EVmbt LKf)aER-3?HILADEI;PHIA, SATTJBDAY, SEPttEMBEft 191G.N
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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