Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1878-11-13
The Missing Ship.

We sat eating our duff. Very little
nearing the end of the voyage; and our
Nantucket owners did not intend
when they fitted out the ship-thai
any of the men in their employ should
overload their stomachs; they believed
Il was unwholesome 10 eat too much
and. o. how considerate of our health
they were, at least in that particular
But we talked not of that we thought
not of that, for we had got accustomed
10 it. We thought and talked of the
poor fellows who had just come out
from home, and who had a long voy-
age before them. Such were the crew
rocking and plunging and rolling up
her bright copper almost within an ar
rows flight of our weather bow.
Captain Tobey and his boats crew
had just gone aboard. tor they had
paid US a visit. and had brought letters
from the States.
We talked of those "poor fellows -
with commisseration, though they
wore bright blue jackets, while we
were in tatters, or wore garments with
patch upon patch, astonishing speci-
mems of masculine needlework. We
also talked of Captain Tobey; smart
young fellow was he, who ii was
averred, might have married the own
er's daughter had he been so disposed !:
he had chosen a dark-eyed damsel of
less lofty pretensions. This was his
first voyage as captain; he had sailed
from home only few weeks after his
marriage.
Captain Tobey and his boats crew
had made but a short stay on board of
US, for there were signs of whales in
the distance, and the captain of the
Lady Adams was not a man 10 neglect
business for the sake of amusement.
But, so far, the TWO ships had kept
company, and it was agreed that, if
nothing prevented, the TWO captains
should enjoy the day together on the
morrow.
We were eating our duff, and specu-
lating on these matters, when, suddenly,
the first mate leaned over the hatch
and bawled to us:
up here, at once, all hands, and
don't be hanging on there by the teeth.
Up. every mothers son of you, aud
close reef the topsails ~
"Hah now we're going 10 have 1t,
calculated old Ben Lovel, as he rose to
his feet and pulled up his unmention-
ables; "we're going 10 get the bitter
end of Japan. Captain Hussey ought
TO have squared away for Californey
before this time. Boys. you are going
20 see trouble"
By the time old Ben had finished his
speech we were all on deck. 1t GER
tainly looked ominous to windward,
and the gale was already singing In
the rigging.
We looked toward the Lady Adams.
Hr look-outs were hastily descending
from the top-gallant mast-heads, and
we could even hear the hasty orders
given. as the shrill tones of her officers
came floating over the deep.
But we were sooner under the short
sail than our consort, for her hands
were mostly green, and it took them
longer TO reduce the canvass than 1t
did US.
IL was observed. however, that Cap
tain Tobey had not contented himself
with reefing, the sheets were let ny,
and the clew-lines were manned.
Our mate was quick to notice that,
and looked meaningly at the captain' ;
but, perhaps Captain Hussey did not
care to receive instructions from young
Tobev, and he let the crew hoist the
topsails and belay.
Louder and louder whistled the
wind; then it roared, and thick cloud
of binding spray came rushing down
upon us from the windward.
Bang, went the maintopsail. 1t was
carried completely out of the ropes,
and like a small white cloud foated
upon the wings of the tempest.
The lee gunwale was in the water;
there was a rumbling under the deck,
but not much fear that the cargo would
shift, as due care had been taken to stow
cohpactly.
The fore and mizzenmasts and their
weather rigging were strained, YET
Captain Hussey would not risk starting
the sheets.
The gale increased at every moment
and at length orders were given 10
clew up and furl the mizzen topsaii;
The sheets were carefully loosened
ard the clew lines well manned, put
the ropes rushed through the hands OF
the men " no held them, and the SAIL