THE LAST CKUISE OF THE MIRANDA. H5 



said, if you only make believe enough, orange-peel and water 

 is very nice indeed. 



As only about fifteen of us could get into the little fore- 

 castle, which served both as a general dining-room and a 

 sleeping-room for the Rigel's crew, we managed to keep the 

 cook pretty busy ; in fact, the meals lasted the greater part 

 of the day. The forecastle was small, but it afforded a great 

 variety of motion ; for here the pitching and tossing of the 

 little vessel could be felt in full force. It was like being 

 tossed in a blanket almost, for at times a powerful jerk Avould 

 come from the Miranda along the tow-line that would seem 

 to send the little schooner -flying in the air. But it was not 

 long before the steamer and the schooner were obliged to part 

 company a thing which, judging from the strain on the 

 cable, they were perpetually endeavoring to accomplish. 



On the second day out August 23 we encountered very 

 heavy swells, and we could see that the Miranda was rolling 

 badly. How long the top of the ballast-tank could stand the 

 strain of so heavy a sea was a question that was answered 

 sooner than we anticipated. As darkness fell about us a red 

 light gleamed from the steamer's deck, indicating that trouble 

 was anticipated. At a few minutes after midnight three 

 shrieks came from the steamer's whistle in rapid succession. 

 This was the signal that she was in sore distress, and the red 

 light was hung over the stern as a warning for Captain Dixon 

 to be in readiness. The speed of the Miranda was slackened, 

 and as the two vessels came together Captain Farrell hailed 

 Captain Dixon to be ready, as the steamer was in a sinking 

 condition. Immediately Captain Dixon hailed back to him 

 to cut the cable and drop off in the boats, and that the Rigel 

 would pick them up. But Captain Farrell answered back 

 that he would try to stand by the ship until daylight. Cap- 

 tain Dixon hailed again, begging Captain Farrell to take no 

 risks. The gains that salvage would bring him appeared not 



