Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-05-05
CHAPTER XVII.

had been six days and nights at sea- and
the morning of the seventh day had come.
With the exception OF one day of strong
southwestsrly Winds which ran mo come
thing TO the northward, the weather had been
fiAe-bitterly cold, indeed, but bright and
cear In this time had run distance Of
about $50 miles to the east, and with no other
cloths upon the schooner but her spritsail
On tho morning of the seventh day came
on deck, having slept since o'clock.
On looking over tho larboard bulwarl rail,
the first thing l saw was ship about two
miles off. She was on the larboaId tack
under courses topsails and maintopgallnnt-
sail, heading as if TO cross my bows. The
sunshine made her canvas look ms white as
snow against the skirts of the body of vapor
that had trailod little TO leeward of her,
and her black hull flashed as though she dis
charged IA broadside every time she rose wet
to the northern glory out of the hollow of the
swell with carl of silver at hor cut water.
My heart came into my throat; | seemed
not to breathe; not to have saved my life
could have uttered ry, so amazed and
transported was by this unexpected apparI-
ton. | stared like one in dream, aud my
head felt as if all the blood in my body had
surged into it. But then all on n sudden,
there happened "A revulsion of feeling. Sup
pose she should prove privateer-a French
war vessel-of "A nation hostile to my own.
Thought so wrought in me that | trcmbled
like AN idiot in fright The telescope was
too weak to resolve her-I could do better
with my eyes; and | stood at the bulwarks
gazing and gazing, as if she wero the specter
ship Of the Scandinavian legend.
There were flags below, and could have
hoisted a signal of distress; but to what pur-
pose. If the appearance of the schooner did
not sufficiently illustrate her condition, there
was certainly no virtue in the language and
declarations of bunting to exceed her own
mute assurance. | watched her with "a pas
sion of anxiety, never doubling her intention
to speak to meat all events to draw close
and look at me-wholly concerning myself
with her character. The swell made us both
dance, and the blue brows of the rollers
would often hide her to the height of her
rails; but we were closing each other mid
ding fast--she travelling at seven and at
four miles in the hour-and presently could
see that she carried number of boats.
A whaler, thought /; and after little I
was sure of it by perceiving the rings over
her topgallant rigging for the lookout to
stand in.
On being convinced of this ran below for
a shawl that was in my cabin, and, jumping
on to the bulwarks, stood fourishing it for
some minutes to let them know that there
was man aboard. She lufPcd to deaden her
way that might swim Close and as we APP
preached each other | observed crowd of
heads forward looking at me, and several
men aft all staring intently.
A man scrambled ON 10 the rail, and with
an arm clasping a backstay hailed me:
Schooner ahoy he bawlsd, with strong
nasal twang in his cry. "What ships that"
1.-THE Boca del Dragon" | shouted back
"Where are you from, and where are you
bound tor
81 have been locked up in the ice,"
cried, 'and am in want of help. What ship
are yous"
1.-THE Susan Tucker, whaler, of New Bed
ford, twenty-seven months ont, " he returned.
"Where in creation got you that hookerin
"Im the only man aboard" cried, "and
have no boat. Send to Ine, in the narne Of
God, and let the master comep