The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1925-03-25

mentea with devils. Idle sails flap,
ped thunderously against the masts
Somewhere IN the darkness forward
4 heavy block thumped monoion.
easly upon wooden deck. Thump.
hump. hump. Hollow and lazy.
Like n drum OF disaster. Mary
santed TO listen for some sounds
from stevens. There were so many
other sounds that the very notice.
able sounds actually made by the
fufuriated mate as no grabbed fu-
tileiy at CLASSY smooth iron plates.
seeking some hanging rope. were
nothing but q note in the general
uproar
Then lanterns bogan to flicker
about the decks. Men who bad
been sleeping appeared among tho
deck watch, startled by the ships
grounding Really very little time
had elapsed since the striking. II
seemed an age to Mary.
'Ict.go everything. and clew up!'
Drake ordered. and the men ran
eoufasedly to haiiiards and elcw.
lines. buntlines and sheets. The ho.
sun and carpenter sounded Chips
TO ascertain II the ship were taking
water: old Bill Gadgett with head.
line. seeking to know how the ship
lay. Drake pecred all around IN
the darkness. seeking for some hint
Of his position. He gave no thought
10 Jake Stevens over the side. In
one direction no thought he saw a
dark loom OF land. a faint, pale line
about IT appeared to BE- small surf
II might be the breaker caused
by the ships sudden halt
Somewhere about the main brace
pumpkin Stevens secured hold
and his rcappearancn on board was
not silent. Mary shook herself
into life. running to Drake, putting
her hands on his arm.
1T was not Jake's FAULT she
cried. You can't put this on his
shoulders! I told him 70 sail thru.
He only did what -
Co 10 your cabinr' Drake told
her. sharply. THE deck is no place
for you just now
But you mustn't blame" she
persisted. with a note OF anger. He
cut in coldly:
II shall make an inquiry in tho
morning. Go TO your cabin
He took her arm. and urged her
inside the companionway, closing
the door upon her. She flung i,
open. and flashed out. ablazo With
rage. Before she could speak a
word, Drake thrust her inside again.
gently, but no more to be resisted
than the tides.
Unless you obey me shall lock
you in your room" he said. There
was something SO cold, so utterly
beyond argument in his tone that
Mary shrank down the stairs as II
she had been whipped. Ike was In
the saloon. She permitted him TO
serve coffee 10 her, without any
knowledge Of how 1t was done or
why she drank IT, Alden Drake,
in that moment of catastrophe Ia
his ship, had sloughed absolutely
every last attribute Of human flesh
and blood. and become simply an
animated piece Of Duty porsonifled
On deck Stevens crawied over the
rail, dripping and curslng. Some
men hauled him in. He shook him
self in the glow Of the lanterns
The decks we're alive with running
figures. Only tho solitary. dark
figures on the poop held any sug
gestion Of calm poise. Old Bin
Gadgett trotted aft from the fore.
castle head, swinging his blue
pigeon" HIS wrinkled old fnce was
troubled. His lower lip hung loose.
ly,
'.Three fadoms wliar she's nipped
sir, 20 fadom 1T tn main chains"
no reported, and added: Both
sides. sir"
VERY well. bosun," Drake said
ooolly. Stevens started to mount
rho ladder. Chips hustled along
from the midship sounding pipe, his
jolnted sounding rod held close 10
Ills squlting eyes. chalked and wet.
Maxim no water, slrg' said
Chips. NO more In tn well than
we always carry, sir"
Very we'll, Chips. Cast off the
boat gripes ready for swinging out,
and ask Mr.. Twlning 10 come aft"
Drake ignored stevens. But Jake
was not tie man TO be knocked
into the midnight ocean, dragged
aboard by grinning soamen, and
then ignored.
-~Esyer mind Mister TwiningF