The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-10-10

Ar said the pllot, Dub~ winch
one?''
81 only know one," replied Mr..
Fogg, quietly.
"And that is-?"
Shanghai p
The pilot could not at first compre-
bend for few moments what this an
swer meant how much obstinacy and
tenaeity it comprised. Then he cried !:
"Ah well, yes your honor is right.
On to Shanghai 70
And the direction of the Tankade re
was nnwayeringly kept to the north.
1t was truly a terrible night 1t was
miracle that the little craft did not
capsize. Twice she was submerged,
and everything would have been car
ried off the deck, if the fastening of
the ropes had given away. Mrs. Aou-
da was worn out, but she did not utter
q complaint. More than once Mr.
Fogg had to rush toward her to pro-
tect her from the violence of the
waves.
Daylight reappeared. The tempest
was still raging with the greatest fury.
However. the wind fell again into the
southeast. It was favorable change,
and the Tankadere resumed her way
on this high sea, whose waves then
struck those produced by the new di-
rection of the wind Thence a shock
of eounter-rolling waves. which would
have crushed less solidly built bark.
From time to time through the
broken mist, the coast could be per-
ceived, but not ship in sight. The
Tankadere was the only one keeping
the sea.
At noon there were some signs of a
calm, which, with the sinking of the
sun toward the horizon, were more dis
tinct.
The short duration of the tempest
was owing to its very violence. The
passengers, completely worn out, could
eat little and take some rest.
The night was comparatively quiet.
The pilot had the sail again hoisted at a
low reef The speed of the vessel was
considerable. The next day, the 18th,
at day-dawn, the coast being sighted,
John BunsbY was able to assert that
they were not one hundred miles from
Shanghai.
One hundred miles, and only this day
left to make the distance! That very
evening Mr.. Fogg ought to arrive at
Shanghai, if he did not wish to miss the
departure OF the Yokohama steamer.
Without this storm, during which he
lost several hours. he would not, at this
moment, have been thirty miles from
port.
The breeze sensibly slackened, but
fortunately the sea fell with it. The
schooner was covered with canvas.
Poles, stay-sails, counter-jibs, all were
carried, and the sea foamed under her
keel
At noon, the Tankadere was not moro
than forty-iive miles from Shanghai.
She had six hours more to make that
port before the departure of the steam
er for Yokohama. ~
The fears of all were great; they
wanted to arrive at any cost All felt
their hearts impatiently beating Phil
cas- Fogg, doubtless, excepted. The
little schooner must keep up an average
of nine knots an hour, and the wind
was constantly going down! 1t was an
irregular breeze, with capricious pulls
coming from the coast. They passed,
and the sea became more smooth i'm
mediately after.
But the vessel was so light, and her
high sails, of a fine material, caught the
eaprieious breeze so well that. with the
current in their favor, at six O'Clock
John Runsby counted only ten miles tc
Shanghai River. for the city itself is
situated at a distance of twelve miles at
least above the mouth. At seven o clock
they were still three miles from Shang-
hal. A formidable oath escaped from
the pilots lips, 1t was evident that the
reward of two hundred pounds was GO
ing to slip from him. He looked at Mr.
Fogg. Mr., Fogg was impossible, and
yet his whole fortune was at stake at
this moment
At this moment, too, long. black
funnel. crowned with a wreath of
smoke, appeared on the edge of the
water. 1t was the American steamer
going at the regular hour.
Maledictions on herF' cried John
bunSDy, VINO pusned Dack the rudder
desperately.
"Signal herr said Phileas Fogg.
simply.
A small brass cannon stood on the
forward deck of the Tankadere. 1t
served to make signals in hazy weather.
The cannon was loaded to the muzzle,
but at the moment that the pilot was
going to apply a red-hot coal to the
touch-hole, MIR. Fogg said:
"Hoist your flag"
The flag was hoisted half-mast II
was signal of distress, and it was to be
hoped that the American steamer, per
ceiying it, would change her course fol-
a moment to ASST st the little craft.
"Firer' said Mr. Fogg.
And the booming of the little cannon
sounded through the air
rarprNr,