EVmbt LKf)aER-3?HILADEI;PHIA, SATTJBDAY, SEPttEMBEft 191G.N flntwmhiiiimwiftwi WINGS A MORNI i 11 - - - , i i in i r 11 !ii UJumiy.mLi,MijiwM(mw Illi H Willi III WWIiUill II HI . ,' i 'H " Hi Tl I,1I1L1 wmm&mmmmmmMz NG if 32S2w&iSi'TS IRJE?WH' .-fewXMaifeldW.ty J.mfBl Bale. There was mournful speculation i3Q?ra''sM3ii IT,' LlHi 'jSZ.y.Zl'Z tBgfeKlWlirllfgaMRaa upon tho Sirdar's chances of reaching I. HJSggfaggS?lS3y;'l liftgg?1MlniJrr T m U'tliflPgi;?jaW'g Slngaporo before the next ovenlng. C?SVSIS'v'i "Wo had 208 miles to do at noon," said ?3"5S Li .XSiSV1Ii-t -.fa Mrffi-ffffiwlMffi Experience "If tho wind and sea catch 1iM?'rS 02asSBSw SPS3Bi awBt-SHHRIS&bbJB us on tl10 port bow tno snl1' wl" nltch iayS"lEJftk v'-KVfcOiiSSir HtftaSv&sS3ni iviamflJ9f?WMlf awfully. Half tho time tho screw will 'Neifikfe. 'avVSfcS&vVYV1 KiWM ; WWBi3SiC3C8Ea&tWJ?wSOMe -! b0 rncln- I onco made this trip In tho KjSlW AjaXvriKjltJtfghM"'" "T3jBraK-g7'vSlL'ia Sumatra, nnd wo were struclc by a south- &00E' Viv ilSff''MnH imtawwflHWPffiS'ir- ::' 3liP5rAfl&2'fiP east typhoon In this locality. How lone Ol YNfcJaaKEi'TEcSsSsr do vou think It was before wo dropped TKWiHSiltig Xsild5fiiiK?& anchor In Slngnporo harbor?" k.fMfcXe?lfcrU raBnBpSEWt';Kfev &teC5'Sfi&2&&i? V No ono hazarded a guess, " g Vgflftt ifrglKjWg IlBJKJjfiRStSw "Three clays I" Expcrlonco was sol- VCPaPBC?j?fafe )'Mr,.,W.tfir?v., '''i'fev '93'iJ1'V-Jc emnly pompous. "Thrco whole days. They yMBW2SKWMl mrZJ"mi BICJ?55W'SS' Ot.6jRt-7Vf5 wero like thrco years. By Jove I I never y" " 'HhaJaEftlWT. .SllWSSsiVlV'V O'fc-.. SVcA wa"' to boo another calo llko that." , iHFt'Kr' mWG&M&i&F. afe'fei-.-ft 'JiS' A timid lady ventured to say: ininmnn r EfiM? -r.?!Sv MSmJf 4W5t-' "SS. 'Vr? "Perhaps this may not bo a typhoon. CHAPTER I P?SSJK. raTK KS&i b viv vkCS xt may o"1'' b0 tt mtl blt ot a storm-" The Wreck of the Sirdar WmmaB&& XKSBSSl:S.x '3' -"?r."!!,.s.av1. I1" .T. ?i.if,cr- Ex- L. J ADY TOZKIl adjusted her gold- 1 rlmtviiiil nV0cr1nnqfi with nn air of dlgnltled aggressive ness. Sho had lived too many years In tho Far East. In 'Hbngkong sho was known as tho "Mandarin." Hor nowors of merciless Inquisi tion succcstcd torments long 1 I 7Il6nBkonB sho was known w . C 1 . njETCTPiLlt' WZ ?'i r. TnBtlJffirFtWTT: '''' Ow a nnd a rlpplo of lauehter greeted his cn- .J L y as tho "Mandarin." Her H rTllVir 'TllftJllilfrTfA-t V thuslasm. p ZT powors of merciless Inqulsl- S KMJSBi9SpK9a9ic. lrla 8toocl somewhat apart from the spcak- drawn out. Tho commander of the Sirdar, homeward bound from Shanghai, knew that ho was about to bo stretched on tho rack v, hen ho took his seat at tho saloon table. "Is It true, captain, that wo aro running Into a typhoon?" demanded hor ladyship. "From whom did you learn that. Lady Tozer?" Captain Ross was wary, though somewhat surprised. , "From Miss Deano. I understood her a moment ago to say that you had told her." "17" j "Didn't you? Somo ono told me this morning. I couldn't havo guessed it, could I?" Miss Iris Deane's largo blue eyes sur veyed him with Innocent indifference to strict accuracy. Incidentally, she had ob tained tho Information from her maid, a nose-tilted coquette who extracted ship's secrets from a youthful quartermaster. "Welt er I had forgotten," explained the tactful sailor. "Is It true!" "Yes, It la;" said Captain Itoss. ''How horrible!" she gasped. In unaf fected alarm. This return to femininity soothed the sailor's ruffled temper. Sir John, her husband, frowned Judicially. That frown constituted his legal stock-in-trade, yet It passed current for wisdom with the Hongkong bar. "What evidence havo you?" he asked. "Do tell us." chimed In Iris, delightfully unconscious of Interrupting tho court. "Did you And out when you squinted at the sun?" Tho captain smllod. "You nre nearer the mark than possibly you Imagine, Miss Deane," he said. "When we took our ob servations yesterday there was a very wclrd-Iooking halo around tho Bun. Tnls morning you may have noticed several light Bqualla and a smooth sea marked occasion Plly by strong ripples. Tho barometer is falling rapidly, and I expect that, as the day wears, we will encounter a heavy swell. If the sky looks wild tonight, and espe clallv if wo observe a heavy bank of cloud approad'ing from the northwest, you will see the oockery dancing about the table at dinner. I am afraid you aro not a good sailor, Lady Tozer. Are you, Miss Deane?" "Capital! I should Just love to see a real etorm." "Oh dearj I do hope it wilt not be very bad. Is there no way In which you can avoid It. captain? Will It last long?" The polltla Bklpper for once preferred to answer Lady Tozer, "There Is no cause for uneasiness," he said. "Of course, typhoons In tho China Sea are nasty things while they last, but a ship like the Sirdar Is not troubled by them. She will drive through tho worst gale she Is likely to meet here in less than twelve hours. Besides, I alter the course somewhat as soon as I discover our position with regard to Its center. Then the commander hurriedly excused v himself and the passengers sayr no more of him that day. ' , ,. .. A storm classed as Aperiodic," whoso velocity can be measured, whose duration v and direction can be determined beforehand by hours and distances, ceases to "bo terrify ing. It became an accepted; fact, akin to the steam engine and the electric telegraph, marvelous yet commonplace. So her ladyship dismissed the topic as of no present interest and focused Miss Deano through her eyeglasses. "Sr Arthur proposes to come horns In June, I understand?" she Inquired. Iris -was a remarkably healthy young woman. A large banana momentarily en gaged her attention. She nodded affably. "You vrlll stay with relatives until he arrives?" pursued Lady Tozer. Tho banana Is a fruit of simple charac teristics. Theirl was able to reply, with a touch of careless hauteur In her voice: "RelatlVesl We have none none whom we specially cultivate, that Is. I will stop in town a day or two to Interview roy dress maker and then go straight to Helmdale, our place In Yorkshire." "Surely you have a chaperon!" "A chaperon! My dear Lady Tozer, did Biy father Impress you as ono who would permit a, fussy and stout old person to make my life miserable?" The acidity of the retort lay In the word "stout," But Iris waa pot accustomed to cross-exam! nation. During a three months' rcsldonce on the Island she had learned how to avoid Lady Tozer. Here It was Impossible, and tna elder S.J5Whflg C? B2t.XniliSre8BBi,J vK'A'''''j8SSyT "T10 barometer resists your plea," ho XsSS'Sfc'vr- iy s x!$$Bl9(6Mr KvHWMl Bal1, ' ,ear thcr0 W,H bo a eoo,i many iVwvwIfir HkJw25 empty saddles In tho saloon at dinner." ivV.5t$ite9S&i. lA .glit53M8?WaisiVSa1aKAL "Well, thank Heaven. I had a good S VNTOEaM iwg2wKiMKMlB3JSK5y,S. lunch," snlEsered a rosy-faced subaltern, VVS5Z?BHJHKBwRKtV,&S?w&'. waa t,c1 closely over ber cnra- sho leaned -OV T&k$$!mJvjf 1!'' against tho taffratl, enjoying tho cool breeze 'VrV hSSvjf I mSKnfKSPlS after hours of sultry heat Tho sky wns The cumbrous woman fastened upon her asp-like. Miss tlris Deane was a toothsome morsel for gossip. Not yet 21, the only daughter of a wealthy baronet who owned a fleet of stately ships the Sirdar amopg them a girl who had been mistress of her father's housa Blnce her return from Dresden three years ago young, beautiful, rich here was a combination for which men thanked a judicious Heaven, whlla women sniffed enviously. Business detained Sir Arthur, A war cloud overshadowed the two great divisions of the yellow race. He must wait to see how matters developed, but ho would not expose Iris to the insidious treachery of a Chinese spring. So, with tears, they sep arated. She was confided to the personal charge ot Captain Itoss. At each point Of call the company's agents would be Bollcltous for her welfare. The cable's telegraphic eyo would watch her progress as that of some princely maiden sailing in royal caravel. This fair, slender, well formed girl delightfully English In face and figure with her fresh, clear complex Ion, limpid blue eyes and shining brown hair, was a personage of some importance. Lady Tozer knevv these things and sighed complacently. "Ah, well." she resumed, "parents had different views when I was a girl. But I assume Sir Arthur thinks you should be como used to being your own mistress in view of your approaching marriage." "My approaching marriage I" cried Iris, now genuinely amazed. "Yes. Is it not true that you are going to marry Lord Ventnor?" A passing steward heard the polntblank question. f It had a curious effect upon him. He gazed with fiercely eager eyes at Miss Deane, and so far forgot himself as to permit a dish of water Ice to rest against Sir John Tozer'a bald head. Jr.s could not help noting his strange be havior. A flash of humor chased away her first angry resentment at Lady Tozer'a interrogatory. "That may be my happy fate," she an swered gaily, "but Lord Ventnor has not asked me." "Every one sas in Hongkong " be gan her ladyship. "Conf oun4 you, you stupid rascal ! What are you doing?" shouted Sir John. Hlo feeble serves at last conveyed the Informa tion that something wore pronounced than Chinese vessel struck the Sirdar a terrible blow. The junk was burst asunder by the collision. 'a sudden draught affected his scalp; the Ico was melting. The Incident amused those passengers who sat near enough to observe It. But the chief steward, hovering watchfully near the captain's table, darted forward. Pale with anger he hissed "Report yourself for duty In the second saloon tonight," and ho hustled his subordi nate away from the judge's chair. Miss Deane, mirthfully radiant, arose. "Please don't punish the man, Mr. Jones," she said sweetly. "It was a sheer accident. He was taken by surprise. In his place I would have emptied the whole dish." The chief Bteward smirked. He did not know exactly what had happened; never theless, great though Sir John Tozer might be, the owner's daughter was greater. "Certainly, miss, certainly," he agreed, adding confidentially: "It is rattier hard on a steward to be sent aft, misa. It makes such a difference In the er the little gratuities given by the passengers." The girl was tactful. She smiled com prehenslqn at the" official and bent over Sir John, now carefully polishing the back of hit skull with a table napkin. "I am sure you will forgive him," she whispered, "I can't say why, but the poor fellow was looking so Intently at me that he did not see what he was doing." The ex-Chief Justice was Instantly mol lified. He did not mind the application of lea In that way rather liked It, In fact probably Ice was susceptible to the II ro In Miss Deane's eyes. Lady Tozer was not so easily appeased. When Iris left the saloon she Inquired tartly; "How Is It. John, that Government makes a shipowner a baronet and a Chief Justice only a knight?" "That question would provide an Inter esting subject for debate at the Carlton, my dear," he replied with equal asperity. Suddenly the passengers still seated ex perienced a prolonged sinking sensation, as If the vessel had been converted into a gigantic lift. They were pressed hard Into their chairs, which creaked and tried to swing round on their pivots. As tho ship yielded Btlffiy to the sea a whiff of spray dashed through an open port. "There." snapped her ladyship, "1 knew we should run Into a storm, yet Captain Ross led us to believe John, take me to From the promenade deck the llstles groups watched the rapid advance ot the ... ..iin ni nnce. ; cloudless yet. but there was a queer tinge of burnished copper In the all-pervading sunshine. The sea was coldly blue. The life had gone out of It. It was no longer Inviting and translucent. The crew was busy, too. Squads of las cars raced about. Industriously obedient to the Bhort shrill whistling of Jemadars and quartermasters. Boat lashings were tested nnd tightened, canvas awnings stretched across the deck forward, ventilator cowls twisted to new angles, and hatches clamped down over the wooden gratings that covered the holds. Officers, spotless In white linen, flitted quietly to nnd fro. When the watch was changed. Iris noted that the "chief" appeared In an old blue suit and carried oilskins oer his arm as ho 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, ot coming ordeal, of restless foreboding. Chains clanked 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 abominable when people gathered up books and wraps and staggered un gracefully toward the companlonway. Alto gether Miss Deane was not wholly pleased with the preliminaries of a typhoop, what ever the realities might be. Why did that s lly old woman allude to her contemplated marriage to Lord Ventnor, retailing the gossip ot Hongkong with Buch malicious emphasis? For an Instant Iris tried to shake the railing In comic anger. She hated Lord Ventnor. She did not gant to marry him, or anybody else, Just yet. Of course her father had hinted approval of hU lordship's obvious intentions. Count ess ot Ventnor I Yes, it was a nice title. Still, she wanted another couple of years ot careless freedom; In any event, why should Lady Tozer pry and probe? And anally, why did the steward oh, poor old Sir John I What would have hap pened If the tee had slid down his peck? Thoroughly comforted by this gleeful hypothesis. Miss Deane seized a favorable opportunity to dart across to the starboard side and see If Captain Ross's "heavy bank of cloud In the northwest" had put In an appearance. Hal there It was, black, ominous, gi gantic, rolling up over the horizon like I some monstrous football. Around It t sky deepened. Into purple, fringed with iu a wide belt of brick red. She had never seen such a beginning of a gale. Iris shivered nnd aroused herself with a startled laugh. A nice book In a. sheltered corner, and perhaps forty wlnka until tea-timesurely a much more sensible proceeding than to stand there, Idly conjuring up phantoms of affright. Tho lively fanfare of the dinner trumpet failed to fill the saloon. By this time tho Sirdar was fighting resolutely ngalnst a stiff gale. But the stress of nctuat com bat was better than tho ecrlo sensation of Impending danger during the earlier hours. The strong, hearty pulsations of the engines, the regular thrashing of the screw, the steadfast onward plunging of the good ship through racing seas and flying scud, wero cheery, confident and In spiring. Miss Deano justified her boast that Bhe wns nn excellent sailor. Sho smiled de lightedly at the ship's surgeon when he caught her eye through the many gaps In tho tables. Sho was alone, so ho Joined her. "You aro a credit to tho company qulto a sea-king's daughter," ho Bald. "Doctor, do you talk to all your lady passengers In that wny?" "Alas, no I Too often I can only be truthful when I nm dumb." Iris laughed "If I remain long on this ship I will certainly have my head turned," sho cried. "I receive nothing but com pliments from tho captain down to to " "The fioctorl" "No. You coma a good second on the list" In very truth sho was thinking of the Ice-carrying steward and his queer Btart of surprlso nt tho announcement of her rumored engagement. The man Interested her. Ho looked llko a broken-down gen tleman. Hor quick eyes traveled nround tho saloon to discover his whereabouts. She could not see him. The chief steward stood near, balancing himself In apparent defiance, of the laws of gravitation, for tho ship was now pitching nnd rolling with a mad zeal. For nn Instant sho meant to Inquire what had become of tho transgres sor, but sho dismissed tho thought nt Its Inception, Tho niatter was too trivial. With n wild swoop all tho plates, glasses nnd cutlery on tho saloon tables crashed to starbonrd. Wero It not for tho restraint of tho flddlos everything must havo been swept to tho floor. Thero wero ono or two minor accidents. A stoward, taken un awares, wai thrown headlong on top of his Indcn tray. Others wero compelled to clutch tho, backs of chairs and cling to pil lars. Ono man Involuntarily seized the hair of a lady who devoted an hour before each meal to her coiffure. Tho Sirdar with a frenzied bound tried to turn a somer sault. "A chnngo of course," observed the doc tor. "They generally try to avod It when people nro In tho saloon, but a typhoon admits of no labored politeness. As Its center Is now right ahead wo nro going on tho starboard tack to get behind It." "I must hurry up and get on deck," said Miss Deane. "You will not bo nblo to go on deck until tho morning." Sho turned on him Impetuously. "In deed I will. Captain Ross promised me that Is, I asked him " Tho doctor smiled. Sho was so charm ingly Insistent. "It Is simply Impossible." ho said, "The companion doors aro bolted Tho promenado deck Is swept by heavy seas every minute. A bont has been carried away and several stanchions snapped off like carrots. For tho first time In your life, Miss Deane, you aro battened down." The girls faco must havo paled some what Ho added hastily, "Thero Is no dan ger, you know, but these precautions nro necessary. You would not llko to seo sev eral tons of water rushing down tho saloon stairs; now would you?" "Decidedly not." Thon nfter a pause, "It Is not pleasant to be fastened up In a great Iron box, doctor. It reminds ono of a huge coltln." "Not a bit The Sirdar Is tho safest ship alloat Your father has always pur sued a splendid policy In that respect Tho London and Hongkong Company may not possess fast vessels, but they aro seaworthy and well found In every respect" "Aro there many people 111 on board?" "No, Just tho usual number of disturbed livers. Wo had a nasty accident Just be fore dinner." "Good gracious. What happened?" "Somo lascars wero caught by a sea forward. One man had his leg broken." "Anything else?" Tho doctor hesitated. Ho became Inter ested In tho color of some Burgundy. "I hardly know tho exact details yet," ho re plied. "Tomorrow nfter breakfast I will tell you all about It" An English quartermaster and four las cars had been licked off tho forecastle by tho greody tongue of a huge wave. The succeeding surge flung the five men back against the quarter. One of tho black sailors was pitched aboard, with a fractured leg and other Injuries. The others were smashed against tho Iron hull and dis appeared. The captain fought his way to the chart house. He wiped the salt water from his eyes and looked anxiously at the barom eter. "Still falling!" he muttered. "I will keep on until 7 o'clock nnd then bear three points to the southward. By mid night wo Bhould be behind It." He struggled back Into the outside fury. By comparison, the sturdy citadel he quitted was paradise on the edge ot nn Inferno. DownIn the saloon the hardier passen gers were striving to subdue the ennui ot an Interval before they sought their cab Ins. Somo talked. One hardened repro bate, strummed the piano. Others played cards, chess, draughts, anything that would distract attention. The stately apartment offered strange contrast to the warring elements without Bright lights, costly upholstery, soft car pets, carved panels and glided cornices, with uniformed attendants passing to and fro carrying coffee and glasses these sur roundings suggested a floating palace In which the raging seas were defied. Yet 40 miles away, somewhere in the furious depths, four corpses swirled about with horrible uncertainty, lurching through bat tling currents, and perchance convoyed by fighting sharks. The surgeon had been called away. Iris was the only lady left In the saloon. She watched a set of whist players for a time and then essayed the perilous passage to her- stateroom. She found her maid and a stewardess there, uotn women were weeping. "What Is the matter?" she Inquired. Tho stewardess tried to speak. She choked with grief and hastily went out The maid blubbered an explanation. "A friend of hers was married, miss, to the man who is drowned." "Drowned! What man?" "Haven't you heard, miss? I suppose they are keeping It quiet An English sailor and some natives were swept off the ship by a sea. One native was saved, bqt he Is all smashed up. The others were never seen again." She was moed to tears. She remem bered tho doctor's hesitancy, and her own Idle phrase "a huge coflln." Outside the roaring waves pounded upon tho Iron walls. Wero they not satiated? This tragedy had taken all the grandeur out of the storm. It was no longer a majestic phase of na ture's power, but an Implacable demon, bel lowing for a sacrifice. And that poor wiani with her two children, hopefully scanning the shipping lists for news of the great steamer, news which, to her, meant only the safety of her husband. Oh, It was pitiful I Iris would not be undressed. The maid sniveled a request to be allowed to remain with her mistress. She would lie on a couch until morning. Two staterooms had been converted Into one t& provide Miss Deane with ample ao ccrtmodation. There were no bunks, hat a cozy bed was screwed to the deck, ifjae, lay down, and strove to read. It was il I du joms irac difficult task. Her eyes wandered from the printed page to mark the absurd antics of her garments swinging on their hooks. At times the ship rolled so far that she felt sure It must topple over. Sho waa not afraid j but subdued, rather astonished, placidly prepared for vaguo eventualities. Alter the course was changed nnd the Sirdar boro away toward the southwest tho commander consuttod the barometer each half-hour. Tho toll-tale mercury had sunk over two Inches In twelve hours. Tho abnormally low pressure quickly created dense clouds which enhanced the melancholy dnikness of tho gale. For many minutes together tho bows of tho ship were not visible.- Masthead and sidelights wero obscured by the pelting scud. Tha engines thrust tho vessel forward like a lanco Into tho vitals of the storm. Wind and wave gushed out of the vortex with Impotent fury. At last, soon after rdldnlght the bar ometer showed a slight upward movement. At 1:30 a. m. the change became pro nounced; simultaneously the wind swung round a point to tha westward. Then Captain Roes smiled wearily. ' His faco brightened. Ho opened his oilskin coat, glanced at tha compass and nodded approval. "That's right," he shouted to tne quaner mastor at tho steam-wheel. "Keep her steady there, south IE west" "South IE west It Is. sir," yelled tho sailor, Impassively watching the moving disk, for the wind alteration necessitated a llttlo less help from tho rudder to keep tho ship's head truo to her course. Captain Ross ato somo sandwiches and washed them down with cold tea. He was more hungry than ho Imagined, having spent 11 hours without food. Tho tea was In sipid. He called through a speaking-tube for a further supply of sandwiches nnd some coffee. Then he turned to consult a chart. He was Joined by tho chief officer. Both men examined tho chart In silence. Captain Ross finally took a pencil. Ho stabbed Its point on tho paper In the neigh borhood of 14 degrees north nnd 112 de grees oast i i "Wo aro about there, I think." Tho chief agreed. "That Was tho locality I had In my mind." Ho bent closer over tho sheet. "Nothing In tho way tonight, Blr," ho added, v "Nothing whatever. It Is a bit of good luck to meet such weather here. Wo can keep ns far south as we llko until day break, nnd by that time How did It look when you camo ln7" ' "A triflo better, I think." "I havo sent for somo refreshments. Let us havo another look before we tackle them." Tho two officers passed out Into tho hurri cane. Instantly tho wind endeavored to tear tho charthouso from the deck. Thoy looked aloft and ahead. The officer on duty saw them nnd nodded silent comprehension. It was useless to attempt to speak. The weather was perceptibly clearer. Then all thrco peered ahead again. They stood, pressing against tho wind, seeking to ponetrato tho murklness In front. Sud denly they wero galvanized Into strenuous activity. A wild howl came from the lookout for ward. Tho eyes of tho three men glared at a huge dismasted Chinese Junk, wallow ing helplessly in tho trough ot the sea, dead under tho bows. Tho captain sprang to the charthouso and signaled In fierce pantomtrio that the wheel should be put hard over. Tho officer In charge of tha bridge press ed tho telegraph lover to "stop" and "full speed astern," while with his disengaged hand ho pulled hard at tho siren cord, and a raucous warning sent stewards flying through tho ship to close collision bulkhead doors. Tho "chief darted to the port rajl, for tho Sirdar's Instant response to- the'helm seemed to cloar her nose from the junk as If by magic It alL happened so quickly that while tho hoarse signal was still vibrating through tho ship, the Junk swept past her quarter, Tho chief officer, Joined now by tho com mander, looked down Into tho wretched craft. Thoy could see her crew lashed In a bunch around the capstan on her elevated poop. She was laden with timber. Al though water-logged, she 'could not sink it she held together. A great wave sucked her away from the steamship and then hurled her back with Irresistible force. Tho Sirdar was Just completing her turning movement, and she heeled over, yielding to the mighty power ot the gale. For an appreciable instant her engines stopped. The mass of water that swayed the Junk like a cork lifted the great ship high by tho stern. Tho propeller began to revolve In air for tho third offi cer had corrected his signal to read "full speed ahead" again and the cumbrous Chi nese vessel struck tho Sirdar a terrible blow In the counter, smashing off the screw .close to the thrust-block and wrenching tho rudder frVm Its bearings. There was an awful race by the engines before the engineers could shut off steam. Tho Junk vanished into the wilderness of noise and tumbling seas beyond, and tho fine steamBhlp of a tew seconds ago, re plete with magnificent energy, struggled like a wounded lovlathan In the grasp of a vengeful foe. She swung round, as If In wrath, to pur buo the puny assailant which had dealt her this mortal stroke. No longer breasting the storm with stubborn persistency, she now drifted aimlessly before wind and wave. She was merely a larger plaything, tossed about by titanic gambols. The junk was burst asunder by the collision. Her planks and cargo Uttered the waves, were tossed In derision on the decks of the Sirdar, Of what avail was strong timber or bolted Iron against the spleen of the unchained and formless monster who loudly pro claimed his triumph? The great steamship drifted on through chaos. The typhoon had broken the lance. But brave men, skilfully directed, wrought hard to avert further disaster. After tne nrsi moment oi stupor, gauani British sailors risked lite and limb to bring the vessel under control. By their calm courage they shamed the paralyzed lascars Into activity, A sail waa rigged on the foremast, and a sea-anchor hastily constructed as soon as it was dis covered that the helm was useless. Rockets flared up Into the sky at regular intervals, in the taint hope that should they attract the attention of another vessel she would follow the disabled Sirdar and render help when the weather moderated. When the captain ascertained that no water was being shipped, the damage being wholly external, the collision doors were opened and the passongers admitted to the saloon, n brilliant palace, superbly Indiffer ent to the wreck and ruin without Captain Ross himself came down and addressed a tew comforting words to the quiet men and pallid women gathered there. He told them exactly what had happened. Sir John Tozer, self-possessed and criti cal, asked a question. "The Junk is destroyed, I assume?" he said. "It is." "Would It not have been better to have struck her end on?" "Much better, but that Is not the view we should take If we encountered a vessel relatively as big as the Sirdar was to the unfortunate Junk." "But," persisted the lawyer, "what would have been the result?" "You would never have known that the incident had happened. Sir John." . "In other words, the poor despairing Chinamen, clinging to their little craft with come chance ofescape, would he. quietly oinrdered to suit our convenUnco." , It waa IrU's clear volca tht rang cut S-i l ffc this downright exposition of the fact, tl r John shook his head; he carried tb dU cu8lon no further. The hours passed In tedious misery aft t Captain Ross's visit Every one was eg?r to get a glimpse of the unknown terrors without from tho deck. This was out tit the question, so people gat around t-'-a tnhlea to listen eagerly to Experience a I his wise saws on drifting ships arid thir prospectA. Some cautious persona visited the f cabins to secure valuables in case uf further disaster. A few hardy spirits re turned to bed. Meanwhile, in the charthouse, tha cap tain nnd chief officer were gravely pondei Ing over an open chart and discussing 1 fresh rlek that loomed ominously before them. The ship waa a long way out of h r usual course when the accident liapnt Sho was drifting now, they estimated, H knots an houiywlth wind, sea, and curro t all forcing her in tha same direction, drlif Ing Into one of the most dangerous plao-s In the known world, the south China Hie. with its numberless reefs, shonla and Isolated rocks, and the great Island of Bor neo stretching right across the path of the cyclone. Still, there was nothing to be done sav to make a few unobtrusive preparation and trust to Idle chance. To attempt to anchor and ride out the gale In their pre ent position was out of tho question. Two, three, four o'clock camo, and went Another half-hour would witness the dawn and a further clearing of the weather. The barometer was rapidly rising. The center) of the cyclone had swept far ahead. There waa only left the aftermath of heavy Bees and furious but steadier wind. Captain Ross entered the charthouse for tho twentieth time. He had nged many years In appearance. Tho smiling, confident, debonair officer wan changed Into a stricken, mournful man. He had altered with his ship. The Sirdar and her mooter could hardly bo recognized, so cruui wera mo muwa uiey jutu ijcivcu. "It Is Impossible to Beo a yard ahead, S he Confided to his second In command. "If havo novcr been so anxious beforo In mjr Ufo. Thank God tho night Is drawing to f close. Perhaps when day breaks - " Ills last words contained a prayer and (a ' hope. Even as ho spoko the ship soempd j , ,t to lift herself bodily with an unusual effsrtl for a vessel moving before tho wind, , Tho next instant thero was a horrible grinding crash forward. Each person who did not chance to be holding fast to an up right was thrown violently down. The deck was tilted to a dangerous angle and re- , malncd there, while tho heavy buffeting of tho sea, now raging afresh nt this unjooked for resistance, drowned the despairing yell raised by tho lascars on duty. The Sirdar had completed her Jast"voyage.t Sho was now a battered wreck on a barrier reef. Sho hung thus for one heart-breaking second. Then another wave, riding tri umphantly through Its fellows, caught the great steamship In Its tremendous grasp. carried her onward for half her length and smashed her down on tho rocks. Her back; was broken. Sho parted In two halves. Both sections turned completely over In the utter wantonness of destruction, nnd every thing masts, funnels, boats, hull, with , every living soul on board waa at once en- gulfed In a maelstrom of rushing water and far-flung spray. CHAPTER 11 The Survivors "TTTHEN tha Sirdar parted amidships, the YVdoor of tho saloon hoaved up In the center with a mighty crash" of rending wood work and Iron, Men and women, too Btupe flcd to sob 'out a prayer, were pitched hcad-lopg- Into chaos. Iris, torn from the ter rified grasp of her maid, fell through corridor and would havo gone down wtU the ship had not a sailor, clinging to , companion ladder, caught her as , whirled along tho steep slope of the deck. , Ho did not know what had happened.'' With the Instinct of self-preservation ha seized the nearest support when tha vessel struck. It was the more Impulse of ready helpfulness that caused him to stretch out his left arm and clasp the girl's waist as she fluttered past By idle chance they were on the port side and the ship, after pausing for one awful second, fell over to starboard. " The man was not prepared for this sec ond gyration. Even as the stairway canted he lost his balance i they were both thrown violently through tho open hatchway and swept off lntp the boiling surf. Under such conditions thought Itself waa Impossible. A series of Impressions, a number of fantastic pictures, were received by the benumbed facult'cs. and afterward pain fully sorted out by tho memory, Fear, anguish, amazement none of these could exist All he knew was that the Ufelea form ot a woman for Iris had happily fainted must bo held until death Itself wrenched her from him. Then there came the headlong plunge Into the swirling see, followed by an Indefinite period of gasp ing oblivion. Something that felt like a moving rock rose up beneath his feet He was driven clear out of the water and seemed to recognize a familiar object ria- ing rigid and bright close at hand. It waa 1 the binnacle pillar, screwed to a portion ot the deck which came away from tha charthouse and was rent from the upper framework by contact with the reef. He seized this unlooked-for support wKk his disengaged hand. For one fleet Instant he had a confused vision of the destruc tion of the ship. Both the fore and aft , portions were burst asunder by the fcroe of compressed air. Wreckage and humaa forms were tossing about foolishly. TJi , sea pounded upon the opposing rocks with the noise of 10,000 mighty steam hammers, A uniformed figure he thought It waa the captain stretched out an unavailing arm to clasp the queer raft which imp- ported the sailor and the girl, But a. jealous wave rose under the platform, wlttf devilish energy and turned it completely over, hurting the man with his inanimate burden Into the depths. He rose, flghUneT madly for his life. Now surely he waa doomed! But again, as it human exist ence depended on naught more serious tha the spinning of a coin, hlsiknees reated on the same few stanch Mmbtra, sow the celling of the music room, and h waa given a brief respite- lua greatest (-( culty waa to get hla breath, bo dense wa the spray through whtcU fee. -was drtyaa." Even In that terrible moment ha kept hi senses. The girl, utterly unconnttoua, showed by the convulsive heaving t 1m breast that she was choking. With a wild effort he swung her head rwwA U shield her from the flylna; scud wlt JMM own form. , . The tiny air space thus provided avt her gome relief, and In that Instant tha l sailor seemed to recognize her, Ha wfra not remotely capable of definite Mea. Just as he vaguely realUed the Identity of the woman In hla arm the uhMmAt support on which ha rested toppled mt. Again he renewed the unequal cootL 4 strong, resolute man aed a -typhoon nm.' wrestled for supremacy. CONTINVMD m MOS DAY'S A M
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