Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1889-04-19

surely an anchOr?"
"Of course there is. What an ass l ami
Why didn't think of that before7 But |
told you | was no seaman Yes, we VIII
let go the anchor-if we can-and put
light in the mizzen-top, and then, when the
boat comes, it may perhaps be seen, and
ourselves rescued"
But the idea was much more easily con-
ceiyed than carried out. A light was in
dispensIble, and after several unsuccessful
attempts to obtain one from a match, we
were compelled to go into the saloon, and
there light lantern. Then, followed by
Marian and Buttercup, we made our way
forward with great difficulty, for the ship
was rolling like log, and the decks were
wet and slippery with the whirling spray,
which dashed our faces and impeded our
progress.
1t was an exciting moment; Nab cling
ing TO the capstan and holding up the Ian
tern; Marian and the boy covering behind
a coil of ropes; myself maui in hand, crop
ing for the pin by which the chain is fas-
tened to the ring of the anchor.
After a good deal of hammering-for l
made several bad shots-I succeeded,
though more by good luck than address.
The anchor dropped into the sea, and the
huge cable flew through the hawse-hOle in
a sheet of flame. What with the wind and
tide, the ship had good deal of way on
her; and when the anchor took ground,
she brought to with a shock that shook
her like a leaf, dashed the lantern from
MAIDS hand, and sent me sprawling into
the scupper.
We had to find our way aft in the dark
no easy task, for the force of the wind in
creased every minute, and the ship heaved
and rolled viciously.
Can we do anything more?" asked Nab,
when we were all in the saloon. She had
lost her hat; her disheveled hair was damp
with spray; her face flushed with exposure
to the storm, her eyes aglOw with excite
ment; and as she stood there near the
swinging lamp, erect and fearless, she
looked wOndrously handsome.
1.-The only thing more we can do said,
sis to hang a lantern in the miZzen-tOp; not
that think it will be of any use. No boat
could live in this sea; but it is well not to
throw away q chance"
"How long do you suppose we shall have
to remain here, them"
THAT depends on how long the storm
lasts: but at any rate until sunrise"
"In that case may as well resume my
interrupted novel. If any change takes
place either for the better or worse, Mr.
Erie, kindly let me know" And with that
she sat down and went on with her read
ing as uncOncernedly as if she had been in
her own room at Fairhaven.
As for me, lighted another lantern, and
after Mt least three narrow escapes of fall
ing overheard, succeeded in fixing it Sc
curely in the mizzen-tOp.
This done I nrDpH tn fhn nuartar-ippk
and remained there-I cannot say on the
lookout, as there was nothing to be seen
for had an uneasy feeling that something
would happen, and not for the better. The
wind continued to blow in gusts SO fierce
that was more than once nearly carried
"var The tatfraL. L could Aot
my way 10 the tore-parU OF me ship TO save
my life; and though the cable was invisi-
bic, knew that the strain on it must be
terrific. And the wind did not always come
from the same quarter. Several times it
veered completely round, the ship veering
with it, till at last Cbeing unable to see the
COmpass) had not the most remote idea
in which direction lay the land. This went
on some hours and about midnight (as
nearly as | could teID what dreaded came
to pass-the anchor began to drag. At
first | thought | might be mistaken, but
when | felt sure that the ship moved went
below and informed Nab
81 am not surprised" she said, laying
down her book. This wind would move
anything. What shall we do?"
wait the issue of events. What else
can we dO3 We are helpless. 1t is impos-
sible to let 90 another anchor"
That settles the question. Well, if we
cannot struggle, we may at least hope.
Whittier are we mOving?"
81 don't know. have not another Ian
tern. One was broken in the bows, anOth-
er is at the mizzen-top. The rest must
have been taken ashore. / only hope we
are not moving toward the island. In that
case it won't be long before the ship is
dashed to pieces"
And if we are moving toward the Paint
ed Rocks it will be still worse"
Perhaps. But we shall be longer in
getting there"
1--WE are between Scylla and Charybdis."
Every much so; and if the cable parts
But we may possibly keep on dragging
until the wind goes down, and that, take
it, is our sole hope, if you can call it hope"
AT any rate, there is hope; and while
hope exists despair would be crime. l
don't despair; do yOu?'
at would be crime if did, with such
an example of high courage before me-"
This was no mere compliment. In truth,
she bore herself SO bravely, and looked so
bright and serene withal, that | could not
for very shame allow myself to be discour-
aged, although, to tell the truth, l should
have been sorry Speaking professionally
to insure the ship or our own lives for a
premium of ninety-tive per cent
again?" she said, us l made toward the
companion. You can do no good, and you
must be very tired. Sit down here and
rest awhile"
The queen was right MY presence on
deck just then could serve no useful pur-
pose, SO | gladly accepted her invitation;
and was SO overcome with excitement
and fatigue that l had hardly sat down
when | fell fast asleep.
must have slept a long time, for l was
awakened by Nab telliu" me that day was
breaking, and suggested that we had bet
ter go on deck.
The storm was still raging, the anchor
still dragging, and all round was a wild
waste of angry water dashed into foam by
the fierce and fitful wind. On one side of
US lay the island, shrouded in gloom; on
the other were family visible the Painted
Rocks, against which the waves were beat
ing with long, hollow roar like that of
distant thunder. The sun was above the
horizon, shining through deep rift in the
heavy clouds, like a fiery ball ut the bottom
of hole, and throwing a rudy glare over
the heaving sea.
1t was grand, yet dreary and awful
scene. and though Nab still looked calm
and confident, and tried TO be hopeful. l
SAW no way of escape. The ship being in
visible from the shore. we could expect no
help from that quarter, even if boat
could have weathered the storm; and. I'M
less | was much mistaken, we were a long
way past Fairhayen and the ere The
DIANA was moving in a direction nor
west by west-that is TO say, obliquely to-
ward the Painted Rocks. The rate OF her
progress WAS regulated by the wind; when
1t blew hard she went fast; when the wind
fell Off, as it did at intervals, she became
almost stationary. But, at the utmost,
we could not count on respite of more
than three or four hours. and once among
the Painted Rocks, our doc would be
sealed. The ship must needs so 10 pieces
at once, and the strongest swimmer in the
world could not resist the impact of those
terrible waves. The storm, moreover,
showed no sign of abatement. and as the
barometer was as low as ever, we could
not count on any change for the better be-