Bert Wilson, Wireless Operator

Dere

am of dazzling whiteness; the arching blue of the heavens, across which floated soft, gray clouds, which, pierced through and through by the brilliant sunshine, seemed as transparent as a gossamer veil. A sea-gull, rising suddenly from the crest

oving ship gleamed and flashed in the sunsh

hless day was enough to fill them with keenest delight. The swift motion of the good ship that had so gallantly weathered the terrible storm, the sea air which, freight

rance of joy Dic

n the oce

f an exciting sea story he had read, and, complying with Tom's eager "Tell us about it," he was soon in the midst of the yarn, the boys

were being drawn to destruction by the dying struggles of an enormous whale which they had harpooned, when Bert, who, while he listened, had b

d Tom, catching the excitement

saw. At first she seemed to be sailing a little distance and then back again in a sort of zig-zag course, but just a minute ago she turn

rprise the ship, as Bert had said, apparent

led silence, exclamations and qu

n she be?" "She looks like a schooner." "Why does she drift

er eyes scanned the strange ship from stem

ve anyone at her wheel. She is ev

er view. The stranger seemed to be about three miles away, but, as the distance lessened between her and the Fearless, the excit

the strange ship, a murmur of satisfaction was heard on every side. At the c

they heard their names called, and

ved. Standing on the deck of a great ship like the Fearless is a very different thing from sitting in a small boat, with the waves which, from the ship's

the other side of that green wall, seemed an equally sure way to destruction. They were glad indeed to remember that the boat was in the hands of experienced and capable seamen. A

twenty beside the captain and officers; but, where were they now? Sure enough, there was no one at the wheel nor anywhere about the decks. Were they below? If so, what was the despe

be a very difficult task to gain her deck. With the wheel unmanned she broached to and fro with every current and wave motion, and, constantly veering from point to point, made

ng up a rope that lay near him, he cast it to his shipmates and, by easing and adjusting the boat as much as possible to the erratic heaving and plunging of the ship, made it poss

ness and solitude held them motionless. It was as if they stood in the presence of the dead. Here was the body, this big schooner, but the soul had fled. The rush of feet, the quick word of command, the hearty "Aye, aye, sir," in response, the noise of ge

h the deck for some solution of the mystery, and not one among them was conscious of t

. The life-boats and even the little dinghy were in their places. All wa

k and Tom, went below, for, here in the cabin, they hoped to find some solution of th

bed. In the cabin the only sign of haste or disturbance was found. The table was set for breakfast with the food upon it only partly eaten. Chairs were p

these things would inevitably have been thrown to the floor. He showed them further that the breakfast things on the table were in their places and not overturned as they must have been in the storm. Then, too, the coffee in the urn was barely cold, and the fire in the galley stove was

behavior of the Aurora, and the safety of all on board. The entry was made with the kind of ink that writes bl

Did anyone ever hear of anything like this?" wondered Dick. "Such a little while

irst that drove them away," and he pointed to the shelves of the pantry, well stocked with meats an

orner of the ship from deck to hold, but found no sign of living creature, nor an

mind, "could have driven a company of men to abandon a ship in such perfect condition

only waiting to procure the ship's log that he had laid upon the table, he led the way to the deck. With a last look a

their faces brightened; and as they stood once more upon her decks, with the eager people crowding abo

istening to their report. "What could have driven them to such a desperate measur

e searched the ship for any signs of a struggle or bloodshed; bu

, a leak?" again su

. "The ship seemed as tight and safe as

d by his ill-fated ship and to whose rescue and that of his unfortunate passengers the Fearless had come with not a minute to spare. Captain Manning had found him very congenia

n superstition, fear of ghosts perhaps. This unreasoning f

"is it not possible that their panic m

will cruise about as soon as I can make preparation. We m

e one?" asked one of Cap

er to be of Canadian construction and bound from Vancouver to China with a cargo of dried fish, skins, and lumber. If she had been returning

wners?" asked Mr. Collins. "A schooner li

cannot afford the time, and I hardly know what to do. She ought not to be left drifting; she is right in the track of steamships, an

ed the cruiser Cormorant and received thanks for the informat

tion for signs of a boat. Once the call of the lookout drew all eyes to a dark object which, at that distance, looked as if it might be a yawl, and every heart bea

ch gradually faded as the hours went by. At last, Captain Mannin

it seemed to the four young fellows that the Fearless swung slowly and reluct

he rail, Ralph thoughtfully said, "I wonder if the m

e return we can ascertain

ip reached her the mystery would be as profound as ever. And," he added, sinking disgus