Philip weekly review and Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 1912-1918, 1918-01-31
Eyes Tiff You think 1t best. / am
30 tired-the strain Of It; the fear

could not hold out"
II know" bent and kissed her, and
she chung to me. But do not think Of
that any longer; you must go to your
room at once and lie down."
But you will stay on deck all
night?"
mot unless the storm increases. In
an hour or so I'll call the others, and
lie down myself. Come, dear. you be-
long in the watch below"
That certainly seemed lonely deck
after she had disappeared down the
ladder. / had served many quiet
watch at sea, many memorable one,
but that hour taught Inc the real les
son Of loneliness. We were driving
forward recklessly into wall Of dark
ness. utterly impenetrable to the eye.
What horror might be lurking just
ahead Of the plunging bow, no magma
ton could picture. From where
stood. clutching the spOkes OF the
wheel, could not even trace the yards
Of the mainmast, nor could l perceive
on either side the water through which
pulled so at my nerve. l had stood at
the wheel often before guiding great
ship through impenetrable blackness.
and amid the immensely of the ocean.
Bus then / was one Of a crew, alert and
ready, merely performing my part Of
given task. But now l could not drive
from me the consciousness that l stood
there alone; that on all that space of
deck forward only one solitary man
crOuched in the blackness; that below
in the enginero0m, and stokehole, only
two more; already worn and weary
with toll stuck grinly to their work;
that under my control this great
freighter, loaded almost to the deck
beams. was flying before the storm,
plunging through the wild waters of
the mid-Atlantic, with death lowering
above in the shrek Of the storm. Yet
I chung to 1t grimly, no longer making
any attempt to hold any settled course.
but merely choosing the easier way in
which to meet the force Of the storm.
1t was two o'clock when, too thor
Oughly wearied to stand the strain
longer, sent Dugan below to call the
mates. LeayOrd was the heavier man,
and the more experienced sailor, SO. at
my suggestion, he took the wheel, while
Olson went forward. / can recall
creeping down the ladder. and stag
gering down the stairs, but nothing
more. I must have been asleep even
before reached the berth in the cap
tain's stateroom.
A hand shook me, and I opened my
eyes. For an instant was too dazed
to comprehend. The port was closed.
but daylight streamed through the
thick glass Illuminating the stateroom,
and I recognized Olson bending over
me.
Il had to call you, sir" he explained
kindly. 1.-The main royal has broke
it again In this wind; besides that fell
Ter Dugan he's gin out entirely, an
there's got ter be another hand sent
below to the stokehole."
sat up, already thoroughly awake.
"What time is it?"
uOIu VA Hull dlLcT 1OuT, SlEs
"Why I thought l had just dropped
Off. Any increase in the weight OF the
gale. Olson?"
mo. sir; don't think the wind IL
quite so heavy. and it's gettin' more
steadylike, but there's considerable
sea-"
II can tell that the way the ship
pitches; she's taking water forward"
lions o. it: the damned hooker II
loaded so deep she's more ! -e a wharf
than ship"
1t was a wild scene enough when
emerged from the companion and
paused moment in the protection OF
the cabin to view the deck forward.
Huge crested waves burst over the
forecastle heads, cascading down onto
the main deck. and sweeping aft to the
scuppers amidships. The vessel stag
gered under the repeating blows, yet
recovered with buoyancy which gave
me renewed courage, plunging forward
again to meet the next assault. The
continuous boom as they struck against
our bows, the mad Tapping Of the
lOosened canvas aioft, the ceaseless
shrieking Of the cordage. made PAN
demonium Of noise which rendered the
human voice almost useless. / put my
lips to Ols0nis ear.
~Can the three Of MS pass those gas
ketSr
Its got to be done. SIR. unless We
let the sail 60: but It's goin' to be no
boys job"
where's Duganr'
"Hangin' there to the shrouds, a
waitin' for M"
'Then come on; the sooner it's over
with, the better"
We went up the ratlines like snAils
every burst Of wind driving us mar
against the ropes. where we hung on
grimly. Dugan was first to Lay out
upon the footropes, and I felt no regret
when Olson slipped past me in the top.
bawling In my ear:
"I.et me 20 next. sir. you haven't