The Argosy — page 274: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

My Channel Passage. 257 Charley suggested that it was jealous of the engines, at which the steward was much amused. I asked what would be done. ‘“They’ve signalled for a tug,” he replied. ‘‘It will take us across inno time. Don’t you be afraid, ma’am; it will be all right.” And off he walked. Before long the tug came to our assistance. An insignificant little thing it looked, but it did its work well, and we were soon scudding along to the satisfaction of all on board—theoretically. The wind was now higher than it had been and the deck once more clear. The waves from time to time broke over it and drenched me with spray. I laughed at first, but the showers soon became so frequent that I saw I must go below, and had risen with that intention, when the steward to whom I had before spoken came up and asked me if I would like a private cabin—there was one un- occupied. Though a good sailor, I confess to feeling more comfortable in the fresh air than in a hot, close cabin ; so I accepted this offer with alacrity, and was soon ensconced in a tiny room at the side of the ship, from which I could watch the progress of the gale in compara- tive comfort. It was a grand sight to look into the clear, green walls of water that rose up higher than the ship’s side; a sight, I imagine, rarely seen as | sawit, for I had the advantage of the sun’s rays to illumine the water and render it more transparent. I tried to make my com- panion appreciate its beauty, but he took more interest in watching the fate of the various packages that had been left on the deck, which the water was tossing from side to side. He put on his mackintosh after '» awhile, and went out to see the fun—so he told me; but I suspected that my young friend, though not ‘‘slain” as he would put it, felt a little ‘ melancholy,” and was glad to get away from my keen eyes. I saw him later standing at the side of the vessel, talking with a ) tall, fair-haired young man apparently about seven or eight and | twenty, whose countenance had attracted me when we first came on | board. The two were in striking contrast as they stood together, Charley’s flashing black orbs—his strong point—seemed to lack ex- _ Pression in comparison with those of the stranger. I have never seen | Such a pair of tender, appealing eyes in any other man’s face; they | Would never look angry or fierce I was sure, let the provocation be _ what it might—that they could look deeply sorrowful I was destined _ to see before we parted. I could scarcely imagine their owner plead- ing unsuccessfully for any woman’s love, and as I gazed on him, _} Tomantic speculations as to his past life began to weave themselves in _ My brain. | _ A sudden lurch, a shake that seemed to strain every timber in the | ship sent all thoughts of this kind out of my head. I was thrown Violently on the floor, and the water rushed through the open door of my little chamber and drenched me as I lay. Half blinded and COnniclboooks im