The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1884-11-21
CHAPTER Xxx.
IN THE SOUTH SEA.

CHAPTER XXX.
IN THE SOUTH SEA.
THAT night / never turned in. After
going below for five minutes at time TO
draw some whifs Of tobacco, and recoTer
NV circulation in the warmer air OF the
cabin, would return on deck, too anxious
to remain absent for more heightened
period
However, 1t would have been hard for
time. indeed. if weather like this lasted
We drew out of it gradually, sighting no
ice until we were In longitude s0o when
the briggs course was shaped north north
west. and we headed with thankful hearts
for tho mild waters of the Pacific.
The heavy load of anxiety that had
weighed down nay mind had neither bene-
flied my health nor my appearance. My
face was thin and careworn, and my nerves
were sadly out of tune. Had | ''given
way." as old women call it, / should have
taken to my bed, and gone through bad
illness. But indis position was luxury
I could not afford. | put forth all my
will. and kept myself in health by hard
resolution, which was complete triumph
of mind over physics, and satisfactory
proof to myself that Nature is sometimes
70 be controlled and awed into completely
with the minds desires by resolute def
ance of her hints.
The crew had worked for their lives in
| coming round the Horn, and hard work it
was for company weakened by the loss Of
| I've pairs Of stout hands, The cold weather
| passed, they did nothing beyond steering
| the brig anu trimming yards. The neglect
| Of the vessel was apparent in her aspect
her standing rigging was slack her ma sts
dirty, chatting gear in ffters, sides rusty
| and brown, paint work filthy: she might
| have been whaler on her return home
| after three y, ars' knocking about arnonS
| the South Sea Islands.
However, as we were now approaching
| the latitude of which the men had been
| dreaming for the last ten weeks, | recon-
| mended certain preparations and got them
| carried out. lanyard as carpenter thor
oughly overturned the quarter-boat. and
| made her tight and sound, polishing her OH
with a coating OF tar and slush. The fish
| tackles were rugged up and working very
| leisurely, the men got both anchors over
ready for use; the hedges were looked to,
| and hawser coiled down forward.
| These and other preparations for bring
! ing up all which Superintendent with
| LtHE ulltitI no OslO NJ "eeSAIo 'N~
| would have supposed lay motive directly
| at variance with the ostensible OBJ ect OF
| all this work, put kind of new spirit into
3, the crew aud brought decisive.y home to
| them sense of the reality OF the under
taking on which they were engaged. They
| began to cnt some OF their old capers
again, every day brought us into a softer
! and more delicious climate.
One glorious morning induced Miss
| Franklin to accompany me on deck. Sne
| shrunls at first from the idea; her horror
| and dread Of the men were deep-rooted;
| however, | succeeded in overcoming her
| alarm, and led her up the companion-lad-
| der.
She chung to my arm when her eyes met
| the scowling countenauce OF Beauty. VINO
| happened to be at the wheel, and then she
threw her scared glances forward, where
some of the men lay broad on their backs
| smoking and conversing, on the lower stud
| ding sail, which they had pulled open and
spread for the softne of it.
| When her first fears passed OF. it was
| one of the tenderest sights imaginable to
see her looking round upon the Uroad blue
sea and up at the white sails, with child
| like rapture in her eyes, and her sweet
/
| ness of the breeze For six long weeks had
she remained below forever hearing the
| sullen grinding of the vessels timbers, the
scuttle closed, and no fresh air coming to
| her. and all the world of heaven and water
| outside crainped down to the circumference
| of circle of glass, which was as often
| under the green seas as out of them.
| The men looked at her hard, and that
was ALL ] had her arm in mine, and 10
| this way we paced the deck; and when she
was for pulling her hand away moro for
| fear that the men would call out rough
| Joke ON US, than because she was unwilling
| l should have it, said, II have earned
| this privilege, and you must tell me de-
| serve it."
Her manner was all the answer wanted,
| and to and fro we walked, gravely as any
admiral and his wife.
Ths calm seas, the warm winds, the
lazy movement of the sails, aud the society
of Louisa Franklin given, 1 should have
teen content t. see the brig, turned into
the Flying Dutchmdn: and that meant that
we should remain always young, ana the
sun warm and the water calm.
Having once broken through her fear,
she came on deck often. The sailors never
approached her, nor appeared TO take any
notice, Perhaps they knew where my
heart was, and what sort of hand should
raise to defend her. Vet e better reason
was, they were heartily sick of the voyage,
wanted to be ashore, lining their clothe.
with the money, and clear of the danger oil
the mutiny.
Here, indeed, was distinct alarm among
them, manifested to me in a most pointed
fashion one day whom we sighted q vessel
steering down upon us The moment
"Sail, hoH was cried, they tuinbled aft
the glass was passed from hand to hand,
and the most uncomfortable anxiety shown.
s'Was she a man-of war r. they asked
me. thought not, by the cut of her: yet
she proved to be man of war-a Brazil
liam bark-rigged steamer under canvas,
anding south-soutt She passed M
at distance Of two miles, with her colori
drcoping at the gaf-cna