San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-26
CHAPTER II.
TIL L &c Z B L r G. .

THE ICEBERG.
The loss of the spars | have named was no
great matter, nor were we to be intimidated
by such weather as was to be expected off
Cape Horn.
But there was an inveteracy in the gale
which had driven us down to this part that
bore heavily upon our spirits It was impos-
sible to trim the ballast. We dared not veer
SO as to bring the ship on the other tack.
With helm dashed and yards pointed to the
wind, thus we lay, thus we drifted, steadily
trending with the send of each giant surge
farther and deeper into the icy regions of the
southwest, helpless, foreboding, disconsolate.
1t was the night of the fourth day of the
month. The crew We're forward in the fore
castle, and | knew not if any man was on
deck saving myself.
| stood in the companion as in sentry
box, with my eyes just above the cover.
Nothing was to be seen but sheets of ghostly
white water, sweeping up the blackness on
the vessels lee, or breaking and boiling to
windward
After long and eager look round into the
obscurty, semilucent with frOth, went
below for a mouthful of spirits and bite of
supper the hour being eight bells i'll the
second dog watch, as we Say-that is, eight
o'clock in the evening. The captain and car
penter were in the cabin. Upon the swing
tray over the table were a piece of corned
beef, some biscuit, and a bottle of hollands.
''We're in an ugly part of the globe"
says Capt. Rosy. when bad sailors die
they're sent here, reckon. The worst nau-
teal sinner can't be hove to long off the Horn
without coming out of it with purged soul.
He must start afresh to deserve further pun
ishment"
"Well, here's breeze that can't 30 on
blowing much longer cries the carpenter.
1.-THE place it comes from must give out soon,
onless new trade winds got fixed into a
whole gale for this here ocean,"
'What southing do you allow our drift
will be giving us, captain~ asked, MUNICH
ing a piece of beef.
''All of four mile an hour, )" he answered. eff
this goes on | shall look to make some discov-
cries. The antarctic circle won't be far off
presently, and since you're a scholar, Rod
ney, I'll leave you to describe what's inside
of it-though boil me if / don't have the
naming of the tallest land; FOR, dye see, I've
a mind to be known after I'm dead, and
there's nothing like your signature on a
mountain to be remembered by"
and fearful shout on deck. 1t sounded high
above the sweeping and scothing of the wind
and the kissing of the dashed waters, and it
penetrated the planks with a note that gave
it an inexpressible character of anguish.
"a man washed OverbOardT' bawled the
carpenter, springing to his feet.
'No!" cried l, for my younger and shrewder
ear had caught a note in the cry that per-
suaded me it was not as the carpenter said;
and in an instant the three of us jumped up
the ladder and gained the deck
The moment l was in the gale the same
affrighted cry rang down along the wind
from some man forward: "For Gods sake,
tumble up before we are upon itr'
'What do you see!' l roared, sending my
voice, trumpet fashion, through my hands;
for as to my own and the sight of Capt. Rosy
and the carpenter, why, it was like being
struck blind to come on sudden out of the
lighted cabin into the black night
Any reply that might have been attempted
was choked out by the dive of the briggs
head into the sea, which furiously flooded
her forecastle, and came washing aft like
milk in the darkness, till it was up to our
knees.
See there" suddenly reared the carpenter
NV here, man-whereE bawled the captain.
But in this brief time my sight had grown
used to the night and saw the object before
the carpenter could answer. 1t lay on our
lee beam, but how far off no man could have
told in that black thickness. 1t stood against
the darkness and hung out dim complexion
of light, or rather of pallidness, that was not
Gght-not to be described by the pen. 1t
was like small hill of snow, and looked as
snow does, or the foam of the sea in darkness.
and it came and went with our soaring and
sinking.
"IceI' l shouted to the captain.
81 see it," he answered 1--WE must drive
her clear at all risks
There was no need to call the men. To the
second cry that had been raised by one
among them, VINO had come out of the fore
castle and seen the berg. they had tumbled