Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-02-22

LUCKY ones, indeed!
The names were written. / drew two
slips, and announced, amid the breathless
attention of the crew, that the winners
were Harry Smithers and Jack Mexican.
Both threw up their caps with delight; the
others looked bitterly disappointed: and
the curses they vented on their ill-luck
were loud and deep.
After this couple Of hawsers were pass
ed from the stern of the Diana" to the
bows of the "Lady Jane" the forlorn hope
very forlorn, I feared), amply provided
with water and provisions, went on board
the derelict, and the fever ship was taken
In tow
/ have already mentioned that the "Di-
ana" had an auxiliary screw. 1t was,
however, very small, and seldom used
only, in fact, when there was dead calm
or exceptionally bad weather. So far, it
had not been used at all, and our coal sup
ply being unusually low lowing to our
carrying full cargo of merchandise, Pey-
ton would probably not have put the 'Di-
ana" under steam at all had we not fallen
in with the fever ship. But as it is ex-
tTemely difficult for q vessel under sail to
tow another he ordered the screw to be
slipped and steam to be got up. 1t was,
however, quite evident that our progress
in any circumstances would be slow, and
that If gale Of wind sprung up we should
have to abandon our prize. Nobody knew
this better than PeytOn.
"What will you do with the Lady Jane
when you get her to Nassau" l asked.
"Batten down the matches and fumigate
her with sulphur; then put a crew aboard,
bend fresh sails 20 her, and send her home
under charge OF Mr.. Bucklow. II tn ere
should be any fever-germs left-and don't
believe there will Ge-the cold will soon
kill them"
Had / been unduly alarmed, after all'
There was no communication between the
two ships; it was hardly possible for the
infection to fly across the streak of water
that separated them; and yellow fever be-
ing generally confined to certain localities,
the sea must necessarily be unfavorable to
its development.
When two days passed and nobody
seemed any the wOrSe-nOt even Bill
Bailey, who had handled the dead bOdy-I
began to think that | had been unduly
alarmed; my spirits revived and albeit
none OF us passengers (nOr probably any of
the crew particularly liked the proximity
Of the fever ship, we soon ceased to trou
bic about her. and our lives went on as U.s.
ual
In the meanwhile, the wind had fallen,
and though every stitch of canvas was
spread, we could not make more than four
knots an hour, even with the help OF our
tiny screw, much to Peyton's annoyance.
AT this rate" he said, I'VE shall not
reach the Brrmudas for two or three
weeks However, it might be worse. II
it had come on TO blow, we should have
had to cast the Lady Jane off; and if we
were quite becalmed, we should soon be
without co ]. | wish Nassau was a few
hundred miles nearer 1t is good stretch
out Of our way"
The responsibility he had incurred by
doyiating from his course was evidently
preying on his mind. If all went on
smoothly, if he got safely to Nassau and
disposed of the Lady jane to advantage,
or sent her home, good and well-his CO.
owners would he more than satisfied, and
praise his enterprise and pluck, and he
would put money in their pockets and his
own. But if, after prolOnging his voyage
two or three weeks, he had to abandon his
prize, they would probably have something
to say that he might not quite like.
So far az | was personally concerned. l
had no Objection in the world to make a
call at the Bcrmudas. Not knowing when
if cver-I should be able to make another
long voyage, l wanted to see all could.
One of my greatest pleasures was an
early walk round the "Diana's" deck.
There being none OF the fair sex on board,
we had no need to study propriety; and
generally rose with the sun, slipped on
pair OF pyiamas, and padded about the
deck with naked feet. As often as not |
appeared even without the pyjamas, and
jumping overheard Mt the bows, swan to
the stern and climbed up the ships side by
"a rope.
Rather ticklish operation; for II you
don't seize the rope ut the right moment
you may he left behind, and swimming af-
ter the ship under sail is by no means easy
and may be dangerous. Before she could
be brought to aud boat lowered, you
might easily be drowned or gObbled up by
a shark
Captain PeytOn several times warned me
OF the risk ran by this proceeding.
You will be missing your tip one Of
these days" he said, land then look outl
If the ship has much way on her, it may
be half an hour or more before you get
help"
But as never missed my tip, l thought
! never should: and with practice the feat
became SO easy that grew confident and
careless. although did not end, as Pey-
ton said | should, by missing my tip"
One morning, shortly after we had dis
covered the Lady Jane" | rose, If any
thing. II little earlier than usual. was on
deck, just as the sun began to rise, and
diving over the bows rs usual, struck out
leisurrly for the stern, which. rs the ship
and myself were moving in opposite direc
lions, reached I'm few seconds. Raising
my head, prepared to make dash at the
rope.
1t was not thcrel l had forgotten to Or
der one TO be thrown out, and | was not
sure that anybody had seen me go into the
water. | shouted to the man at the wheel
but he did not hear, and the next moment
the ship had forged ahead. There was
nothing for it but to climb up the bows of
the Lady Jane" Better risk taking the
fever than be drowned
She was rather low in the water, or do
not think l should have managed it, and l
was greatly helped by the loose end of q
bolt-rope which hung down from the bow
spirit. As struggled up, knocking myself
about good deal in the EFFORT, happened
to cast an eye ON the hawser nearest to
me, and faucied | saw something black
moving along it toward the Diana"
What on earth-f" | could not spare a
hand To rub my eyes. so | shut and opened
them by way OF squeezing out the water,
and looked again.
There could be no mistake about it The
black thing was rat. and il was followed
by lot more rats. They were running
along the rope In regular procession
scores OF them-and when 1 got over the
tulwark found ever so many more, wait
ing for their turns. When the hideous
things saw ME they ran away sQueaking
l shuddered, for ! knew what they had
been feeding on; but my mind was Just
then too much occupied with my own con-
Germs to take in the full significance OF the
incident. | felt rather foolish standing
stark naked in the bows of the Lady
Jane and did not want to add to the alb
surdity of my position by Mailing the
DIANA" and asking for q boat. Why
should not initiate the rats, and use one
of the hawsers As Il bridget
No sooner thought than done. I am
pretty fair Cymuast, aud seizng the haw-
ser with both hands, and letting myself
down, moved them alternately forward
until / reached my destination. 1t was
still gray dawn: nobody had seen ME, and
! crepr unperceiyed over the taffrail Bill
Bailey was at the wheel, and Bucklow the
second mate, and Tom Bolsover were near