Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1886-05-21

Cape Nation slowly nodded his huge
head III sign of approval of his friends
replies.
The Ferrato by the doctors orders
was now driving along mt her utmost
speed, and sending off from her PROV
two long paths of foam. To hurry on
was only prudent Already Captain
Kostrik after consulting the Doctor had
begun TO think of putting for shelter
into Malta, whose lights were sighted
about eight o'clock in the evening The
state of the weather was most threaten
ing. Notwithstanding the westerly
breeze, which freshened rs the sun went
down, the clouds mounted higher and
higher, and gradually overspread three
quarters of the sky. Along the sea-line
was band of livid grey, deepening in
its density and becoming black as ink
when the suns rays shot from behind
its Jagged edges. Now and then the
silent flashes tore asunder the cloud
bank whose upper edge rounded off into
heavy volutes and joined on to the
masses above. At the same time, rs if
they were struggling with the wind from
the west and the wind from the east
that they had not yet felt, but whose
existence was shown by the disturbed
state Of the sea, the waves increased as
they met, and breaking up confusedly
began to come rolling on to the deck.
About six o'clock the darkness had COM
pletely covered the cloudy vault, and
the thunder growled. and the lightning
yiyiIlv 40 ,al in tbo ,rlooro
Better keep outside" said the Doc
tor to the captain.
Yes" answered Captain Kostrik.
"In the Mediterranean it is either one
thing or the other! East and west
strive which shall have us, and the
storm coming in TO help, / am afraid
the first will get the worst oft. The sea
will become very rough off Coco or
Malta, and it may hinder us n good
deal. l don't propose to run in to Val
eta, but to find shelter till daylight
under the western coast of either of the
islands.
DO ns you think best" was the
reply.
The yacht was then about thirty miles
to the westward of Malta. On the
island of Coco little to the northwest
of Malta and separated from it only by
two narrow channels formed by cen
trail islet, there is n large lighthouse
with range of twenty-seven miles.
In less than an hour Notwithstanding
tho roug!iness OF the sea- the Ferrato
was within range Of the light. After care
fully taking its bearings and running
towards the land for some time. the cap
tain considered he was sufficiently near to
remain in shelter for few hours He
therefore reduced his speed so as to
avoid all chance of accident to the hull
or machinery. About half an hour
afterwards, however, tho Coco light
suddenly vanished
The storm was then at its height
warm rain fell in sheets the mass of
cloud on the horizon, now driven into
ribbons by the wind, flew overhead at
terrible pace. Between the riffs tho
stars peeped forth for second or two,
and then us suddenly disappeared and
the ends of the tatters dragging in the
sea swept over it's surface like streamers
of Grape. The triple flashes struck the
waves Mt their three points, sometimes
completely envcloping the yacht, and
the claps of thunder ceaselessly shook
the air. The state of affairs had been
dangerous ; it rapidly became alarming.
Captain Kostrik. knowing that he
ough. to be at least twenty miles within
the range of the Coco light, dared not
approach thel land He even feared that it
was the height of the cliffs which had shut
out the light, and if so he was extremely
near. To run aground on the isolated
rocks ut the foot of the cliffs was to risk
immediate destruction.
About half past nine the captain
resolved to lay-to and keep the screw at
half speed. He did not stop entirely,
for he wanted to keep the ship under
the control of her rudder
For three hours she lay head to wind.
About midnight things grew worse. AS
often happens in storms, the strife
between the opposing winds from the
east and west suddenly ceased the
wind went round to the point from which
it had been blowing during the day.
"a light on the starboard bow !"
shouted one of the quartermasters, who
was on the lookout by the bowsprit.
&C. Put the helm hard down ~ shouted
Captain KostriB, who wished to keep off
the shore.
He also had seen the light. It's inter-
mittent flashes showed him it was Coco.
There was only Just time for him to
come round in the opposite direction,
the wind sweeping down with intense
fury. The Ferrato was not ten miles
from the point on which the light had so
appeared.
Orders to go full speed were tele-
rraphed to the engineer but suddenly
the engine slowed, and then ceased to
work.
The Doctor, Pierre, and all those on
deck feared some serious complication.
An accident had in fact happened. The
valve of the air pump ceased to act. the
condenser failed, and after two or three
loud reports, rs if an explosion had
taken place in the stern, the screw
stopped deal
Under such circumstances the accident
was irreparablc. The pump would have