National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1870-10-14

group, and followed the bluff old sailor
to where the captain and the mates were
standing in front of us but the rest of
the crew went on stolidly placing water
and provisions in couple of the boats,
and at last launched them, and were
about to push on without a word, when
Captain Webster threw them in a com
pass, and gave them directions which
course to steer.
Five minutes after they were rowing
swiftly away, when, for the first time,
Cleve spoke " Is there no chance of
saving the vessel, Captain Webster ?"
:" No, sir, was the reply " not the
slightest. In two hours she will have
gone down.
shivered as | heard these words :;
but tried TO smile as Cleve glanced
round at me and then, for the next
hour, busy preparations for leaving the
vessel were carried on.
/ The boat left was large and roomy ;
and upon its being launched, sails, uasts,
and cordage were placed inside, with
quite heavy store of water and provi-
sions, every man working hard and
though they smiled at my efforts, | ran
carrying necessaries for our use.
But at last all was declared to be in
readiness, and | was lowered over the
side Give quickly taking his place with
me in the boat, whore there were already
the four sailors then came the two
mates and lastly the captain.
" 1ou bear witness, gentlemen, he
said, Z" that left nothing undone, and
that it was not until every effort had
failed that | left my ship. He would
have said more hut something which
caught his eye made him shout to the
men to seize their oars and then, all
together, they rowed hard away from the
ships side.
At first | did not know why this was
done, but | soon saw that it was to avoid
the vortex which the sinking vessel
would cause for before five minutes had
elapsed, the great ship had began to roll
slowly from side to side and then, in
spite of myself, | uttered cry as it gave
a plunge forward, and seemed to dive
down out of sight, leaving us alone upon
the surface OF the great waters.
The night came on, and passed slowly
away, affecting us all with deep feeling
of awe as we thought of the frail defence
we had against death To us the vast
ocean. heaving 50 slowly and regularly
beneath seemed then like the household
of eternity and know that | trembled
as | clung to poor Gives arm, in spite
of his encouraging words. But very
little was said that night ; and | knew
that no one slept but we all sat watch
ing and longing for the morning.
At another time, | could have remain
ed rapt with wonder and JOY at the glorl
uus sunrise. which flooded the Who'll,
surface OF the sea with orange and gold
, but there was the sense of the great sob
tude expressing me always. while arounC
me were the pale hagga q faces of mel
, who know the perilous straight in which
We lay As the morning broke, though
the captain rose up in the bows, anC
stood looking around in every direction
, to try ii he could make out where tn,
other boats We're, bu-, though he triet
. again and again, he could see nothing
and we iclt that W. were all alone. 1t Wa
not a time for rcpining, however, an,
every man sat busily at work, arranging
| such things rs We had IN the boat thei
Il little mast was set up, and sail holst
: ed, which the soft breeze gently filled
. and the boat began to go lightly owe
the swell After short consultation
| the captain determined to sail for tn
island of Amsterdam. tiny speck Il
mld-occau, but II place that might prov
q TO us n haven of refuge till paSSln
vessel could take us of for though a
the present time the sea and sky wer
I serene and bright, We did not know HOY
r soon u storm might arise to engulf on
little frall boat
Onc--two- three days we sailed on
n and then came Change fierce win
blowing from the very direction in whic
y our island lay First, the sky grew blac
> with clouds. while the sea became whit
II and foaming, the waves each momer
Il curling up more and more tiercely, Il
:, they beat against the sides and splashe
- over. The boats course was altered, til
sail lowered all but tiny portion, an
:. the little vessel began to ride swift
over the waves, now leaping up grei
l. hill Of water, hanging balanced on Ii
!, foamy ridge and then plunging an
gliding down into the depth from whic
.- it seemed impossible that we could evt
10 rise Then came the time when ever
n one except the captain, who sat pale an
rs stern. steering the boat, began To ba
"a out the water which constantly splasht
Il over the sides Even would have he'll
,r ed but every one smiled, and tried
n. make the part of the boat | was in mo-
N comfortable 10y putting up portion
| the sail, SO us to screen me from ii
~ spray, which was now icily cold.
m 1t might he thought that in 81 h
lc time of trouble men would have bee
Y moved 10y selfish thoughts but it WI
n not SO, for again and again it seemed
~ me that WIS made the first conside
il alton. When biscuits and water, or win
~ were PASSED round received always Il
first share and all through that vi
ye and fearful time, even the roughe
,g sailor there was ready to show me r
,g spect and try to do some little net
la. prove his Willingness TO serve me.
Mt For a whole week We were borne aloi
hc through that great chaos of trouble
nd waters, each moment expecting son
ok huge wave 10 cngllf rs ; and then slow
~ the tempest began 10 abatc. First, q
rk wind went down, and then 10y slow d
kc prccs the waves 80 slowly. though. tli
To losing care. now that the peril was III
Nv posed 10 he over one of the sailors, "
80 was fteering. allowed wave to wa
,rk right in, dclugcd the boat from end
nd end. so TINT it seemed about to sink, Al
nt | clung to Give, feeling that our Ii
,ns hour hnd come.
The confusion caused by this sudd
aid danger made matters worse aud two
Idy the men plunged overheard with an {
to cnch. 10 keep themselves ailoat, for th
Ter felt that the boat was going down. j