Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1871-06-10

the loftier sails without more help.
and the a.Seos Of Su ss
continuance Of fine weather. i took obserya-
tons and shaped my course toward the Hervey
Islands, hoping to make Mangea OF Rarstonga.
hid q good general knowledge OF navigation,
though had little practice, and was unused to
anything like responsible control OF that depart
ment. 49,
Ofcourse, was obliged TO be atthe helm tho
most of the time. But L soon taught Jessie, so
that she could steer well enough in fair weather
which gave me time 70 attend to many other
matters. But rs we could not steer every day
and all night the ship necessarily left TO her
own guidance some part OF the time
sCOn discovered that my knowledge of navi-
CATION, though it might tell me, where was,
would not enable me 20 go where wished. The
winds and currents headed me on, so that we
were making drift ~ the westward: and IL was
imf ossible To remedy this, unless the ship was
manned so as to be we'll steered and enabled to
carry all sail Spite of ali that the child and 4
could do, she must 90 nearly where the clements
might carry her. We should be more likely to
make land somewhere among the Tonpas or Fe-
iess than in the direction had hoped at first.
There was TO fear of our running short of pro-
VISIONS or water. a. we had more ON board than
we could consume for years. The weather con-
tlnued hne, and We were daily drifting into
milder ATTITUDES; but no salt could be seen. A
dozen times every day L climbed to the mast
head, in the vain hope of deserving ship; and
"a often descended with the hope of seeing one
Tomorrow. Thus week after week wore awav
nonobnOusiy, while Jessie and l were all the
world TO each other, and every day served to
ias zen the tendri,s more firmly about my heart
me thought how miserable might have been
If entirely alone in similar situation; and i'm re-
turn, chung to her, and gave thanks AZ for a
blessing, heaven-sent, to become a part of nv
whole future life and being. L do not think
cot have entertained the thought of ever part
ing with her.
My observations satisfied me that We had
pas ed beyond the latitude of the Tonga and Fe-
ice groups without having seen them. This
knowledge was rather relief to me; for we
should, most likely, have fallen into the power
OF savage cannibals, whe would have shown MS
no mercy. We could hardly fare worse by drift-
ing on toward the equator, while there was still
me e possibility of meeting ship with civilized
At length, on going sloft, as usual, one beauti-
full morning, the horizon line along under our
lee presented the irregular, broken appearance
which had often seen before, and known 20
well. The punches Of tufts Of cocoanut trees
growing upon very few land were the first objects
that came into view; 50 that, a. we neared them,
the slender stems seemed to be rooted in the
ocean, and to shoot up from its watery bed
We were setting, by the force OF current, d.
reetly towards the island, and there no posi-
bility Of propelling the ship away from it, But
there was q chance that It might be uninhabtei
II 80 We could not land upon it, for We had no
boat, and it was out OF thu question to think of
managing raft in the intricate channels of a
But we had been seen, rs 1t appeared. even
before we had discovered the land; Tor within an
-
canoes rose into view, coming rapidly up towards
us. To escape with the ship was simply impossi-
bic. But il occurred to me that the sayages
could know nothing of our defenceless condition
though the appearance OF theShfp, under so little
canva in fine weather, must be strange and suy-
picious TO them. They would not attempt any
foul play with us, If they believed the vessel to
be fully manned and armed. They had come
on to drive barter with the white men, as was
their usual custom.
! at once set to work. with the help of the
Uhrs 1n L.
situation, TO manufacture a crew TOR the vessel
Seamen's clothes were abundant and in a short
time every handspike was rugged up in motley
suit. These were all stuffed ont into shape and
topped with hats or caps L disposed them in
the most natural positions about decks, in the
various parts OF the ship, SO As to give the whole
the most lifelike appearance.
i loaded all the firearms we had on boardG
which amounted To only three muskets; and then
went alOft to loose the mainsail, which had never
been set since the gale in which the crew were
swept overheard. L had felt unable, alone, to
control such an immense sheet of canvas. But 1
must have ii ready for use now, in case should
want to give the vessel more Roadway.
While on the mainyard, engaged in lOOsing it,
sail appeared in sight over the point of the is
land. Not canOc-One cOuld not be seen at
that distance in range Of the trees-but a ship!
My heart leaped at the thought that help and
dehyeTanee were within a few miles OF me.
q Bring up the ensign from the cabin, Jessie."
L shouted, a. let fall the bunt of the mainsaiI,
and hurried down on deck. caught t from
her eager little hands, bent it To the halyard
and ran II uH-half- a "A signal of distress.
bTai!ed the spanker, while the child put the
helm mp, and by the power OF the fOresail wore
The ship round 80 "a to be on the same track with
the strange vessel. | could not steer directly at
her. running the ship ashore; nor could she work
10 WindwaTd much against the force OF the cur
rent. But my hope lay in her sending boats as
soon - those on board should see my Tag OF dis
tTess, and the strange trim OF my sails.
managed to swing the heaai-yards round and
st the foresail after fashion. But meanwhile
the sayages were fast closing with me, and had
HOt sufficient confidence in my sham seamen to
believe that L could long deceive their sharp
eyes might gain little time; but the trick
must be discovered, and, feared, before sue
cor could reach me from tine strange ship.
kept Jessie at the wheel, steering as much
of the wind as dared but was fearful OF get
tng en6ayed, and not having room to clear the
point, let fall the mainsail. and gave il kind
OF flying SGT, as well as L could. The ship felt
this added power at once, and gathered head
way, which determined she should not lose; for
u ne oarbarians once succeeded in getting on
board, il would be too late for any attempt OF
boats To rescue US, even ii we were not instantly
put 10 death. It was no time now To think of the
cue stion whether could ever get the sails in
again. must have the use Of them now at
once; and sprung alOft 10 loose the tOpsails.
had only time To do this and let 90 the gear,
50 that they filled and bagged out in mid air; for
OF course could not hoist the yards up. The
leading canoe was now drawing very near me;
and the ugly looking wretches stood staring i'm
silent bewilderment, as the ship drove past
tie handsp:ke men, that III y were already sus-
pieiouS; probably from having noticed that they
did o move about. But they rested on their
paddles 70 confer with the next corners, and
had Il as gained 80 much time, while was do
ing " hat could to punish the Warsaw ahead.
knew these re, pc well enough to be sure
That they would ever attack, unless all the cir
cuInstan ;es were Overwhelmingly in their favor
They would move warily in accommodating; but
as soon certain OF the true state OF things that
they would make dashing attemptt0 board the
ship by force.
l. had thus shaken off the first canoes. and left
them in the wake. A stern chase is proyerbialiy
long one, though their canoes would sail much
faster than the ship could, under her bags and
1estoons- But other pursuers were fore-reachin
upon me, and fresh reinfOrcements putting out
from the shore as we neared the land obli1uely
None seemed TO care TO visit the other shin: but
al were attracted by the mysterious manGuvres
Of mine.
A large canoe, which contained one whom
judged TO be leading chief, placed herself In
my track. i was obliged, necessarily to pass
her 50 closely that their suspicious, already
aroused by Geographic signals from their bafffed
comr DIES, were rendereda certainty. Our real
weakness was now understood, and almost in
stantly communicated through the fOtilla. All
those which had been left in the rear gave chase
under full power OF sails and paddles; while five
or six late arrivals, who had the advantage of
position, disposed themselves for boarding, the
ship on both bows at once. -
There vs. IN alternative ma Int .x.nl