Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-03-21
A QUEER RACE.
BY WILLIAM WESTEL.

Don't worrit yourself, sir. We shall
get somewhere sometime, if you will only
be quiet; and when the weather changes
you will have quite enough to do. And
there is feel in the air and look about
the sun as tells me that the change won't
be long in coming. That signal with our
number seems to be stirring bit, doesn't
it,"
eyes; Think it is f1uttering just little"
'There must be a light breeze aloft, then;
and if we could only set our topsalls, and
main and mizzen top-gal1ant sails, we
might get steering way on her, and make,
may be, two or three knots an hour"
1.-TWO or three knotsl L wish we could
make twenty knots and get somewhere"
l exclaimed, passionately. "Storm, temp
est, shipwreck, anything would be better
than this intolerable calm"
"Hushl hushl Mr.. Erie; don't you be a.
tempting of Providence; we shall have
wind before long, you'll see. We don't
want no storm, or tempests, or shipwrecks'
Just fair wind, and no more"
Weather-wise as old Tom undoubtedly
was, his Unconstitutional probably by,
his wishes-remained dead letter for a
whole week. But as he repeated it every
day, he proved himself true prophet in
the end. Contrary to my expectations
for had read and heard that tropical
Gains are almost invariably succeeded by
terrible storms-the change came gradual
ly. First of all breath Of air, just suff-
cient to tauten the jibs and fill the fore
sail, without having any sensible effect on
the progress of the ship; then light wind,
which gave us steering way, followed at q
short interval by a spanking breeze that
sent US along at the rate Of four or five
knots an hour, and made US wild to spread
more canvas.
We carried this breeze with US several
days, and with a lower temperature, bright
sunshine, and grand sea, we felt better
and more hopeful than we had felt for a
long time. Our voyage, we thought, must
be coming to an end. We could surely not
go much further without either sighting a
sail or making land. But when our hopes
were at the highest, the fine weather sud-
denly collapsed. Clouds gathered, the sun
disappeared, and a fine rain fell, so thick
and misty that we could not see more than
a cables length ahead. This went on for
days; the wind changed, too, and not being
able to tack, we were obliged to change
with it, and almost reverse our course.
"This is worse than the calm" grumbled
old Tom, ''and if it goes on we shall either
be ramming the ship ashore, or getting run
down by steamer"
1t not only went on, but grew worse.
The rain melted into fog so dense that
after shutdown we were shrouded in dark
ness so impenetrable that we could not see
q hands breadth before US, and had abso-
luteIy to grope our way about the ship. 1t
was like solitary confinement in a black
hole, with an extreme probability of sud-
den death. Our spirits sunk to zero, and
my courage almost gave out. Even old
Tom, confident as he had hitherto been,
began to despair To run aground or be
dashed against some iron-bound shore in
that pitchy darkness would be death in its
most frightful shape. Yet the certainty Of
death was easier to bear than the suspense
we were compelled to endure, and the con-
seriousness that every moment might be
our last. Bolsover, being still weak, could
give me little help, and except when took
an hours rest, once or twice in the twenty
four, was always at the helm. But every
mans strength has its limits, and after
awhile l became so used up that I could
stand it no longer.
1--WE can only die once" / said to Bolso-
yer; land whether we live or die, must
Sleep"
So dashed the wheel amidships and
turned in.
When I awoke there was a glimmering
light. but whether of cleaning or dawn
could not determine, for I had lost all
count of time, knew not the day of the
week, and had forgotten to wind up both
my own watch and the late captains
ehronometer.
went on deck, and found the helm still
dashed amidships; but Bolsover was no
where to be seen, and | looked into his
bunk, and armed with a lantern, visited
all his accustomed haunts without result,
GOD bless mer' thought. He surely
cannot have fallen oyerboardl That would
be too awfulr'
returned to the poop, seriously alarmed,
and began to unlash the helm (not seeing
what more could do until there was more
light, when / heard a hail from the mast
head.
"Is that you, Tom," shouted. Rather
a superfiuous question, perhaps, for 1t
could not well be anybody else. Yet it
seemed hardly possible for sick man to
climb in the dark to the masthead of
ship that was rolling like log.
cay, ay. sir; it's me. III be down d.
rectly," was the answer.
Ten minutes later (by which time It was
decidedly lighter he came sliding down
the shrouds.
"What were you thinking of, to go up to
the masthead in your present weak state'"
said, reproachfully. Suppose you had
fallen oyerboards"
"And if had. You know what you
said before you turned In about two days
Encer
1.-TWO days since."
NEARLY; though there's so little differ
ence between day and night that cannot
be quite sure. You said a man can only
die once. All the same Idon't think there's
much risk In going to the mast-head-I am
stronger than l was when you went asleep
and fogs is queer sorts of things; it often
happens as they lies just on the top of the
water, and all above is clear and bright
leastways, so I've heard say. So Thought
as I would just go up and find out, If I
could, whether this here fog is of that there
nature"
"Is iti''
Partly. Anyhow, it Is a good deal
clearer up there than down here, and a
score yards or so higher up dare say it is
broad daylight. All the same, saw the
sun rise; and, what's more, l made out
something as looks very like land"
"Landl Land at lasti Thank Godp' I
gasped, almost speeches. with surprise
and joy. "But are you sure you are not
mistaken Where away?n
"On the port bow. No, I don't think I
am mistaken 1t looks like a big noun
tain, fifteen or twenty miles off, may be.
Give me glass, and I'll go up again and