Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-03-15
A QUEER RACE.
BY WILLIAM WESTEL.

get somewhere sometime, if you will only
be quiet; and when the weather changes
yOu will have quite enough to do. And
there is feel in the air and look about
the sun as tells me that the change won't
be long in coming That signal with our
number seems to be stirring bit, doesn't
it?'
Eyes; think it is iuttering just little
"There must be a light breeze aloft, then;
and if we could only set our topsaIls, and
main and mizZen top-gallant sails, we
might get steering way on her, and make,
may be, two or three knots an hour"
1.-TWO or three knotsl | wish we could
make twenty knots and get somewhere"
/ exclaimed, passionately. storm, temp
est, shipwreck, anything would be better
than this intolerable calm"
"Hushi hush Mr. Erie; don't you be a.
tempting Of Providence; we shall have a
wind before long, you'll see. We don't
want no storm, or tempests, or shipwrecksi
Just fair wind, and no more"
Weather-wise as old Tom undoubtedly
was, his Unconstitutional probably by
his wishes-remained a dead letter for a
wiz week. But as he repeated it every
day, he proved himself true prophet in
the end. Contrary to my expectations
for | had read and heard that tropical
Gains are almost invariably succeeded by
terrible storms-the change came gradual
ly. First of all breath Of air, just sufIl-
cicrt to tauten the jibs and fill the fore
sail without having any sensible effect on
the progress Of the ship; then a light wind,
which gave us steering way, followed at a
short interval by a spanking breeze that
sent us along at the rate Of four or five
knots an hour, and made us wild to spread
more canvas.
We carried this breeze with US several
days, and with a lower temperature, bright
sunshine, and a grand sea, we felt better
and more hopeful than we had felt for a
long time our voyage, we thought, must
be coming TO an end. We could surely not
90 much further without either sighting a
sail or making land. But when our hopes
were at the highest, the fine weather sud-
denly collapsed. Clouds gathered, the sun
disappeared and fine +; in fell 50 thick
and misty that we could not see more than
cables length ahead. This went on for
days; the wind changed. too, and not being
able to tack, we were obliged to change
with it. and almost reverse our course
This is worse than the calm" grumbled
old Tom "and if it goes on we shall either
be ramuing the ship ashore, or getting run
down by IA steamer"
1t not only went on, but grew worse
The rain melted into n fog so dense that
after SHUTDOWN we were shroudcd i'm adark-
ness so impenctrable that we could not see
hands breadth before us, and had ALSO
lutely to gropr our way about the ship. 1t
was like solitary confinement III a black
hole, with IN extreme probability OF sud
den death. Our spirits sunk to zero, and
my courage aim ,st gave ont. Even old
Tom, confident rs he had hitherto been
begun to despair. TO run aground or be
dashed ngainst some irUn-bpund shore in
that pftchy darkness would be death in its
most frightful shape Yet the certainty of
death was easier to bear than the suspense
we were compelled to endure, and the con-
BciDuenoaa that every moment might be
our l. s sovrr, being still weak, could
give me little help, and except when took
an hours rest, once or twice in the twenty
four, was always ut the helm. But every
mans strength has its limits, aud after
awhile became 50 used up that | could
stand 1t no longer.
I'VE eau only die once" said to BolsO-
yer; "nnd whether we live OF die, | must
sleep"
So dashed the wheel amidshps and
turned in.
When | awollc there was II glimmering
Hight, but whether OF cleaning or dawn
could not determine, for | had lost all
count OF time, knew not the day OF the
week, and had forgotten to wind up both
my own watch and the late captains
chronometcr
went on deck, and found the helm still
lashcd amidships; but Bolsover was no
where to be seen, and ! looked into his
bunk, and armed with n lantern, visited
all his accustomed haunts without result.
God bless mcP' thought "He surely
cannot have fallen UvcrbOurdI That would
be too awfulr'
i returned to the poop, seriously alarmed,
and began To unlash the helm (not seeing
what more could do until there was more
hghD. when / heard hail from the mast
head
us that YOU, Tom" | shouted. Rather
a supcrlluous question, perhaps, for 1t
could not well be anybody else. Yet it
seemed hardly possible for sick man to
climb in the dark to the masthead of q
ship that was rolling like n log.
''Ay, nv, sir; it's me. I'll be down d.
rectIy," was the answer.
Ten minutes later (by which time it was
decidedly lighter he came sliding down
the shrouds
What were you thinking Of. to go up to
the mast head I'm your present weak state"
said reproachfully. Suppose you had
fallen ovcrboardf
And IL | had. You know what you
said before you turned In about two days
Eince2"
Two days sinceY'
NEARLY; though there's so little differ
snce between day aud night that cannot
be quite sure. Nou sad man can only
die once. All the same Idon't think there's
much risk IN going to the mast-head-I am
stronger than was when you went asleep
and fogs is queer sorts Of things; it often
happens rs they lies just ON the top of the
water, and all above is clear and bright
lcastways, SO I've heard say. So Thought
rs | would just 20 up and find out, il
could, whether this here fog is of that there
nature"
els lt2'
Partly. Anyhow, It IS n good deal
clearer M there than down here, and n
score yards or SO higher up dare say it Is
broad daylight. All the same, | saw the
sun rise; and, what's more, made out
something as looks very like land"
'Landl Land at laStl Thank Godr' l
Easpad, almos, spcechlcss with surprise
and joy. But are you sure you are not
mistaken Where away2"
"On the port bow. No, don't think l
am mistaken. 1t looks like a big noun
tain, fifteen or twenty miles of, may be.
Give me glass and III 20 up again and
have another SQuut'