The Morning herald., 1876-11-15
LoRD AND CRRRSB.
CHAPTER III.
"a WAN OVERHEARD"

s T. the name anold sea-captain gave
r;ed to get the Admiralty to put it
charts, but, they wouldn't. But
|. and no mistake" ~,
= y did he call it Coffin 1slandw
he thought that rock looked like
and it's dangerous enough when q
he's to deserve that name.' -
don looked earnestly at the island
the captain mentioned, and which
ere slowly approaching:
y v toward the north, while the ships
;fit had any in that calm was
,est. Itwas not more than six miles
and appeared to be about five miles miles
At the nearest extremity black
krose to a, height Of about tiity feet;
appeared to be about five hundred
bua, Ei and was Of such a shape that the
nation might easily see resemblance
ofIin, At the furthest extremity OF
land was low mound. The rest OF
land was fiat, low, and sandy, with
ace Of vegetation perceptible from the
except a line Of dingy green under
ock. which looked like grass.
ke ship driited slowly on.
eanwhile the captain, in anticipation
storm, had caused all the sails to be
in, and stood anxiously watching
XIV toward the southwest.
bere dense mass of clouds lay piled
the horizon, gloomy, lowering,
icing: frowning over the calm seas as
rh they would soon destroy that calm,
diug forth all the furry Of the winds
e clouds seemed to have started up
the sea, SO sudden had been their ap-
knce; and now, as they gathered them,
= together, their forms distended, and
ltened, and reached forward vast arms
The sky; striving to climb there, roll
upward voluminous cloud masses
eh swiftly ascended toward the zenith.
uick was the progress Of these clouds
they did not seem to come from the
Ks below; but it was rather as though
khe air suddenly condensed its meis-
and made it visible in these dark
ases.
* vet there wasno wind, and the water
as smooth as glass; but over the wide
lace, as far as the eye could reach, the
/ swell of the ocean had changed into
rolling undulatiohs. to the motion OF
|ch the ship yielded, slowly ascending
descending as the waters rose and tell
lie the yards creaked, and the rigging
|nged to the strain upon them.
Every moment the sky grew darker, ane
gloom gathered above, 80 it increased
ow, till all the sea spread out a smooth
,u mass. Darkness settled down, an(
, SUMS face was thus obscured, and
gloom gathered upon tn
e of nature. Overhead vast black cloud
Mt sweeping past, covering all things
ter and faster, till at last far down in tn
rthern sky the heavens were all Oh
lred.
But amidst all this there was as yet nc
breath of wind. Far above the win
reered in a narrow current, which al
touch the surface Of the sea but onl
re onward the clouds. The agitation
esky above contrasted with the stillne'
low made the latter not consolin
t rather fearful, for this could be nor
her than that treacherous stiffness whle
ecedes the sudden outburst Of the hur1
ne.
For that sudden outburst all were no
king, expecting it every moment. Z
, side If the ship where the wind "
pected the Captain was standing, loo
9 anxiously az the black clouds on tt
'rizon, and all the crew were gazing the
sympathy with him. From that quart
e wind would burst, and it was for tn
,sault that all the preparations had be-
ade.
For some time Brandon had watch
le collecting clouds, but at length
,rned away, and seemed 10 find aauprer
.scination in the sand-bank. He stood
he stern of the ship, looking fxedly t
7ard the rock, his arms folded, and /
houghts all absorbed in that one thing.
low railing ran around the quarter-oee
NE captain stood by the companion wa
ooking south at the s.orm;sthe mate "
ear the captain, and all were intent a
bsorbed in their expectation OF a sud-
quail. -.
Close by the rudder post stood Cago?
ooking with all the rest at the gatherl
torn. His face was only half turned, a
IS usual he watched this with only a II
i've glance, for at times his stealthy e,
urasd toward Brandon, and he. alone
Ill on board did not seem to be absorbed
some overmastering thought.
Suddenly faint, auttering ripping,
peared to the southwark; it came quick
It seemed to fash over the waters; "
The speed of the wind it moved on, til
quick, fresh blast struck the ship a
sighed through the rigging: Then a ia
breathing Of wind succeeded; but lar aN
then rose a low moan like that viii
arises from some vast cataract at gr
distance, whose roar. subdued by dlstan
sounds family, yet warnlngly, to the
At this first touch OF the temPesT, d
the menacing voice Of its approach, no
word was spoken, but all stood mute