Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1924-12-24
''The Wings Of the Morning"
A TALE OF ADVENTURE
Ca
A TALE OF ADVENTURE

depths and disported herself like a
frOlicSome mermaid. Now something
akin to repulsion same with the fanci-
full remembrance.
Long sullen undulations swept
noiselessly past the ship. Once, after
a steady climb up rolling hill of
water, the Sirdar quickly pecked at
the succeeding valley,an the propel-
Ter gave a couple of angry flaps on
the surface, whilst a tremor ran
through the stout iron rails on which
the girls arms rested.
The crew were busy too. Squads of
Lascars raced about, industriously
obedient to the short shrill whistling
of jemandars and quartermasters. Boat
lashings were tested and frightened,
canvas awnings stretched across the
deck forward, ventilator cowIs twisted
to new angles, and matches clamped
down over the wooden gratings that
covered the holds. Officers, spotless in
white linen, fitted quietly to and fro.
When the watch was changed, Iris
noted that the "chief" appeared in an
old blue suit and carried oilskins over
his arm as he climbed to the bridge.
Nature looked disturbed and fitful,
and the ship responded to her mood.
There was a sense of preparation in
the air, of coming ordeal, of restless
Iforeboding. Chains cIanked with a
noise the girl never noticed before;
the tramp Of hurrying men on the
hurricane deck overhead sounded
heavy and hollow There was a
squeaking of chairs that was abom-
Unable when people gathered up books
and wraps and staggered ungracefully
towards the companion-way. Alto
gether Miss Deane was not wholly
pleased with the preliminaries of ty-
phoon, whatever the realities might
be.
And then, why did gales always
spring up at the close of day? Could
they not start after breakfast, rage
with furious grandeur during lunch,
and die away peacefully at dinner
time, permitting one to sleep in con.-
fort without thai straining and groan-
ing of the ship which seemed to imply
a sharp attack of rheumatism in ev-
cry joint?
Why did that silly old woman allude
to her contemplated marriage to Lord
Ventnor, retailing the gossip of Hong
Kong with such malicious emphasis?
For an instant Iris tried to shake the
railing in comic anger. She hated
Lord Ventor. She did not want to mar
ry him, or anybody else, just yet Of
course her father had limited approval
of his lordship's obvious intentions.
Countess of Ventor! Yes, it was a nice
title. Still, she wanted another couple
of years of careless freedom; in any
event, why should Lady Tozer pry and
probe?
And finally, why did the steward
oh, poor old Sir John! What would
have happened if the ice had slid down
his neck? Thoroughly comforted by
this gleeful hypothesis, Miss Deane
seized a favorable opportunity to dart
across to the starboard side and sec
if Captain Ross's "heavy bank of cloud
in the northwest" had put in an ap-
pearance.
Ha! there it was, black, ominous,
gigantic, rolling up over the horizon
like some monstrous football Around
it the sky deepened into purple,
fringed with a wide belt of brick red.
She had never seen such beginning
of gale. From what she had read in
books she imagined that only in great
deserts were clouds of dust generated
There could not be dust in the dense
pail now rushing with giant strides
across the trembling sea. Then what
was it? Why was it so dark and men
acing? And where was desert of stone
and sand to compare with this awful
expanse of water? What a small dot
was this great ship on the visible sur
face! But the ocean itself extended
away beyond there, reaching out to
the infinite. The dot became a mere
speck, undistinguishable beneath
celestial microscope such as the gods
might condescend to use.
Iris shivered and aroused herself
with a startled laugh.
| A nice book in a sheltered corner,
and perhaps forty winks until tea
time-surely a much more sensible
proceeding than to stand there, idly
conj'1ring up phantOms of alright.
| The lively fanfare of the dinner
trumpet failed to fill the saloon. By
this time the Sirdar was fighting res
oluteIy against a stiff gale But the
stress of actual combat was better
than the eerie sensation of impending
danger during the earlier hours. The
strong, hearty pulsations of the en-
screw, the steadfast onward plunging
of the good ship through racing seas
and flying scud, were CHEEKY, conf
dent, and inspiring.
Miss Deane justified her boast that
she was an excellent sailor. She smiled
delightedly at the ships surgeon when
he caught her eye through the many
gaps in the tables. She was alone, so
hp ioinnd hnr
you are a credit to the company
quite sea-king's daughter" he said
Doctor, do you talk to all your
lady passengers in that way?"
ALAS, No! Too often I can only be
truthful when 1 am dumb"
Iris laughed. eff I remain long on
this ship will certainly have my head
turned" she cried. II receive nothing
but compliments from the captain
1.-THE doctori'
mo. You come a good second on
the list"
In very truth she was thinking of
the ice-carrying steward and his
queer start of surprise at the an
nouncement of her rumored engage
ment. The man interested her. He
looked like a broken-down gentleman. |
Her quick eyes travelled around the /
saloon to discover his whereabouts. |
She could not see him. The chief stew
ard stood near. balancing himself in |
apparent defiance of the laws of grav-
itation, for the ship was now pitch
ing and rolling with mad zeal For |
an instant she meant to inquire what |
had become of the transgressor, but |