The sun., 1889-11-10


stanohions or held on grimly to seats. and I
was indeed as much rs their lives were worti
to let 20, for there were moments when th'
decks sloped like the steep roof OF. house
promising headlonR fall to any one who re-
laNed his grip OF n sort to break bis neck ol
beat his brains out At regular intervals the
cabin portfolios would turn blind to q thunder.
ous rush OF green sea, and those were mo.
fnents, vow, to drive q man on to his
knees with full conviction that he would
be giving up the ghost In very little
while; for to these darkeninR, Rlimmer.
Ing green deluRinRs the cabin interior
turned dead black, as though 1t were
midnight; down lay the yacht to the mighty
sweeping curl Of water; o shock as OF the dis
charge Of heavy artillery trembled with n stun
ming effect right through her to the blows Of the
tons upon tons OF water which burst over the
rail- to the height OF the crosstrees, falling upon
the resounding deck from that elevation with a
crash that made one think Of the fabric having
struck, followed by distraoting sound of seeth-
ing as the deluge, flung from side to side boiled
between the bulwarks.
We had met with few dustinRs before we
fell In with this tempest. but nothing to season
us for such an encounter as this. / made an
effort after two hours Of 1t to scramble on nil
fours up the cabin ladder and to put my head
out through one Of the companion doors. Such
was the power OF the wind that to the first
protrusion Of my nose felt as II my face had
been cut of rs by q knife and swept overheard.
The hurricane was as hot as though charged
with FIRE; the clouds Of foam blown of the sea
and whirling hoarily under the black vapor
low down above our mastheads looked like
steam boiling up of the Kissing surface Of tho
mighty ocean cauldron. caught sight OF cou-
f1tlA a1AI 49, - A. n
ure of Finn glitterinR In black oilskins crouch
ing aft under the lee Of tho bulwark. swing
ing to ropes end round his waist; but all for
ward was haze. storms Of foam, a glimpse Of
the yachts bows soaring black and streaming
then striking down mady into very hell OF
white waters which leaped upward to the smit-
ing Of the structure in marble-like columns,
round. firm. brilliant, like the stem of water
spout, but with heads which instantly vanished
in q smoke Of crystals before the shrek and
thunder OF the blast The fragment OF gan
foresail held bravely. dark with brine from
peak to clew. with furious salival draining OF
wet from the foot Of 1t out of the hollow into
which there was ceaseless mad hurting OF
water
Heaven preserve mel never could have inn
aRined such sight as that sea presented. It
might we'll have scared the heart OF far
bolder man than ever l professed to be to wit
ness the height and arching Of the great LIQUID
activities with their rage Of boiling submits;
the dusk of the atmosphere darkened yet by
the flying rain Of spume torn by the fingers OF
the storm out Of the maddened waters; the
Rhastliness OF the dissolvinR mountains OF
whiteness glaring out into the wet and leaden
shadow: the leapinR Of the near horizon against
the thick gloom that looked to whirl like
a teetotum, mingling scud and foam and hurt
ling billow into sickeninR confusion Of phan-
tasmsl shapes. mad. chaotic blending of van
ishinR and reappearing forms timed by the
yell and hum Of the gale sounding high above
the crash Of the breaking surge, and the shat
tering of wave by wave as though in very truth
1t fetched an echo Of its own deafening roar
ing out Of the dark sky rushing low over this
scene of commotion.
Whatever it might be that blew. whether
hurricane or some wing OF rota-
ting storm. it lasted for three days not. indeed,
the terrible severity with which it
had set in. for we were all afterward agreed that
a few hours Of the weight of tempest that had
first sprung upon us must have beaten the yacht
down to her grave by mere blows OF green seas,
let alone the addition Of the incalculable pres
sure OF the wind. The stay-foresail in one
blast that caught the yacht when topping
sea was blown into rags, and whirled up into
the dusklike smoke. A fragment of headsail
was wanted. but while some men were claw
ing forward to effect what was necessary the
vessel shipped sea that carried three of
hem overheard like chips OF wood. leaving
the fourth stranded in the scuppers as far
aft as the Rangway. with his neck and both
legs broken We were but asmall ship. and
luxurious fittings counted for nothing In such
4 hellish tumblefcation as that Wilfrid kept
MS berth nearlyths whole time. having slight
y sprained his ankle. which. topped by the mo-
ion. prohibited him from extending his leg by
10 much as q single stride. On the other hand |
Miss Laura would not leave the cabin. en-
leavored to persuade her to take some rest In |
Ter bunk. but to no purpose. did what could |
% make her comfortable crawled like rat to |
Ter berth. whore found her maid half dead |
With fright and nausea. procured pillow, |
Jugs. and so forth. got her over to the lee side.
where there was not much risk OF her rolling |
IL the sofa and snugRed her to the best Of my |
Lbility I sat with her constantly, said |
What could to keep her spirits up, procured |
pod for her. fell asleep at her side, |
loldinR her hand. saw to her maid. and in |
Vord acted the part Of q devoted lover. But
heaven bless US, what time 1t was! would
ometimes wonder whether II the Shark
net with this gale. she had seaVorthinesss
'nough to outlive 1t. Occasionally Finn would
Lrrive haRgard streaming. the completest fig
Ire imaginable Of tempest-beaten man. and
eport Of matters above; but remember wish
ng him at the devil when he told us OF the loss
Il the four men. for more depressing piece of
lows could not have reached us at such
time. and Miss Lauras spirits seemed
o utterly break down under It, 1t was impos-
ible to light the galley fire. and We had to
ubsist upon the remains Of past cookery and
n timed food. However, Finn told US that on
he evening of the first day OF the gale the cook
ad fallen and broken two fingers Of his right
and: 80 that could a fire have been kindled
here was no one to prepare hot meal for us.
But little before II o'clock on the night Of
he third day the gale broke. l was sitting
longside OF Miss Jennings In the cabin, with
plate Of biscuit and ham on my knee Off
'hich she and / were making a lovers meal.
popping little pieces into her mouth as she
~ pillowed close against my arm. then
aking a snack myself, then applying
flask Of sherry to her lips and finding
le wine Transformed into nectar by her kiss of
10 silver mouth of the flask. A steward sat