The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-06-19
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THE NIGHT VISION.

In the Japan Sea, a sudden squal
came whooping and whizzing through
the rigging Of the merchant ship
Rainbow" sending her down on hel
beam ends, with everything cracking
The officer Of the deck gave the order
to reef and furl, and the active tars
sprang to obey.
The sea was white with foam, but
the night was dark. Blacker than
the night above the tops Of the masts
a huge object was seen rolling and
rushing swiftly along, 1t was the
squall cloud.
"Lively there, menl" shouted the
second mate.
This was Henry Brandon, hand
some young fellow of twenty-five-as
good sailor as ever spliced a rope
But he had not been prepared for the
squall, which, unseen in the darkness,
and with terrible swiftness, had pounced
, upon the ship.
Now away went the main top-gallant
sail, torn to shreds, the other canvas
rattling all over the vessel, the sheets
whipping and swapping about the
masts with tho noise of thunder.
The vessels crew being short handed
Brandon moved forward, intending to
60 aloft. A hand clutched his arm,
however, and he turned, to discern,
by the lanterns ruddy light, his i'll
tended wife, the captains pretty daugh-
ter, Martha Weld.
Her face was deathly pale, and her
long, black hair, streaming Oh the
wind, gave to it an unearthly aspect.
"For Gods sake, Henry" she said,
'don't go aloft!''
"You herel' he exclaimed. eco
below, Martha-quickl quickl This Is
no place for you'll"
."Oh, Henryl such a dreadful dream
as l have hadl 1 dreamed you were
lost overheard, and"
At that moment the ship lurched
heavily; there was vivid flash of
lightning, revealing the men aloft
clinging to the yards, and vainly en-
deavoring to clutch the Stating canvas.
81 must co." said Brandon, as soon
as the heavy peal of thunder following
the flash had subsidized. "Go below
Martha, and have no fear"
He broke away from her, and ran up
the rigging to the fore top-gallant yard
Two boys were endeavoring to haul
up the sail. AS the second mate
clutched the canvas, the lifts and hal.
yards suddenly parted, and down went
the yard, carrying Brandon with it.
There was wild cry as the yard,
striking the bulkwards, fell with it's
burden ino the sea-
The boys, who, having been in-board,
contrived to save themselves, set up a
frightful yell Of ''Man overboardl'
Martha's shrek was then heard.
Il knew it," she cried ooh, Henry
my Henryl Save himl save him!"
Her father, who had, ere this, come
up, ran and looked astern.
Another vivid lightning flash shot
down from the squall cloud. 1t lighted
the white, Kissing wake of the ship,
and in that wake the skipper saw fol-
an instant something which looked
like an arm lifted above the sea.
'No use, Brandon is gonel' he
gasped. eve can't lower boat in
such q blow"
"But you must, you shall lowerl''
cried poor Martha, her wild eyes
cleaning upon her father. "Come, !
will take charge Of the boat. Obi save
him, father, save Henry"
Her appeal was useless; no boat could
be got down in such a gale. 1t blew a
perfect hurricane, and the whole shir
was shrouded in clouds of flying, blind.
ing spray.
The captain forced Martha into the
cabin; then he returned on deck to at.
tend to his ship.
The efforts Of the men aloft had
been useless. The sheets had parted
like pack-thread, and tho torn sails
were carried away and whirled off III
huge balls to leeward and aloft.
So the captain, putting his Graf,
before 1t, tried scudding, which were
the only way to save his vessel.
In about two hours the squall had
passed away, leaving behind it, how.
ever, heavy sea.
The moon broke through the drifting
clouds, and soft silver showers Of light
fell upon the upheaving waves, there
forming, with the breaking waters
many strange, fantastic shapes.
One Of the men sat on the windlas.
keeping a lookout; the others were get.
ting up spare canvas, that they might
be ready to "bend on" new sails thu
first thing in the morning. Every face
wore solemn look, for Brandon hat
been q great favorite.
Moreover, the means Of Martha was
heard coming up from the cabin, tht
{ poor girl having almost lost her senses
Now and then The man on the look