Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-09-06

L
a renewed shrieking and creaking, and
the spray lashing over the deck, showed
that the storm was becoming a hurri-
cane. A
Old Captain Beck stood there in his
huge pea-ooat with horn-buttons,
drenched seal-skin hat, and the trum
pet under his arm; he was looking
through the night-glass, which he had
taken from the first mate. They must
try everything if they were not to end
among the skerries that night, and Beck
determined in favor of spreading still
more sail.
"Reef out loose top-sall bow-line
haul in the top-sail brace! clear the
top-sail halyard hoist the top-sail I"
was sounded by degrees from out the
speaking trumpet. In the darkness
were heard few Haul in men, OH
oh hoi" at the heavy tough pulling,
while the salt water dashed in the faces
of the working sailors, and the ship
rolled SO that they sometimes only
hung to the lines, whilst the deck
slipped from under their feet. During
the whole day no one on board had
tasted anything but biscuit and a lit
tie brandy. The vessel careened vio-
lently, on account of the increased sail !,
and then shot on anew, with terrible
speed. But the next instant the top,
sail sprang from the bolt-rope with q
crack like the report of cannon, and
they lost their control of the ship. The
mainstaysail tapped and rustled about
with its loose block, 70 that no one
dare go near it, and the portions of the
bulwarks which remained were again
broken in by flood of water, when the
decks cargo shifted itself anew and
partly went overheard. Salve Kris
tiansen had had too much to do with
the disordered wheel to be able to give
particular attention to his surround
ings. But at the moment when the
first dark sea SO unexpectedly broke
over them from leeward, he hal seen
two CLEANS of light in its crest. These
suddenly kindled remembrances, and
in the midst of the storm, it seemed to
the young mans romantic fancy as if
he was to meet Elizabeth Raklew, a
thought which, however little was suit
ed to his hard work, still fully occupied
his mind. The two lights cleaned
again, and it now first came clearly up
before him, that this was the same
slanting fire which he had formerly SO
often noticed from old Jacobs Chin
ney out on Torung. When the topsail
sprang and the reality took hold upon
him, Salve Kristiansen became the
practical man.
''The lights to the leeward," he shout
ed behind the captain, who now first
observed them, "are from old Jacobs
chimney on Torung."
eff you are right" muttered the Cap
tain, while he approached him, crossing
the slanting deck with the help of a
line, ''then it will not be long before we
are shattered into splinters against
Torung."
Then conversation began betwixt
them, wherein Salve explained that he
knew the open sea about the Torungs
from childhood as well as he knew his
own pocket, and the result was, thai
Beck, pale and doubtful, determined to
seek the lee of the land with him as
pilot.
"Bethink yourself twice, both in re-
gard to your own and our lives. much
tonight is committed to your shoul-
ders."
So they changed their course, making
for land, carrying the least amount of
sail possible in so heavy a sea, which
now broke upon them, and the thunder
of the breakers was soon heard.
The young sailor was lf-possessed
as he stood there with the trumpet
after he had taken command, and with
the Captain and the first mate by his
side. But suddenly the sweat ran
down off his brow, though he said moth
ing. There was something wonderful.
ly irregular about the light-it grew
dark-reddish, and seemed at last extin.
guished. What in heavens name could
it be? Had he perhaps been wrong
after all, and was he now about to car.
ry the Juno with all on board against
the wall Of the mountain? It lasted
about quarter Of an hour, and never
had Salve Kristiansen In his whole life
time seen SO heavy an expression as
that wherewith Beck, who had discov.
cred trace of doubt in his face look
ed at him, evidently, in elaboration as
to whether he himself should again
take command or not.
Meanwhile the light kindled ur
anew, whatever could have been the
matter with it; and that night Salve
Kristiansen brought the Juno safe into
Nerd Island.
The following forenoon the vessel lay
in Arendal's harbor, where the cargo
was to be discharged, while the pumps
we're constantly worked, after which il
was hauled away to the dry dock fol
repairs.
Salve received in payment from Beck
one hundred specie dollars, and the
promise of becoming second mate or
the Juno, when he had learned naviga
ton.
From that time dated his desire Of
becoming q pilot.-The Pilot and HI
Wife.
Crystalline Coating.
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simplest method of giving paper ane
wood surfaces a crystalline coating il