New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-02-10
CHAPTER XXXV.
AN OCEAN INCIDENT.

CHAPTER NANlN.
| AN OCEAN INCIDENT.
Shortly before we took the southeast Trades, ana
we were then III about six degrees south OF the
equator there bcfoll us one of those things which
the sea- who is the mother of SURPRISES, Is always
plcntifuy offering to those who furrOw her broad
bosom Fine weather and pleasant brcczrS bad ac-
companied us down to that pout, and sometimes
we were swarming along. with stunsails out on
either side and sometimes with the yards braccd
larp ND and the bowlincs taut fiddle strings but
always. nevertheless. managing to lie our course
while every night found the southern consultations
creeping higher and higher. But one morning there
came a change, and arriving on deck after break
fast | found the ship in a. thick a blank of white
yapor rs ever rolled down and ObScurcd the sea.
Forward the vessel clean ont of sight IN II :;
what there of her that way was just shadow,
like darkish reflection upon cloud of steam; and
this shadow came oozng out % the smother. a it
might be until abreast Of the mainmlS II broke
into the reality Of the ship with black shroud van
i,llng in few wards above the shear poles. and the
maininast shooting into il and looking to be broken
short of on u line where the rigging vanished, while
the mainyard was dim black streak. from which
the great sail came down gray ont of the faintness
till the CLOVIS of it clear things along with the
foot stretched ranycrscly from sheet to tack above
the buiwarks
There was breeze of wind blowing though YOU
would have dreamed of dead calm in such
feathcr-bod rs that. As nothing was visible above
the mantop | couldn't tell what sail the ship was
under; but there were enough fakes III the coil of
the manroyal halards to make me guess the yard
that rope belonged 10 hOistcd; and apparently,
therefore we were driving along through this white
night under all plain sail. put my head over tho
side where the visible water stretched perhaps a
dozen flthOmS wide, and watching the foam-ieath-
crs passing in the space Of cleaning steel for the
fog gave what was to be Of the that color,
iudpcd our rate of speed 10 he about five and half
KNOBS The ocean smooth, with an eaStcrly
swell that came yelling up ont 81 the thickness on
our beam. so that the water rounded up on sudden
whenever you looked, and drew down into hollow
in the same way, making a strangcnesS OF tins
familiar thing owiDg tO the liquid gambolllng being
10 the vision limited Ia "a sphere that was not moro
than half the width OF any one fold men you
looked aft from the break of the poop the hclmsman
was a smudgo on the white, binding ob-curlty. 1t
was like being IN Napoi-Datn, LOT inc ttHlpffa-
ture; nothing unpleasant 10 the feeling of the flesh,
but rare confusion 10 the eye; and sort of be
wildcrmont to the ear. too. for the noise of the
wind blowing into the stretched canvas was alOft,
but YOU couldn't see what was producing It. and
the cool sound of little breaking slirges running on
top of the swell all around, though not
glimpse of the water was to be got nnlesI you uPt
your head over the rail and looked right down
Daniel / had deserted abreast of the weather
spankcr-yang smoking a cigar. when / came
through the companion. and the second mate, who
had charge OF the watch, kept lookout from the
head ct the poop ladder. Joined my friend, ana
exclaimed Here's a smother! how long has this
been on Us
1.-Two hours he replied.
"Nothing in sight before 1t drew up. hope"
"NOthing" be answered Lot thal console y0u.
passenger"
aIask a. a passenger" said l. Il have knocked
of the and am now afraid OF danger That ; a
sign I'm getting Oid, Danlel. lave you got llghl
He handed me hi, cigar which ruined by thrust
ing the red end of II into the bowl OF my pipe
:. Confonnd YOU" he exclaimed. chuckng it away
anc lighting another; there goes Sixpennorth OF
lovely Havana tobacco. Where's your sweetheart,
Iackf Man YOU should show her this fog. Dye
know, there's deal to behold IN things you can't
see ?"
I'm hoping she'll come on deck, hut don't think
! ought 10 fetch her. replied. Mustn't act ag-
gressvely, YOU know mustn't DO anything t. cause
dear Damars to put her foot down; though, upon
my word, really have nothing To complain Of;
She's conferred astounding privileges upon me, az
things considered. | believed her to he M old
Tartar and she is for she behaved as one ut Cliff
ton where she took Miss Florence under her pro-
villain Jack Seymour How Mr. Eecrton has made
his way promptly and successfully with her beats
for there must be something about mo, some charm
ell Daniel call IT, If you please tho union Of
high breeding with singulary handsome conn"
ilallo!' baw led the trumpet notes Of Captain
Jackson who forkod up through the companion az
that moment what's this. captain fogf
Yes a dense fog" replied Thompson.
compass. cast glance alOft, aud looked into the
windward mist, that seemed to be boiling, rs II
blew along in wlrlmg. imperyiOu- clouds. sup
nose captain" said he, =" yOu are pretty sure Of
nothing beng IN the road 10 plump INTO here-
abOuts =
Oh. sure enough answered Daniel quietly. who
ALWAYS somehow managed 10 fend OF the marine
patronage Captain Jackson tried from time 10 time
10 be,tOw upon him. without being IA the least
marked in his method of doing So.
What's our pacer SAID Captain Jackson, gong |
to the side and looking over Five and half, or
six. ! should say. llumDh Fast walking for
blind ship captain -
Oh. tho faster we sail the sooner shall get |
clear Of this thickness answered Daniel
The devil Of fog of this density H. said Cap |
tain Jackson talking If he were haing the fore
castle that IL makes a lookout of no use. There's
no seeing what's ahead until you're into it, | re- !
member, many years ago. when smOthered up IN
tLi. fashion in the Gulf Of Guinea, in II. NJ. /
Diver, Cape Palmas bearing about mormon west, |
and a trle 81 wind blowing that sent Us ratching |
along at about three aud a half to four miles an
hour the first lieutenant who, by the way, was |
son of the Earl of WOrthing, as fine seaman"
But NJ that moment caught sGht OF Florence |
standing IN the COmpanlon-way, and lott captain
Jackson and his yarn 10 join her. " Come along
said l. putting my pipe in my pocket, and giving |
her my hand, there's nothing IN this log To harm
you."
She stepped on 10 the deck looking with wonder
at the fragment of ship that was visible. at the
vanishing under the tops and at the inquire OF
tho second mate. who. though he Stood near ihe
break of the poop was little more than smudBe |
oven 1T that distance. Am tho only lady on
deck !" che asked.
Yes. but what does that matterf No fear oil
Aunt Damars emerging, suppose. darltngT
Not the slightest But tho denseaess OF tho log