The Literary echo, and Pawcatuck advertiser. [volume] (Westerly, R.I.) 1851-1854, 1851-11-13

up after sticking out the last link of both
chains, L discovered a large English barque
dragging down past us with both anchors
out ahead, going off like land crab, stern
foremost.
This reminded me that perhaps the old
Triton might take notion to back out !;
and running aft, dropped the hand-lead
over the side, and found that she was max
inc off with her anchors. For ten minutes
l stood holding on to her lead-line, hoping
that the anchors would get hold, and
bring her up, but she wouldn't stop; she
was bound to have cruise. L knew that
half a mile outside of us the sounding fell
off from twelve fathoms into forty in SIN
Gle cables length and l knew, further,
that if she dragged off the bank, she was
certain to 90 ashore on the Algesiras side
of the bay; and if she were to strike on
one of those dangerous sunken rocks that
line the iron-bound shore, we might all say,
4" My native land, good night :"
was determined if she went ashore that
night, that she should 60 ship shape, head
on. accordingly mustered my little crew,
and buoying both chains outside the hawse
we paid out on board and let them 60. The
old gentleman, Mr.. White, came forward
and lent us hand to hoist up the fore-top-
mast-staysail, and in ten minutes we had
her off before the wind, going out through
the straits like a race horse.
AS soon as we had got the staysail sheet
hauled aft and Delayed, [ ran aft to the
wheel, where 1 found little Isabel, who
had lit the binnacle lamp, and taken the
wheel, while we were engaged forward.
"What's the course, sir :" said the lit
tie beauty, looking very gravely up into
my face, as 1 came aft.
" Never mind, Bell I'll take the
wheel; you'd better go below out of the
rain"
"Not bit of it, captain I can steer
her like charm and l know the compass
as we'll as you do but you see Pm so short
that can't look into the pinnacle. Both
Grafton 1 wish 1 was man! 0, look
here-I'll tell you! Ifyou'll tell me how
to keep her by that light yonder, can
steer her, while you attend to any other
matter that you wish to have done"
1 looked at her in perfect astonishment
for few moments, until | saw that she
had the ship in perfect command, when L
directed her to keep Tariffe light open
about three points in our starboard bow,
while L cleared away, and set the main
spencer. We had just got the sail loosed,
and the sheet hauled aft, when | felt the
wind coming over our starboard quarter ;
and looking forward, 1 discovered Tariffe
light on the lee bow, and the ships head
was flying to, directly in towards the rocks
which were not half mile distant.
"Starboard! Observation-Disclosures
1 shouted, and sprang aft, where found
Isabel all in a furry, with the helm hard
aport Instantly seizing the spokes whirl-
ed the wheel hard up. But in so doing, l
whirled my little hclmsman hard up also
for the first turn of the wheel caught lsa-
bel's dress, and by the time that had got
the helm hard a-starboard, it was wound
in nnder the parts of the rope, very nearly
up to her waist. I did not dare to right
the helm until the ship paid off on her
course again, and the little vixen was sqall.
ing murder for me to pull her out. And
f did pull her out with a vengeance, for
clasping her round the waist, | drew her
away so suddenly that the whole skirt OF
her dress was left wound round the wheel
torn away at the waist, as clean as if pail
, of shears had done.
In two minutes the ship was heading
her course again, and running off before
the wind. AS soon as Isabel discovered
that there was no damage done, she burst
out laughing, and addressed me after this
, fashion
"Look here, sir Is this a fair speci
men of marine politeness' L have heard
! tell of yerking each other out of their boots
but this is the first time that L ever saw
I Or heard tell of lady being yerked out o
her dress"
"I beg pardon, Miss Isabel; it was
mistake-but you d better not try it again