Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1889-12-13

aged to hope that everything might turn
out for the best
At 5 o'clock by my watch, the face of
which l could hardly see through the
gloom, the wind was blowing topsail
breeze and the sea getting nasty roll.
Every one but myself became seasick
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 could
not see half the length Of the boat.
held her steady as she went, and was
gratitied to find that she made good work
of it, and did not have to be watched as
closely as larger boat might. 1t was
about 8 o'clock when Mr.. Howe reused
up and crawled aft to me. He was in
despair, but calmer than before. l
made light of the adventure, predicting
that we would be back at the farm before
noon next day, and calling his attention
to the splendid behavior of the boat, and
after little he seemed to have hopes. /
suggested that we have a bite to eat, and
he got the hamper of provisions. 1t con-
tanned wine, cake, crackers, cheese and
meats, and also two candles, which had
been taken along to explore cave said
to be located on the island, but which
we did not find. We got light,
reused up the others, and after we had
broken our fast all felt more cheerful.
Had the women been of common sort l
should have known what to say to brace
them up, but they were aristocrats, tender
as spring flowers, and bit of hardship
was calculated to upset 'em. | made an
attempt to belittlc the situation, and de-
clarcd that it was nothing but an un-
pleasant adventure, and after bit they
all got some courage and began to be
more hopeful. What worried me the
most was the fact that the wind kept
getting stronger and stronger, and by II
o'clock the yawl was humming through
the yeast like a man war in gale.
knew we were going out into the Indian
Ocean at the rate of fifteen miles an hour,
and that if the wind held as it was we'd
be at least hundred miles off shore by
sunrise. If it got up much stronger I'd
have to bring the yawl about head on,
no matter what the risk, for she was now
rolling gunwale down and only just
keeping ahead of the rollers. got the
women folks to lie down i'll the bottom
of the boat, and then had Mr.. Howe pass
me the single oar, piece of board which
little Ben had put in, a bit of two by four
scantling which was under thwart, and
a water pail. While still holding the
yawl dead before the wind ! tied these
together for a 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
ing half a gale, and there was danger
that following sea might break aboard
and fih 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
to the bow to throw out the drag, and
when hauled sheet and put tiller 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 as she settled into a
hollow she was head to the gale, and the
drag was holding her thus. then ex-
planned to the people that nothing more
could be done, aud that they might as
well lie down. When they were down /
got out an old oil-cloth and covered them
from the flying spray as much as possible,
and then took my seat amidships to use
the bailer. did not rest over five min
utes at time from midnight to
daylight, and when day finally
broke and looked about me, my
heart was like lead. The gale still held
off shore, with no sign that it might
change or abate, and the ocean around
me was boiling cauldron. The yqwl
was riding like cork, however, and the
only water taken in came from the wave
crests broken off and hurled at us by the
wind, When the people finally crawied
out hardly knew them. Ali were pale,
hollow eyed, and despairing, while Mr..
Howe had look upon his face which
made me stare at him. 1t was look of
mortal fear and desperation, and realized
that his mind was going. The poor
women didn't seem to notice it, having
so much trouble of their own, but little
Ben did, and he crept over to me and
whispered;
"Please, Jack, but you won't let papa
touch me, will you9n