Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-11-27

northwest, Mr.. Brown :!
| don't know what it was; l cannot
hope to make you understand the feel
ing in my mind that followed those
wprds-it was a sense of relief from a
horrible nightmare. | was ashamed
of the childish pleasure | felt, but l
could not help answering eagerly,
"Certainly; shall l give the order?''
1 waited no longer, but hurried on
deck and altered the course Of the yes.
sci.
It was a clear, frosty night, and as |
looked at the compass before going be-
low. l felt strangely pleased, and
caught myself chuckhng and rubbing
my hands; at what, | cannot say-1
didn't know them, but II great weight
had been taken off my mind.
| went down to the cabin, and found
the captain pacing up and down the
small space. lie stopped as | came in,
and, looking up, said abruptly:
1T can do no harm, Mr.. Brown"
eff this breeze continues" | answer
ed, "we can hold for thirty hours Or
so; but then, ! should think"
"But then-we shall find ice. IIow's
the wind p
STEADY, north by east"
We sat down aud finished our grog.
| had the morning watch to keep next
day. | was too restless to sleep after
it, SO | kept on deck the whole Of the
day. Even that did not satisfy me. |
was continually running up into the
tops with my glass, but every time |
came down disappointed. The captain
was as unquiet as myself. Something
was expected TO happen, but of what it
was to be we could form no idea. The
second officer, believe, thought us both
crazy; indeed, | often wondered myself
at the state | was in. Evening came
and nothing had turned up. The night
was bright and the captain determined
to carry on under easy sail till morn.
ing.
Morning came, and with the first
gray light | was on deck. 1t was Bit
terly cold. Those only who have seen
them can form an idea of the delicate
tints of the morning SKY in those north
ern seas. But | was in no humor to
appreciate the beauti IS Of nature. There
was a mist low down on the horizon !;
| waited impAtiently for it to lift. 1t
lifted soon and | could not be miStak
en-beyond it could see the simmer
Of ice. sent down to tell the captain,
who came On deck directly.
Its no use, Mr. Brown" he said ;
"You must pat her about"
await one moment; the mist IS lift
ing more it will be quite clear direct
ly.'
The mist was indeed lifting rap d!y.
Far to the north and west we could see
the ice stretched away III one unbroken
field. | was trying to see whether
there appeared any break in the ice
toward the west, when the captain selz-
ING my arm with one hand and point
ING straight ahead with the other, ex-
claimed:
Good heavens there is a ship
there =
The mist had risen like a curtain,
ana there, sure enough, about three
miles ahead, was ship seemingly 1irm-
" packed in the ice. We stood look
inc at it in silence. There was some
meaning after all in that mysterious
warning, was the first thought that
suggested itself to me.
shes nipped bad, sir" said old
ShieI, with the rest Of the crew, WAS
anxiously watching our new discovery.
| was trying TO make her out with the
glass when the flash Of gun quickly
followed by the report proved that she
had seen us, Up went the flag, union
downward. We needed no signal to
| know her distress. The captain order
ed the second officer off into the boat.
| watched him as he made his way over
the ice with few Of the men toward
the ship. They soon returned with
eight of the ships crew. 1t was dis
nal account they gave of their sltua-
ton. They might have sawed their
way out Of the ice, but 5he ship was so
injured that she could not have hoated
an hour. The a.gest Of their boats
had been stove in, the others were
hardly seaworthy. They We're prepar.
inc, however, to take to them as a last
resource when our welcome arrival put
AN end to their fears. Another detach
ment was soon brought off; and the
captain, with the remainder of his crew
Voc IN follow immediately.