Part 8 (1/2)
”Perfectly beautiful,” exclaimed several ladies. ”There,” said the purser, as four bells rang out and the gong for dinner sounded, ”the sun is kissing the waves.” Before any one could answer, the gorgeous sun was slowly sinking into the blue waters of the Northern Atlantic. Pa.s.sengers held their watches and in three minutes the sun had said farewell.
The dinner was much enjoyed. After an evening of charming moonlight, midnight found all, save those on duty, asleep in the ”Majestic,” which was speeding rapidly towards the safe granite docks at Liverpool.
Moonlight at sea is so bewitching, the wonder is that pleasure-seekers ever consent to land except when denied the companions.h.i.+p of the silver G.o.ddess of night. Whether she races with the clouds, silver tips the waves, or with her borrowed light floods the world with fairy-like beauty, it is only that her admirers may exchange sorrow for joy and conflict for peace.
The sixth day out, the sun illumined a clear sky, and those that loved the sea were early on deck for exercise and fresh air. These early risers were well repaid, as the steamer was pa.s.sing through a great school of porpoises that sometimes venture long distances from the British Islands.
Alfonso ran to rap at Lucille's door and she hurried on deck to enjoy the sight. Hundreds of acres of the ocean were alive with porpoises or sea hogs as sailors often call them.
Porpoises average five feet in length and are the size of a small boy and quite as playful. These animals are smooth, and black or gray in color, except the under side which is pure white. They are gregarious and very sociable in their habits. Porpoises race and play with each other and dart out of the sea, performing almost as many antics as the circus clown. They feed on mackerel and herring, devouring large quant.i.ties. Years ago the porpoise was a common and esteemed article of food in Great Britain and France, but now the skin and blubber only have a commercial value. The skins of a very large species are used for leather or boot-thongs.
The early risers were standing on the prow of the steamer where the cut.w.a.ter sent constantly into the air a nodding plume of white spray.
Suddenly the watch shouted, ”Whale ahead, sir!” Officers and sailors were astir. Just ahead, and lying in the pathway of the steamer lay a whale, fifty feet in length, seemingly asleep, for he was motionless. The officer's first thought was that he would slack speed, but presence of mind prompted him to order full speed, planning no doubt, if the whale was obstinate, to cut him in halves.
Lucille and others, fearful of consequences, turned and ran, but the leviathan suddenly dropped down out of sight, his broad tail splas.h.i.+ng salt water into the faces of the young people who were bold enough to await events. With a sense of relief, Leo exclaimed, ”Narrow escape, that!”
”Narrow escape for whom?” Alfonso inquired.
”For both the steamer and the whale,” replied Lucille.
On the way to breakfast, Lucille asked an officer if similar instances frequently happened.
”Rarely,” he replied, but added, ”very likely we may see other whales in this vicinity.” Sure enough, after breakfast, children ran up and down the deck shouting, ”Whales! Whales!” and several were seen a mile or two north of the s.h.i.+p's course, where they sported and spouted water.
About four o'clock, the temperature having fallen several degrees, the pa.s.sengers sighted to the northeast a huge iceberg in the shape of an arch, bearing down on the steamer's course, and had it been night, possibly freighted with all the horrors of a s.h.i.+p-wreck. As it was, Captain Morgan deemed it wise to lessen the speed as the s.h.i.+p approached the iceberg.
”This is wonderful, Leo,” said Mrs. Harris; ”can you tell us where and when icebergs are formed?”
”Oh yes, Mrs. Harris, icebergs that float down the Atlantic are born on the west coast of Greenland. Up there great valleys are filled with snow and ice from hill-top to hill-top, reaching back up the valleys, in some instances from thirty to forty miles. This valley-ice is called a 'Mer de Glace,' and has a motion down the valley, like any river, but of three feet more or less only per day. If time enough is allowed, vast quant.i.ties of this valley-ice move into the gulf or sea. When the sea is disturbed by a storm the ice wall or precipice is broken off, and enormous ma.s.ses, often a hundred times larger than a big building, fall and float away with the report of the firing of a park of artillery, and these floating mountains of ice are lighted in their lonely pathways by the midnight sun.”
Before dinner, came the regular promenade which presented many contrasts.
A pretty bride from the Blue Gra.s.s Region of Kentucky walked with her young husband whom she had first met at a New England seaside. She was glad to aid in bridging the chasm between north and south. Her traveling dress of blue was appropriately trimmed with gray.
The gorgeously dressed gambler walked on the deck alone. Then came two modest nuns dressed in gray and white. Alfonso and his mother, the judge and Lucille, and a group of little children followed. Dr. Argyle and a Philadelphia heiress kept step. Everybody walked, talked, and laughed, and the pa.s.sengers had little need of the s.h.i.+p's doctor now. If the weather is fair the decks are always enlivened as a steamer approaches land. The next day, by noon at latest, Ireland and Fastnet Rock would be sighted, if the s.h.i.+p's reckoning had been correct.
After dinner, Dr. Argyle was walking the deck with Lucille in the star-light. He had told her much of his family, of his talented brother in the Church, and of another in the army; he had even ventured to speak of Lucille's grace of manner, and she feared what might follow.
The call of Mrs. Harris relieved Lucille of an unpleasant situation.
Secretly, Lucille was pleased to escape from Dr. Argyle. Something in his manner told her that he was not sincere; that he was a schemer, perhaps a fortune-seeker, and she gladly rejoined her mother.
Mrs. Harris and her children often wondered how matters were progressing at home. Alfonso had faith in his father's ability to cope with the strike, but Mrs. Harris and Lucille were much worried. ”Don't let us trouble,” said Alfonso, ”till we reach Queenstown, as there we shall surely get a cablegram from father.”
Just then Leo joined the family, and Lucille taking his arm, the two walked the deck, and later they found quiet seats in the moonlight. The moon's welcome rays revealed fleece-like clouds overhead and changed the waters astern into acres of diamonds. Gentle breezes fanned the cheeks of two troubled lovers who thus far had kept well their heart secrets.
Lucille's warm and sensitive nature yearned for some confidant in whom she could find consolation. Mrs. Harris never quite understood her daughter. Lucille was n.o.ble, generous, and true in her affection. Her ideal of marriage was that the busy shuttle of life must be of Divine guidance, and often she was at a loss to understand some of the deep mysteries that had clouded her own life. Of this world's blessings her life had been full, except she could not reconcile some of her late experiences. Of this, of course, Leo knew nothing. He too had had a cup of bliss dashed suddenly to the ground. A moment of anger had destroyed his plans for life. The moon's soft light changed Leo's purpose never to speak to Lucille of his affection for Rosie Ricci, and he now frankly told her the whole story.
At first Lucille did not wish to believe that Leo had ever been in love, as her own heart had turned to him in the silent hours of the night when the pain in her heart forbade sleep.
Trembling she said, ”Leo, you have given Rosie up forever then?”
”Oh no, Miss Harris, it was Rosie who said to me, 'Good-bye, Leo, forever.' She accepted my attentions for a year. Alas! Rosie's love for the rich man's gold I fear was more powerful than her love for me, a poor artist, and so she threw back the ruby ring and my mother's cameo, and crushed my heart and hopes. In accepting the kind invitation of your brother to accompany your family on this trip, I hoped that the journey might heal my suffering soul.”