The
sky became spotted with trails of smoke, which were swept along by a
light eastern breeze.
What was our captain thinking of in still heading toward the port of
Buffalo! Did not prudence forbid him to venture further? At each
moment, I expected that he would give a sweep of the helm and turn
away toward the western shore of the lake. Or else, I thought, he
would prepare to plunge beneath the surface. But this persistence in
holding our bow toward Buffalo was impossible to understand!
At length the helmsman, whose eyes were watching the northeastern
shore, made a sign to his companion. The latter, leaving the bow,
went to the central hatchway, and descended into the engine room.
Almost immediately the captain came on deck, and joining the
helmsman, spoke with him in a low voice.
The latter, extending his hand toward Buffalo, pointed out two black
spots, which showed five or six miles distant on the starboard side.
The captain studied them attentively. Then shrugging his shoulders,
he seated himself at the stern without altering the course of the
"Terror."
A quarter of an hour later, I could see plainly that there were two
smoke clouds at the point they had studied so carefully. Little by
little the black spots beneath these became more defined. They were
two long, low steamers, which, coming from the port of Buffalo, were
approaching rapidly.
Pages:
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150