The Argosy — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

258 My Channel Passage. wholly confused, I rose and looked around. ‘The ship now rocked slowly and painfully but made no progress. The tug lay at some little distance—she had stopped also; the rope had evidently broken and we had parted company. People now rushed up from below, calling and screaming, and for some little time the confusion was general. The friendly steward came at length to my aid and put things straight with true sailorlike rapidity. Headvised me to keep my door fastened in future and to place my cushions on the floor. I declined to do this, however, saying that such an accident was not likely to happen a second time. ‘Don’t be too sure, ma’am,” he rejoined with a knowing shake of the head. ‘‘ They’ve put on another rope, but the sailors tell me it’s no stronger than the first one.” Charley came up bringing his new friend, whom he introduced as Captain Fortescue. I made light of my disaster, though I was far from comfortable, as anyone who has had a bath of salt-water under similar circumstances will readily understand. My cabin just held the three of us, and we sat and chatted together and ate biscuits; it was too rough to think of taking a regular meal. Captain Fortescue told us how he had come from India when he was quite a child, and since then he had made three or four voyages out and home. He did not mind the wind, he said, and this was not a storm; it was —— What it was I never heard, for at that moment the treacherous rope gave way again, and it was only Charley’s quickness of hand that saved me from a severe blow. I was glad now to take the steward’s advice, and, amid much laughing and joking between the young men, my cushions were removed.. The precaution was not taken too soon. In a very few minutes we went through the experience again. Things were now getting serious. Captain Fortescue went in search of the skipper and spoke to him. Tf could not hear what was said, but such a cloud of anxiety settled on the young soldier’s face that I rose in terror and asked if there were any danger. ‘Danger P None whatever, madam,” the captain said, reassuringly. ‘“ No danger at all,” he repeated. ‘‘We may not see Dover to- night—that’s the worst that will happen to us. The tug has gone to fetch a good strong rope, but when it will pick us up, or where, I cannot say. We'll drift into the North Sea, I reckon.” “Into the North Sea,” I exclaimed. “With this wind, it is very possible,” he continued. ‘Not but that we are safe enough there; it’s only the delay—-—” ‘ Only!” interrupted Captain Fortescue. ‘‘ Oh, how I wish I had gone in that tug. JI must be in London to-night.” ‘You should have told me sooner,” said the captain good- naturedly. ‘*I could have managed that easily, but it’s too late now. Of course I kept it quiet, or half the passengers would have wanted a ——e ———— a ae == -_ 7 os Ty eS CORNIELOOO_KSaretoynn)