The Morning herald., 1876-12-15
CORD AND CREESR.
THE STRUGGLE FOR LIFE.
CHAPTER XII.

Suddenly faint puff ofwind came from
be west, blowing gently for a few mo-
pents, then stopping, and then coming on
na stronger blast. Afar of, at what
eemed like an immeasurable distance, a
ov, dull roar arose, heavy moaning
ound, like the menace Of the mighty At
antic, which was now advancing in wrath
lpon them.
In the midst of this the whole scene burst
orth into dazzling light at the fash Of a
ut mass Of lightning, which seemed to
blaze from every part OF the heavens on
every side simultaneously. 1t threw forth
all tAings-ship,. sea, and sky-into the
dauled eyes of the watchers. They saw
ebon sky, the black and lustrous sea, the
mo!onless ship. They saw also, far off to
the vest long line of white which ap-
peared to extend along the whole horizon.
But the scene darted out of sight in
salhly, and instantly there fell the volley-
ing discharge of a tremendous peal Of thun-
der, at whose reverberations the air and
sea and ship all vibrated.
Now the sky lightened again, and sud-
denly, as the ship lay there, vast ball Of
hre issued from the black clouds immedia-
tely overhead, descending likethe lightning
strait downward, till all at once it struck
the main truck. With roar louder than
hat Of the recent thunder it exploded; vast
sheets of fire flashed out into the air, and a
stream of light passed down the entire
mast, shattering it as a tree is shattered
when the lightning strikes it. The whole
Fhlp was shaken to its centre. The deck
al around the mast was shattered to splin.
ten and along its extent and around its
base burst Of vivid fame started into
light.
Wild confusion followed. At once all
the sailors were ordered up, and began to
exlinguish the fires, and to cut away the
shattered mast. The blows of the axes
resounded through the ship. The rigging
was severed; the mast, already shattered
needed but few blows to loosen It's last
fbres.
But suddenly, and furiously, and irresis.
'lbly, it seemed as though the whole temp.
est which they had so long expected was
at last let loose upon them. There was a
low moan, and, while they we're trying to
get rid Of the mast, a tremendous squall
struck the ship. 1t yielded and turned far
over to that awful blow. The men started
pack from their work. The next instant
Nash of lightning came, and toward the
west close over them, rose long, white
wall Of foam. 1t was the vanguard of the
S'orm, seen shortly before from afar, which
vas now upon them, ready to fall on their
devoted heads,
Not word was spoken. No order came
from the Captain. The men awaited some
Word Their came none. Then the wa
'er'' which thus rose up like heap before
'nen, struck the ship with all the accumu-
lated fury of that resistless onset, and
hurled their utmost weight upon her as
she lay before them.
The ship, already reeling far over at
'ne stroke of the storm, now, at this new
onset, yielded utterly, and rolled far over
on her beam-ends. The awful billows
uashed over and over her, sweeping her in
.nelr fury from end to end. The men clung
nelplessly to whatever rigging lay nearest,
seeking only in that first moment Of dread
" prevent themselves from being washed
a. away, and waiting for some order from the
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