Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1870-08-24


thing, you have taught me, mother bu,
keep brave heart and take no disquiet for
me good byc!" said the young skipper, and
within the hour, he, on the deck OF the
" Frisian VrOw," was sailing down the Am
stel.
The newly painted ship was a high-pooped,
broad-sided bark Of heavy build, but fair
wind carried her down to the Zuyder Zee and
over the North sea, and up the sound 80 surely
and steadily, that Karl got the length Of re-
marking that a seamar's life was the easiest
he knew. Their destination was the port Of
Revel, where the Dutch traders had found a
market ever since their sails we're first seen
in the Baltic
At this time Peter, afcrward called the
Great, was home from his three years travels.
lie had worked as a ship-carpenter at the
Haandam dock yards had learned rope-mak-
ing sai-making and smith-work had worn
the dress Of workman, made his own FIRE,
boiled his pot, swept his lodgings, carried
timbers on his shoulders, and coniormed in
every respect TO the customs Of the yard and
he was now carrying out results in Russia
such as in any other way ten centuries would
never have accomplished. He had created
feet, disciplined an army established uni
versity, and was now engaged in laying the
foundation Of city TO be called after his own
name. Fixing upon Cronstadt as the loca-
tion for the fort to protect the mouth Of the
river upon which the capital Of all the Rus
sias was to stand, and preparing the drawings
with his own hand, he left it's execution TO
one of his engineer officers while he returned
to st. Petersburg to push forward those al
most superhumau works, which at the cost Of
nearly half a million lives, have made it what
it is. The eastern coasts Of the Baltic, for
merly divided between Sweden and Poland
had also fallen into Peters hands almost to
the walls of Revel.
All this the skipper of the Frisian Vrow,
knew little Of. Dutch cheese found a market
at Reve narrow straits had to be threaded
sand banks and sunken bars made the passage
perilous and Auke understood that the mas
ter's eyes must never be closed until sea-room
became plenty The solstice weather. too
grew thick squally winds knocked the old
ship uneasily about. Narrow channels kept
the sailor on the lookout And after severa
days of shifting gales and darkened skies
Karl began TO get inpatient Scramblinl
one morning to the deck he found Auke al
usual at the helm.
Are we far from Reyel, now 2" he in
quired of the sturdy skipper
II the wind holds fair" replied Auke
" we shall make its harbor before noon
| Yonder is the gulf way to leaward."
: Karl could see nothing in the direction in
dicated but waste of foamy waves, and o.
h the right the distant outline Of high AM
4. rocky coast There was a roaring sound o
, wind and waters all about them but through
it came the deep boom of an alarm bell.
There's q ship in Distress" said AukC
r Hans, take a glass and try if you can max
n her.>
;. His mate, gray-haired, but active an
J.. fearless seaman, had scarcely raised the glas
!. when he shouted " Captain, she's a ishin
smack ashore on Divers shoals, and her cre'
d are clinging to her rigging"
"a Boys, we'll save them" said Auke " III
case may be our own"
a Ay Captain, replied Hans, /" but shoul
n we lose this wind, who knows when the q" Fri
,s ian Vrow" will drop anchor?"
We shall miss the market, too !" erie
? Karl. Don't be fool Auke."
70 {" This ship is called after my good mott
re er," said the young skipper, putting abo'
Ia the helm. d" Before | left home she told n
70 Gods work had sure wages, and believe
"A Boys, well save those poor fellows !"
a "Well done, Captain !" cried the ere
4. with cheers, and while Karl went below
a grumble at Aukes i'll luck, the " Frisio
a Vrow" bore down on the laundering vessc
"A and Auke Straleu, with four sailors, we
n gallautly rowing the ships only boat throuG
r. the breakers. The little bark was fast in Il
r sands. A heavy surf broke over her. III
N crew, the master, three seamen, and two boy
q all Swedes cung to the spars and rigging
r. the hopeless craft They were all rescu,
ia wet, and cold, and nearly famished, and taxi
on board the Prisian Vrow," thankful {
ia their preservation, but unable to speak
er word Of Dutch The skipper gave them d
Of clothes and breakfast, hastened to look {
Of ter his ship which was already in trouble
The wind had veered due west and there W
ed no getting the right course. The sailors tac
d. ed aud roefed and hauled up, but the "Vrov
n. was utterly unmanageabe against the gal
ro and there was nothing but to run before it.
"Yes," grumbled Karl, knew how
he WOul0 DC. ue nhTkct Will Dc lOSt anu
in, shall all be shipwrecked."
MT But nobody was in the humor to mind
al. gloomy representations besides, he was n
re the only one upon whom fear fell when t
IN. vessel wens speeding at rate she had nev
ed sailed before, straight up the Finnish gulf.
nm Geographical knowledge was none Of
clearest at that day. Karl had studied t
nd voyages of the Dutch traders. Revel was
r,s him the end of the world Beyond the
he cheese and gin would be of no account.
m. wonder, then, that the worthy man took r
ar. uge below, TO mediate over the fact IL
Auke Stralen was his fathers son, and wor
il never come to anything but ruin. From Il
he contemplation he rose toward evening. L
he wind though it still blew strong, was steac
ust and the ship went bravely on. The or
IN we're manning the rigging. The rescu
he Swedes gave a hand. Hans was on the loC
,ed out and Auke was at the helm. They }
passed an island where huge piles Of ste
Ter were shaping into embrasures aud walls, a
ed where pennant and bunting were flying fr,
ose poles and masts. Before them lay swan
isb shore. On the right was mouth Of brC
ant river, into which the Frisian Vrow '
Its standing.
Ier Where are we now, Auke ?" asked Kr
Mi. holding his breath.
nm. "If | read the chart right" answe
NOT Auke, " this must be the mouth of the New
,ell al never heard Of such place in all
all. life," rejoined Karl, " nor any one who tra'
there"
all "May be so," replied the skipper, 8"
,se. there is report that the czar Of Russil
building town somewhere on the river,
the perhaps he will trade with u.s."
The " Trade with us !" cried Karl; "he '
take our cargo and make us work on the wal
md At this moment Hans cried out from
anv masthead -
The "a town ahead, captain, and boat ?
int. ting off,"
,Id The Gar Peter was in the midst Of |