Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1918-02-08

situation, but found the man stupefied
by some drug, taken perhaps to allevi-
ate pain, and scarcely capable of COM
pretending my meaning. Satisfied that
l could gain no assistance from him,
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
noon, and had much to say relative to
the beauty Of the ocean scene through
which we sailed.
1t was a pleasant hour we passed at
the table, Leayord relieving Olson, but
the girl and / 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
/ returned below for a heavier coat,
and also brought back with me 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
was discernible of any other vessel in
the wide circle. / 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 bit
farther northward, they became fixed
nd Ac,T c,fo OF
his voice reported:
"Sail ho!"
"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 a restless bunch before the
forecastle, or overhanging the rail, evil
IDENTIFY deeply interested in observing
our efforts to get all possible speed out
of the Indian Chief. The fading light
gave me a glimpse of their faces, and
| noticed that both Liverpool and
White were circulating freely from
group to group. However, the men
responded readily enough to Olson's
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, silvering the wa
tiers, 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
bows through the black waste of sea
before the coming of another dawn.
Apparently everything was in our IA
vor, and I stood there, leaning against
the rail, chatting with Miss Vera, our
conversation drifting idly.
1t must have been after nine when
the girl left, complaining of being
chilled even in the protection of the
great cloak. / crossed the deck with
her to the head of the stairs, and our
hands clasped as we fingered there
face uplifted toward mine.
"You are not going below, then, Mr..
Hollis?' she questioned. "Sureiy all
goes Well?"
$50 remarkably WE'LL" I admitted,
CAS- to rather puzzle me. No, shall
remain on deck until morning: not
that really anticipate trouble, but the
entire responsibility rests with me-"
Ecu Go not feel that your officers
are efficiently"
"Only within their limits of knowl-
edge. / 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
seamanship. You can 60 to your berth,
and go to sleep, Miss Vera, assured
that the ship will be in safe hands"
Il know it will, If you remain on
deck" she answered earnestly. Il
have learned to trust you"
The hours Of the night gave me am
pie opportunity for thought, and care
full consideration. The wind held
Sieduy, anu WInl0 the Sea IOuSucAcO
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 men,
Der of the crew had any occasion to
come aft, except those detailed to the
wheel. There seemed no reason why
should remain on deck, yet the respon-
sibility rested upon me, and the impor-
lance of the nights run prevented my
having any wish to retire below. How
ever, found no occasion to interfere
with the operation of the ship, and re-
manned mostly on the main deck,
where my watchfulness assured me
there was no communication passed
between forecastle and cabin.
The fog grew steadily more dense,
until at dawn, we were steaming reck-
lessly through a thick cloud Of vapor,
barely able to observe the surface Of
the sea, dull, sodden gray, few yards
in advance of our bow. The Dense
yyotorv folds cxyopt alonU orr Sidnc and