The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1873-11-12

ing. Sometimes the captain moved
about the deck, and when he stool
by the biunacle I could see that he
was pale and excited. For three
hours the ship had now been lying
to and it was evident that she must
have made considerable lee-way.
Beneath the fearful power of the
driving gale she must have swept
swiftly oh:-but how swiftly none
could tell. There was no use in
heaving the log, for the sea would
"bring it home"
At length-it was near 8 o'clock
the sea had risen to such a height
that it threatened every moment to
engulf the ship in it's deep cold
grave, but yet the strained and
groaning craft stood nobly up. But
could she stand much longer? The
men could see the face of the cap
; tain as the rays of the binnacle
light fell upon it, and they must have
noticed how pale it was. I will not
, attempt to describe my own feel
ings. I only remember t h at I
thought of my home in far dis
tant laid, and that 1 wondered if I
! should hear the voices of those who
loved me in childhood.
The mate left the spot where he
had been standing and went to the
wheel.
1--WE can't stand this much lon
GER" said he to the captain.
But the captain made no reply,
and soon the mate spoke again.
rs it best to trust our fate and
and put her before the wind? We
shall certainly go dovn if we keep
on in this way"
No, no" gasped the captain,
seeming to force his words out, ''to
put her before it would be certain
death. for we are locked in to lee
ward by snug chain of islands. The
topsail yet holds. We may stand
it till daylight"
"Im afraid not"
:'Then we must pray-that's all. "
It must have been some kind
power that held OH ship up through
that long night, for the water
mountains broke their fury upon
her, and the mad wind bent her
down till she almost groaned with
physical pain.
At length the first faint streak Of
the coming dawn appeared IN the
east, and yet the gale was unabated.
The captain was just upon the
point Of leaving his stand by the
wheel, when there came noise
that spoke louder than the tempest.
It was a rumbling, roaring, crush
ing noise, that came to US like the
knen of death. All knew it mo-
ment what it was.
Our ship was upon a lee shore!
The morning came, and found us
with blanched cheeks and trembling
limbs, and it found some, too, upon
their knees in prayer. What q
scene burst upon US! Right under
our lee and not move than five
miles distant, was a rugged, rock
bound coast.
What power could save us now?
To wear ship would be of no
use, and to tack was impossible un-
less we could make and carry sail
enough to stand of. The captain
staggered to the weather n1izzen
rigging and passed the order for
loosing the foretopsail, The yard
was pointed to the wind, and the
lee sheet was hauled safely home,
but on the moment that the wealth
er sheet was started the sail split,
and in few moments more it vas III
ribbons.
"We are gone!" uttered the mate.
And so it seemed! the men hud-
died aft. but not one Of them knew
what to do for safety. The ship
would certainly feel none Of her
lower sails while on the wind, and
the captain knew that the mizzen-
topsail would be of no use without
the farh. And every moment, too,
the ship threatened to fall eff into
the trough of the sea.
"We are we!' asned the mate.
But the captain could not tell.
eve must call the pilot"
Naptoa Looked up i!nrto the face
of his mate, but this time he made
no objections, and the pilot was
accordingly sent for. The old man
came up, aad for o while he gaszzeql
upon the surf -bathed coast in 81
lence. There was a bitter smile upon
his lips, and his eyessparkled with
a strange Hight: Hight: He at length ask.
ed for q glass, and the mate obtain
ed one and having adjusted the TO.
Gus, he handed it to him.
s.What coast is that2" asked Nh.
Sawyer, after the pilot had lowered
I the glass: ,. ~. >
s:kadros," replied the Old man:
s:And there is no salvation for us
now," the mate gasped.
Il can save the ship" calmly said