The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-07-14 00:00:00

CHAPTER IV.
IN ROL OH WEATHER.

THE voyage was prosperous; the hot band of the
tropics was passed, and day by day the weather
grew cooler, as they seemed to sail out of summer
into autumn; and then as they reached Cape Horn,
autumn gave way slowly to winter, with short dark
days and cold rain storms; the wind at times blow-
ing keenly, as if coming from glaciers in the far
south. The pleasant idlings upon the deck were at
an end, and the greater part of the time was pent
below, in shelter from the beating waves and blind-
ing rain.

ahen came gales, with heavy drifting flakes of
snow; and the waves, striking against the star-
board and port bows of the ship to break, leap on
board and deluge the decks. The awnings had dis-
appeared long since, and officers and men stalked
the deck in oilskins; while Charles Helston went
from the cabin below, and from thence to his
medical stores,with an anxious face; for he haa a heavy
responsibility, and his "people," as he called them,
were longing for a change.
It was one afternoon, and the great ship was heavily
ploughing her way through the murky seas, with a
dull, yellowy haze all round, seeming to shut the
vessel in, while 4uails of cutting, sleety rain dashed
upou Yer every now and then, as if the gods of the
myst, nous southern seas they were penetrating re-
sent& their apnroach, and strove to drive them back.
A dull t' ud every now and then told of the blow
given by some taller wave that broke against the
bows, and, after deluging the forepart of the vessel,
dripped from bowsprit an figure-head, and streamed
from the scuppers.
As a rule though, bending under close-reefed storm
sails, the Zenobia well answered her helm, and was
eased o er the heavier billows, riding up one great,
dull peen hill, to hang for a moment suspended on
the summit, and then go plunging down, down the
other side, as if never to rise again.
There was only the watch on deck, with a couple
of men stationed at the wheel; for the night had
been a heavy one, and the weary captain and sailors
were snatching a few hours' rest below. Laurent
was the officer in charge; and, cased from head to
foot in oil- kins, he was gazing straight ahead into
the mirk, when he was accosted by Holston.
" Ah, doctor—you on deck? Hadn't you better go
below F'

"Not till I've had a little fresh air," said Holston.
" NOlie to be had," said Laurent. a It's all as
salt as brine."

"Better than the foul, close, mephitic vapour be-
low," said Helston. "I want you to see to this.
Can we not have a hatch or two off? Something
more done for ventilation."

"You can have hatches off if you wish to have
cold water instead of bad air. Why, man, we're
shipping sers every five minutes; and if we took
the hatches off we should be waterlogged. Look at
that!"

"As if to endorse his words, the great ship just
then seemed to rise at a green hill of water, and
then to stumble, plunging right into the wave which
leaped over the bows, and delncted the deck, setting
casks and coops afloat, until it found a way out at
the sides.

"There would lave been a ton or two of water
for you, doctor. I don't think your damsels would
have been delighted to have that come swishing
down amongst them."
"Oh, no; you're quite right," said Helston,
frankly; "but it's very bad for them below then,.
We shall have no end of sickness directly; and the
poor,things are growing terribly impatient."
"Women like,' said Laurent. "Well, we'll do
the best we can for them, and the moment the sea
subsides they ca come or d.;"
(To las maiwatis,) ,