The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1870-12-03

"On the coast of Norfolk, said Bill
g where we are to stop on our passage Bu
: | must not stand sPeechifyng here wbll
! the rest are busy"
e So saying, be sprung on deck, followed b.
; the old pilot
When Bill and his companions came up
r. on deck, they found Harry there. givinI
S orders. The old pilot went up to him and
doffing bis hat, said
"Sir, hope you are not going to get th'
ship under way tonight"
, "Why not ?" asked Harry.
. look, SIR" exclaimed the pilot, turn
ing to the northeast, do you not see how
. the sky is lowering over yOnder and de
you not feel what roll of the sea there is
"a sure sisa of coming STERN, if there
has not been gale before. Take an old
mans advice for once, and one who ha'
! weathered many o tough gale-keep not tC
sea tonight, but enter the harbor, where
you will be safe from every wind tha
blows"
"Thank you, my old boy" said Harry
but seaman must not be frightened with
every eapful Of wind that may blow" Sc
saying, be moved off to give directions.
By this time the ship was again under
way; but although Harry bad disregarded
the advice of the old pilot about entering
the harbor, vet be determined to make
the ship snug for That might happen.
So, seizing a speaking-trumpet, he bawled
ont n sonao mon alnff-
Send down the royals and topgallant-
masts there. "
GAY, ay, sir" shouted half dozen
voices from the clouds, and in a minute
down they came.
Harry, coming up to Archer, the Sec
ond lieutenant, asked him what he thought
Of the weather.
II believe we are going to get stiff
north-easter, replied Archer, "and by the
Lord Harry, there it comes !" said be,
pointing to the east.
"Well, then" said Harry, "get the
top-sais double -reefed, new lash the guns,
and send the carpenter and his mate to
secure the boats and batten down he
hatchwsys What course do you steer 2"
asked Harry Of the man at the wheel
Southeast and by SOUTH" said the
map.
Then keep her two more points to
the east we must stand without the
Fern Islands, as the wind seems inclined
to eastern upon us. i"
At this instant, a heavy squall struck
the ship and almost laid her on her beam
ends. " Lutf, my lad-luff!" roared out
Harry to the man at the wheel.
Seeing the ship much pressed, a mid
shipman, with six men, was sent to take
in the 'stsysails, by which the ship was
eascd considerably. Tue wind, by this
time, bad risen to perfect hurricane
the rain fell in torrents, and the sea birds
we're screaming and Huttering about the
rigging, as if seeking shelter from the
wind the sea, likewise, had risen pro
digiously and the ship, groaning and vel
tering at every plunge, seemed to be crack
ing at every timber, whilst the creaking
Of the guns and the rafting Of the blocks
greatly increased the uproar and confusion
" Surely some bag is dead to night, il
blows SO desperately" said Clark, coming
aft to where Harry was standing; " but
as as the ship makes good weather on
this reach, as she is nearly bow on to the
sea, it may be as well to keep her on this
tack during the night.
40, sirs," said the carpenter, coming
up with a face as long as bis arm, "tae ship
is sinking, and we shall all go to the
bottom"
What's the matter Y said Harry.
The ship has sprung a leak in the
powder magazine and the water is pouring
in like sluice."
Hang your long phiz - said an old
grim fellow Of a quartermaster, standing by
the main-chains why don't you 90 and
stop it, then 2"
''Do you, Clark, " said Harry, ''go down
and see what is the matter; and do you,
carpenter, get your crew and man the
weather pump"
There is a leak, indeed" said Clark
returning but nothing to make work
about"
An ugly sea, that - said the old quar-
termaster ''that greenhorn at the helm has
wet me into the skin. You rascal, why
don't you ease the ship into the sea III
you carry on in that manner, you will
soon send us all to another place of
worship"
"Do you intend, sir, }" said be, address
ing himself to Harry, "tO stand long on
this tack ?"
Yes" replied Harry; ''the ship will
labor less on this tack than on the other
and besides, it is best to ger as much sea
room as possible"
Had we not Better run into the Fair
way ?" said the quartermastsr I've are
sure Of getting shelter under the Big Fern,
and l know the coast well, for was brought
up in these parts.
That's good idea," observed Harry
''But lee shore is dangerous place in
stormy night"
"Oh, never fear the lee shore-Pll
pilot you in safety; besides, the lights will
direct US"
"Very vel" said Harry "as the wind
does not at all seem inclined to take of. we
had better do as you say and do you,
Clark, take some men and clew up the fore
sail. Keep her away, my lad" shouted be
to the man at the wheel. $50, so-steady.
Ready there with the boom-foresail hal
yards"
" All ready, SIR
Then boom away, my lads; get the
trysail down, too, and we'll run under
dOuble-reefed tOpsails alone. "
The ship was much eased ~ this dlmlnu-
ton of canvas, and ran much steadier than
might have been expected, only occasionally
shipping little sea over the weather bow
To be Continued.
w. IT.