The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-02-29
CHAPTER XII.

the Islands is being made easier and safer
as the law of these currents is a little
better understood. This is now consid-
cred to be the great Peruvian current,
which meets the equatorial counter cur
rent, which circles Oceanica, and another,
the Mexican coast current, which comes
down from the north, and they meet and
each plows its own way up or down or
across, as it may be, and it flows between
these islands to be resisted and sheered off
IN another direction. OF course they are
very dangerous, and will be even after
they are fully understood, on account of
their wonderful force, which is rendered
Still stronger on account of the remarka-
BILE depth Of the water around these
islands. There are no shores nor shoals
to break their force"
what you say, cap'n, sounds like rea-
son, and shouldn't wonder if that is Just
all there is in these here stories about en-
chantmen6s, and them things what gets
under the ship and just makes her 20
whether she wants to or not. 1 knowed
sailor what said that he chucked an
empty barn overheard one day, and that
Just skooted by on sidewise tack while
the ship was a gliding on current over
six knots an hour in . dead calm. That
'splains it, but what do you think about
them big turkles what they calls commo-
dores and admirals and sichi Do you be-
lieve them?''
"Certainly not"
"Max has always felt badly about our
necessary slaughter of those creatures
said George, "and I believe he always
prayed for pardon when he killed one."
Well" said Max, with dignity, 'I
don't think 1t did no harm, did itf And
Ea1 at III
full, just as IL they could talk, only thew
was struck dumb. never would killed
creetur of them If hadn't a been
obleeged."
Don't mind me, Max; 1 always felt
the same way, and never want to kill
anything again to eat as long as live"
The winds were favorable and the ship
sailed fast, and the captain was proud Of
her beauty as the white foam flew by her
sides and lay in ore broad snowy ribbon
far behind her, and they reached and
passed Valparaiso without touching and
went merrily on their way. The captain
hoped that the weather would admit of
their going through the straits of Magel-
Ian, and he walked the deck and watched
every sign anxiously.
They had passed the belt where the
calm lies in wait for anxious sailors and
holds them until it seems as If they would
die Of annoyance at their forced delay
and were now in the trade winds, which
never fails to raise the spirits Of every
one, and the sailors sang their rollicking
songs at night and the officers talked
cheerfully with the passengers, each re-
lating his adventures.
| At last the critical hour arrived and
they had the satisfaction OF gliding safely
through the channel beside Cape Pillar
and sailing smoothly along Just as the
clouds had covered the sky and the wind
began to rise, and it was not more than
three hours after they entered the strait
before they were in the midst Of a terri
BILE storm that threatened them with de-
struction. They ran before the wind as
well as possible, though the wind drove
them SO fast that it was only with the ut
most difficulty they could keep in the
channel.
At last the captain determined to make
for a sheltered bay upon the coast of Terra
del Fuego, and there anchor until the
force OF the tempest had spent itself, as
the ship was heavily loaded and he did
not wish to risk her loss, for he knew she
was straining from the hard, short, chop
ping waves which struck with such
vicious force; 80 he made for this place,
which was SO well sheltered against the
fury Of the storm that in ten minutes
from the time he rounded the point she
was riding quietly at anchor, and the crew
and officers, as well as the passengers, sat
down to their supper a. If they had never
heard Of q storm.
1t was late In the afternoon when the
Empire anchored, and a sharp watch was
kept during the night for fear that the
natives might try to capture the ship.
The night passed unmolested, but with
the first streak of daylight the ship was
surrounded with canoes full Of strange
looking men, women and children, all
begging for presents, and offering PEN
gums and eggs for sale. They were
distressed looking lot, and the passengers
were anxious to see some Of them closer
and q few of them were permitted to
chamber up to the deck.
Several of them could speak enough
English to make themselves partially un-
derstood, and 1t rather amused Mr.. Os-
borne to make them talk, while che rest
listened, and he had lot Of provisions, es-
pecially sugar, brought up to give them;
and then, just for the fun of the thing,
told the steward to bring up some vinegar
to give them a drink and see how they
would like it.
No sooner did the steward make his ap-
pearance with the little keg than they
changed countenance and showed every
evidence Of intense fear, and all of them
began to side toward the companionway,
as though their object was to make their
escape.
The captain inquired what was the mat
ter, when they pointed to the keg in hor-
ror, and managed to make him under
stand that there was danger to them in
the keg, and told him that some three or
four seasons ago vessel like theirs had
board, and that their ship was "being
mended, )" and then, when the repairs were
done and the men just ready to hoist their
sails, they seemed to grow angry and fight
among themselves for long time, SO that