Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-08-20
NO. 1877.
Gales aud Sketehes.
From the Chamber Journal.
A TURN IN FORTUNE--A fYPH00N am
THE LUCK 1T BROUGHT. So.
CONTINUED FROM rEsTERDAr.1

lcoNrINuED FROM rEsTERDAr.l 90 :.
l was standing near the taffrail one sui
try afternoon, when the surface of the sea
was as smooth and unrufffed as a mirror,
and looked up at the savage heights that
frowned on the western horizon, my mind
now dwelling on the barbarons tribes that
still in their rugged Businesses, bade def
ance alike to Chinese cunning and Euro
pean civilization, and now reverting to
quiet Clevestead, where doubtless my Do
IA was thinking of, and perhaps praying
for me, when felt twitch at my sleeve,
and looking round, saw beside me a lean
little old sailor. whose jaunty Jacket Of
white duck contrasted oddly with his
weather-beaten complexion. Jerry was a
broken down man-of-war's man, once a
petty officer on board a Queens ship, but
whose drunken habits had caused him to
lose his rating, vet who, when kept from
the grog. was to my Judgment. the best
man on board the bark. Many chat had
l with Jerry, but now there was an anx-
ious expression in his twinkling eyes that
| had never seen in them before; ! no.
ticed. too, that there was an ugly cut on
his left eyebrow, from which the blood
was trickling. Szl4es.
Hist speak low, Mr. Harland.n said
the man, in cautious tones. I'D rather
not be overheard in what / have to say.
He said, when he gave me this,n pointing
to the cash on his brow-"that it was to
cure me of croaking." = aseFsa
IA smart knock it must have been,"
said I, perplexedly. WHO gave it 7'' Z =
"Hush the skipper" whispered the
sailor. "He's like mailman. when deep
in liquor, and he has been at the rum-bot-
tie since noon. He gave me that, with his
brass knuckle-dusters, because made
bold to call his attention to what you see
out there in the offing." And as Jerry
pointed, could family distinguish long,
leaden-tnted line on the far. horizon.
You're seaman. sir. Do you Know
what's meant by that?" asked Jerry. turn
ing in his mouth the quid that he was
sucking. was obliged to confess that I
did not. Nor by that pn he demanded,
as the smooth surface OF the sea. ia mile
or so out, suddenly became blackenea and
ruffled. gEsE se3w5x 4 n8 aa .swa8A
Mot ], my old ftiend,' answered |;
"unless it indicates the coming wind. "asss
"There'llbe wind enough, your Honor -
said Jerry dryly. "You are q seaman
Mr.. Harland. as | said before, and ought
to have an eye for what's coming - q.
1t was in vain. however. that I swept
the horizon with my practical glance, en-
deavoring to descry the ordinary forerun-
ner Of dirty weather. The old seaman
gave grim chuekle, as if in exultation at
his superior acuteness. Asga.1g.s-ss kasYa
you've seen what a gales like, Mr..
Harland, of course, and a black squall,
and white one. maybe, though that's
scarcer. Did you ever see what typhoon
was like P" @H8 Hf53Hs3
"A typhoon ?n repeated after him,
cudgeliDg my memory as to what / had
heard concerning this, the Legendary ter
ror of the China seas. ssa-s
"No disgrace to you, sir, that you've
not, returned Jerry, IN the same cautious
tone as before. ''By Heavens mercv,
they are oftener talked of than felt I" sHe"
Jerking his thumb toward the hatchway
of the captains cabin ''never came
in for one either, and struck me,
and cursed me for Jonah, when l
begged him to let 60 an anchor. that we
might have at least a chance of riding it
out. You'll see a pitiful sight, sir. pres
ently-that is, if you are spared. Them
junks and proas might as well be nutshells
when the rollers set in. And look at the
Yankee captain, how he keeps his ship,
the canvas brailed, not reefed, and cloth
enough set to carry all aboard into the
next world, as it's likely to do before
morning." .s7s gid
The old man shutfled off, and l felt ex-
ceedingly uncomfortable. With Captain
Harris, since he had given way to his un-
lucky habit of drunkenness, was not on
very cordial terms, nor could / hope to
bring the sullen, half-intoxicated COM
mander of the vessel to take precautions
against the coming evil. Nor was quite
sure that the evil would, after all, come to
pass. The cats paw that had roughened
the water had passed away. save where
the leadened cOlored streak lay to the sea-
ward. l opened my heart, however, to
the first officer, Mr.. Ernst; but although
the civil spoken young German heard me
to an end, and looked intently out for
signs Of q storm, could not induce him
TO press his advice upon the skipper, or to
take on himself the responsibility Of drop
ping anchor. On one point. minor one,
did prevail. The topsails were hanging
loose from yard and clew-line, and these
at my request the mate caused to be close
reefed, step for which, an hour or two
later, we had reason to be thankful.
when, on a sudden, a great hustle and
noise began among the Chinese junks in
the harbor. We could hear drums and
eongs and wild outcries, and could see the
pip-tailed mariners beating their breasts
and gesticulating with every mark Of ter
ror and dismay, while from the seaward
came the leaden-colored cloud-bank,
swollen until it rose skywards like moy-
ing battlement and preceded by Kissing
sheet OF snow-white foam. isaos
"The typhoon the typhoon!' cried
hundred voices, and then the babel Of
tongues was oyerpowered by the terrible
roar of the mighty wind as it reached Us,
tearing up the sea as the snow -plow cuts
its furrow through loose sand. and throw
ing us on our beam-ends with violence
that made every timber of the Saucy Maid
quiver and groan like some hurt animal.
We righted, however, after a time, and
then indeed did witness a spectacle such
as the oldest seaman but rarely beholds.
Masts We're swapping on every hand. rs
easily as though they had been thH dead
branches Of II storm-beaten tree; cables
were parting, bulwarks being washed
away, and all the sea around was strewn