Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-12-06

fioWc TOOK one and | the other aud we
pulled away to cross the space. AS he
was not strong man, and had had no
practice in rowing, we made no gain.
and, to make matters worse, he lost his
oar overheard and it was swept away.
Wc.wcrc three miles from the brig.
and was getting ready to hoist signal
when the sky darkcned up with sort Of
log, shutting us i'll, and the wind brecZcd
up directly off shore. Had it not been
Tor the strong tide could have beat back
into the bay, even in the fog, but was
soon compelled TO tell MIR. Howe that we
were being driftcd and driven out to sea.
The news mt once unnervcd him, and
his words and dcmcanor alarmed all the
others, who began wailing and lament
ing. Little Ben was an exception. lie
was not only too young to understand
the danger, but he enjoyed the novelty
Of the situation. lie crcpt back to the
stcrn-shccts, stood between my knees to
steady himself, and whispered:
81 shan't cry, Jack. Only wish my
dog was hcrc'
After we had driven over the bar.
which always forms at every inlet, the
breeze frcshcncd still more. and had to
run of before it, although [ double
rccfcd the sail Had | attempted 10
beat back to the coast line should have
got among the rocks and reefs which
lined it for miles and miles There was
room i'll the inlet to beat up against the
tide, but il was now SD dark that could
hardly see the bow Of the boat, and
had no compass and could have run ONLY
by dangerous Sucsswork In heading
dead out to sea | expected nothing worse
than to have To pass the night on the
water by morning, ut least, the brig
would know that we had met with "a
piece OF ill luck, and would stand out
TO pick lis up. And, too, the wind
might go down with the sun or vcer 20 n
favorable quarter. Therefore, while Mr..
Howe cursed his foolishncss in ever step
ping foot into the yawl, and while the
women covered and wcpt, l was enconr-
aged to hope that everything might turn
out for the best.
At ) o'clock by my watch. the face Of
which could hardly see through the
gloom the wind was blowing topsail
breeze amt the sea getting Il nasty roll.
Every one but myself became scasick
and fell on the bottom of the boat. and
for the next three hours | heard NOTHING
but cries and groans of distress. The
real darkness had come now, and couLl
not see half the length of the boat.
held her steady rs she went, and was
Sratticd to find that she made good work
oi 1t. and did not have to hc watched ~
closely lis larger boat might. 1t was
about ? o'clock when Mr.. Howe reused
up and crawlcd aft to me- lie was in
despair. but culmcr than before.
mate light Of the adventure. predicting
tha, we would BE- back nj the farm before
noon next day, and calling his attention
to the splendid behavior of the boat. and
after q little he seemed to have homes.
suggested that we have Il bite 10 cat, and
he got the hamper Of provisions. 1t con
famed wine, cake, crackers, cheese and
meats, and also two candles. which had
been taken along to explore "a cave said
to he located on the island, but which
we did not find. We rot light.
reused up the others, and after we had
broken our fast all felt more cheerful
Had the women been of common sort |
should have known what to say to brace
them up, but they were aristocrats. tender
as spring flowers, and a bit of hardship
was calculated to upset en-. male nm
attempt to belittlc tic situation, and de-
clarcd that II was nothing but an I'M
pleasant adventure, and after "A bit they
all 20. some courage and began to be
more hopeful. What worried me the
most was the fact that the wind kent
getting stronger and stronger, and by | 1
o'clock the yawl WAS humming through
the yeast like Il man-ofwar in :. gale.
knew we were going out into the Indian
ocean ut the rate of fifteen miles an hour.
and tina; if the wind held rs it was we'd
be III least Il hundred miles OF shore by
sunrise. II it got up much stronger I'll
have 80 bring the yawl about head on.
no matter what the risk, for she was now
rolling gunwalc down and ONLY lust
keeping ahead of the rollers. cot the
women folks to lie down in the bottom
of the boat. and then had Mr.. Howe pas,
me the single oar, piece of boird which
little Ben had put i'll, n bit of two by four
scantilnG which was under thwart, and
4 water pail While still holding the
yawi dead before the wind tied thcs,
together for Il drag, told Mr.. Howe to
attach them To the boats painter, and
by midnight was ready TO bring her head
on.
1t was time The wind was now blow
in. half Il gale, and there was danger
that Il following sea might break aboard
and i'll us. did not tell him what
proposed to do, fearing he would become
nervous and rattle me, but quietly
waited for the right moment, sent him
tn the bow to throw out the drag, and
when hauled sheet and put tillcr over
| could feel my heart in my throat. She
hung for moment, and every soul
aboard screamed out in terror, but the
crisis passed and rs she settled into
hollow she was head to the gale. and the
drag was holding her thus. then cx-
planned to the people tina. nothing more
conld be done, and that they might rs
well lie down. When they were down |
got out M old oil-cloth and covered them
from the flying spray rs much as possible.