"
81 see 1t, Mr.. Hollis !" the girl cried
eNcitedly. Fright out there through
that lane OF m,st-it's a big steamer 7"
"Straight ahead?"
"Just little this way-thefei you
can see her nowi'
did, a mere glimpse, instantly oh
scured, but visible again a moment
later. McCann was on his feet, ges-
ticulating wildly.
"Now, d you !" he shouted, "put
us on board there. and I'll show you
who am. You brute, dare you TO
put us on board"
"Sit DOWN. ordered. snow, keep
put you aboard all right, but until do,
you will obey what say, or go into
the water"
took my eyes Off him. and stared
at the vessel, conscious instantly that
something was wrong. She was APP
parently n big steel freighter. four
thousand tons guessed, her water line
showing n heavy cargo, and her bows
red with rust where the black paint
had disappeared. The foremast was
broken Off at the tops, remaining a
great splinter. and where the bridge
and wheelhouse ought TO be there was
piled mass of wreckage, showing
black above the bulwnrks. A wheel
had been rlgged aft on the poopdeck,
and there alone i saw evidence OF hu-
man beings on board. One fellow stood
| gripping the spokes, while another
leaned motlonless against the rail fac
/ Ing forward. Neither one saw us, al
though I swung my hat, and sent a
hail across the intervening water. The
girl glanced back into my face.
.'What Is the matter with them, Mr..
Hollisi' she asked. us something
wrong?"
81 am afraid so; their foretop mast
is down, and 1t looks as though II had
smashed the bridge and wheelhouse
when it fell. They have rigged up an
emergency wheel aft. Can you make
out her name?"
"The Indian Chief of Philadelphia"
| "No regular llner-probably tramp.
never saw tunnels painted like that
before. and she shows no flag. How
ever, any port In storm"
stood up, following my hands.
"Ahoy there! Indian Chief, ahoy I"
The man leaning on the after rail
turned, and gazed down at us, shading
his eyes, and the heads of half dozen
others bobbed up above the forward
bulwarks. I could see the fellow aft
plainly now, broad, stockily built
man. with extremely red face, wearing
6yerahs, and n woolen shirt, open at
the throat. In appearance there was
nothing OF the officer about him, yet
II was his voice which finally answered
my hail. sending a deep, roaring note
across the waters.
4 "Hullo, there. Who are yer? From
Esome ship close by?"
"We are passengers from the Amerl-
can yacht Esmeralda. sunk in collision
two nights ago, and have been afloat
ever since. Can you take us aboardT
Passengers, you sayf All of yer
passengers?
Eyes"
He turned, and spoke to the man
lgrasplng the wheel, tall, loose-jointed
; fellow In straw hat and pink shirt
There was n moments argument be
fore he returned to his position at the
rail.
II dunno as yer would be much bet
ter Off along with us than ger are thar
In the dinghy" he called lndlfferently
"For. in n manner o. speakin', we're nC
more than a wreck. reckon thai
, amt no one among yer who knows how
to navigate"
] stood up, following my hands tt
make my voice carry more clearly.
''That Is not very sailorlike speech
my friend" shouted. yet striving Il
conceal anger. 'Bui as you put hu
manity on those terms, I'll answer you
, have been in the merchant service
and commanded Ships"
: "Wellf Is that SCI Sail, or steam3'
"Steam-the old Atlas line. Do yor