San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-07-18

My Snlpuate was very ptiie, ana l. COuIl
not wonder at it; but rs for myself, felt
hat was more than half willing TO go-I
lid so want to see Toni
A ring of marines, with fixed bayonets, soon
hustled us into the boat, and in few minutes
we were standing on the wide, sweeping deck
If the seventy-four. What a ship she was
comparison to the little craft we had just
eftl Beside the Amelia she was castle COM
JARED with cottage.
had Just time to observe this and to get
tut from under the noses Of the officer and
his marines when a stout young sailor sprang
forward and grasped my hand
"Oh, john" he criede ais it possible that
you have got here, tooi I'm sorry and glad
both at once"
No matter what I said In reply. had
found Tom, and even there on the deck Of
that floating prison, Il felt for the moment
almost happy.
In less than week the old Poictiers took
us out to sea. We stood to the northward,
and the next day fell In with French pri-
vateer. The mountains on the island of
Martinique were in sight at that time, and
how Tom and I did wish for wings to fly
therel
The seventy-four crowded all sail in chase
of the French ship, and it could soon be seen
that she was gaining upon her. Presently
we could see that they were throwing over
board her guns and other heavy articles to
tighten the vessel. They cut adrift large
boat, and apparently got rid of everything
they could spare.
After this it could be seen that she held her
own, and in fact she soon appeared to be gain
ing ground. The wind, however had be-
come very light, and neither vessel made
much progress.
We passed close by the drifting boat, but
our commander made no attempt to secure
her, probably not wishing to be encountered
with such a thing. In the hurry and confu-
sion Of the moment the Frenchmen had for
gotten to stave a hole in her bottom, and had
even left number of oars ON board of her.
few minutes later we entirely lost the
breeze, but the privateer still had a light
breath of air, and Tom and | were very glad
to see her make off, swapping her fiRgers, as
one might say, at the helpless old seventy
four.
1t happened that we two were often close
to each other, and as we cast sly glances
toward the drifting boat the same thought
was in both our minds.
"Tom," whispered at last, IF the breeze
shouldn't spring up again till after dark, why
couldn't we make a dash for herr"
1.-The very thing I'm thinking Of" he an
swered softly. THE trade wind will be sure
to spring up soon, and that will take us
straight toward Martinique. Iknow it is
risky piece of business, but I'm willing to
take the chances"
We spoke to the other two men-the two
who had been impressed respectively with
him and myself-but they would not make
the venture. How should we be able to find
the boat in the darkness' they asked; and
what were we to do for provisions and water
in the event of reaching herr
But we believed the stake to be worth the
risk, and our resolution was fixed We were
only afraid that the ship would get breeze
before dark.
The boat was about three-fourths of a mile
off, and as twilight gatheFed we saw that she
ranged exactly under a certain large star
which it would be easy to distinguish from
ali Others
As the evening advanced, light breeze be-
gan to fill the sails till the ship gathered
steerageway There was now not a moment
to lose; and, dropping silently under the
bow, we struck out for the boat l have
thing to do there in the midst of the Atlantic
oceanl The picture we made as we dropped
from the bow of that big ship has often
required to me.
More and more the wind breezed up, so
that we were obliged to allow something for
the drift of the boat, for we could not see her.
She must have moved little to one side of
the star-and suppose we should miss her al
together, we thought
At length it seemed to US that we must
have swum more than mile. We were very
tired and began to realize the fearful position
in which we had placed ourselves. Could we
have passed the object of our search! The
breeze increased rapidly and the water dash
ed i'll our faces. OF course the boat must
now be drifting very fast, and probably we
had not made allowance enough for the wind.
Throwing ourselves upon our backs, we
rested awhile to gain strength for further
effort; but such effort must now be feeble at
the best. The dash of the waves confused
us; and as to the stars, we had by this time
got them sadly mixed
Suddenly Tom Topped over upon his breast
and uttered some kind of an exclamation.
"What is it," l asked. do you see herr'
"No; but see something else. Look look!
there's vessels topgallant sails against the
sky!"
Sure enough, it was as he said. Close upon
us rose the canvas of square rigger, tower
ing through the darkness like the form of a
great tree.
We shouted as loud as possible; and soon
"creak, creak" went her mainyard as it |
swung around till the sail was laid to the |
mast.
A boat was sent for US, and we were taken |
I'D almost sDeeehless. What WAS my sur-nriss |