The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1889-11-01

X
THE SMOKE BELCHED FORTH IN LARGE
VOLUMES.
volumes, and now and again a bright
Pickering flame shot up from the hatch
way.
In another few minutes the flames
were pouring into the cuddy, and the
whole structure was on fire. The
flame extended, and in less than ten
minutes the whole of the after part Of
the ship was on fire, the lurid glare
lighting up the superintendent clouds
and leaden sea, and producing a scene
of surprising grandeur.
And now another danger was threat
ening them. Away in the distance
there was dull, sobbiug moan, which
each minute became more distinct
the tornado was fast approaching, but
at that moment they were startled by
sharp cry of ''Ship ahoy! Ship ahoyr'
and looking in the direction from
whence the sound came they saw a.
boat, manned with four oars, pulling
rapidly towards them. In another
minute the welcome sound of I'm
BOWL was heard, and the boat was
alongside.
No time was to be lost; the storm
was brewing in the north, and if it
burst upon them before they reached
the ship their doom was certain.
Again, the powder in the hold might
explode at any minute, so they hurried
ly lowered themselves into the boat
and pushed off.
While the second mate was rescuing
thu two men from the burning ship,
the captain and the mate of the brig
were making all preparations for the,
coming gale; and, before the boat had.
got alongside, the sails had been furledi
and everything made snug.
Capt Dunnett and his mate had
been kept up by the excitement of the
situation, but the moment they were
on board the brig they tainted dead of,
and were taken below in state of UNI
consciousness This had scarcely been
accomplished, and the quarter-boat
hoisted up and made fast when the
tornado burst upon them with terrific
fierceness. For few minutes they
could neither see NOR hear anything
but the roaring of the tormented
waters and the bowling and thunder
| ing of the wind. At first the brig reel
ed and bent before it; then she rose up,
and, like a furious steed, dashed on
frantically in the wake of the burning
| wreck.
All that night the gale continued
and shortly after daylight it moderated.
and by noon it had blown itself OUT
the clouds rose, and the weather clear
ed up.
Capt. Dunnett and the mate were,
attended with all the kindness and at
tention which was necessary for men
in their exhausted condition. Jarvise
was delirious; and many weary days
and restless nights passed before he
showed any signs of recovery. But
he pulled through at last The captain
was also for time entirely prostrate;.
but he, too, gradually regained his
strength, and in fortnight was on
deck again.
Poor Jarvise was greatly embar-
raised when he first met his old COM
mander. He was naturally of a hu-
name disposition; and now the frantic
passion which was begotten of despair
had passed away, he was heartily
ashamed OF his conduct.
II was not myself, Capt Dunnett"
he said apologetically. Il was mad
with hunger and despair. The devil
seemed to have got into my heart;
and when I reflected on the thoughts.
that passed through my mind, and the.
things planned during that time, my
mind is filled with horror, and l blush,
with shame when think of them"
II am sure you do, Mr.. Jarvise,"
replied the captain. soothingly; "Let US.
forget all about it.
Forget it. Capt. Dunnett?' cried
the mate, plantively; Il shall never
forget it! The misery and torment Of
that dreadful time will haunt me to
my dying day."
"A dreadful time, truly" replied the
captain, solemnly; land I can only
pray heaven that no other two men
may ever be called on to pass through
such dreadful ordeal as we did"
"Amen!" cried the mate.