The morning call., 1890-11-09
A TERRIBLE
NIGHT AT SEA.
Joseph Montet Writes of an Ad.
venture Amid Storm and Fire.
RIVAL Levers Settle Their Differences On a
Fishing-smack The Diabolical Deed
Of Desperate Man.


Make fast the rope, PierreW
Over the raging sea the tishing-smack shot
like a flash. The previous day they had set
out amid superb weather. Ihere was
stiff breeze, covering with light foam the
waves uuon the surface of which the sun
was mlrrorcd with bright silvery reflections.
Nevertheless, on passing the lookout house,
Pere Landure, the master, had paused with
an uneasy air. In less than an hour the
barometer, the column of mercury of which
rlittered at the door, had fallen cent?
meter. The old man had remained there
second, seeming to reflect. Then he had
glanced at the sky, shifted the wind, and
had ended by Struggling his shoulders. A
tempest in such weather, was that possible?
he would have felt il; he WHO scented the
gales day in advance, and he did not
scent anything at al save good catch OF
fish. The barometer was certainly wide OF
the marx.
That was why Pere Landure had set out
with his two young men, Pierre and Jean.
Were they his sons? No; Pere Landure
had only daughter, Marie, the pearl Of the
coast. superb lass Of 90 robust and delight
full. with eyes Of velvet and skin like ripe
peach. Pierre and Jean were mariners OF
the district. very resolute fellows, persistent
workers, understanding their business,
whom he had employed for year past to go
fishing on his vessel. With them everything
went splendidly. 1t was question which
of the twain had had most heart in his toll.
They were genuine rivals, forsooth! The
master had his suspicious as to what caused
this laudable zeal. The young fellows were
after his daughter. That was clear. mere
was a struggle between them as to when OF
the pair should be accepted as Mares hus-
band. Well, let that 60 ahead Ieie
Landure was not disturbed. His daugh-
ter was sage, and sound in mind as well
as in BODY. When she wished she would
make her choice, and everything would be
arranged.
BLACK LOOKS DETECTED.
She would perhaps do well not to delay
too long al Ahe same. For to walt thus IN
impatience~ not the best thing for two lads
equally smitIeu. For about q month past
Pere Landure had detected BLACK looks be-
tween them, on Jeans 81 lie particularly, VINO
was more ardent than Pierre, more ch0lerlc
also, perhaps and more uuderhanded. But
all that would be settled on the wedding
day, and the rejected lover would console
himself with a double share oil edo 1t
wOuln not be the first time such thlng had
been seen, Yexatiun drowned in a big bum
per-and pretty girls we're not scarce III the
neighboThOOdl
Meanwhile they had worked hard all the
afternoon, very calmly. but suddenly To-
ward four O'Clock, the breeze had freshened.
"Hola! sailors, what does this mean?"
Pere Landure had raised his head, put his
hand above his eyes and scanned the horI-
ron. Down there, away down there,
black cloud was scurrying along at the ut
most speed
Let 90 behind the master had shouted,
land make for landw
And they had FASTENED toward the coast.
But suddenly the wind had shifted, driving
the vessel before it toward the open sea.
What tempest. great Jupiterl Never had
the TWO young fellows, never had Pere Lam
dUrc himself, old as he was, seen anything
ike it. 1t was surely one of those diaboica
hurricanes mentioned by those who nave
voyaged in southern seas; one OF those
frIghtful cyclones that surround one with
circle OF furious winds had made mistake
as to the ocean and had fallen upon the
wrong waters. Every half hour the wind
shifted and the mad bark, turning about,
shot off III an unknown direction through
whirlpools of waves as high as houses How
VAS 1t that il had not fOundered twenty
times? lis ribs must be solidly bolted.
StOutly de ked as 1t was, 1t rolled from wave
to wave, plunging, then rising as Il by a
miracle, shaken, tossed, dashed, speeding
along constantly al fearful rate.
Where was it going now? That, forsooth,
the three sailors would have found it very
difficult to say. The night had come Oman
inky highland they could not see sixty
feet in front OF them. For an instant they
had perceived the Belle-Isle lighthouse.
Now they saw nothing save the horror of
the darkness, heard nothing but the sinister
howl of the wind as 1t tore its way through
the cUIdage.
THE MASTER SWEPT OVERHEARD.
Master" said Pierre, suddenly. 1.-THE
watch light is out!
TRY to light it below, and be careful of
the fire." answered Pere Landure. But
NO" added he, t'.king second thought, Il
will do II myself"
And quitting the mast, to which he had
been clInging, the aged sailor took Two
steps TOW ard the hatchway. just at that
moment the sea swept the deck. A cry
burst forth. The deck was empty.
"MalheGrp cried Pierre, 1.-THE master is
overboardw
HE is done for" said Jean, still clinging
to the ti!tr.
The two men leaned over the rail, search
ing the darkness with their dilsted eyes.
They saw nothing.
"Tonnerre," resumed Pierre. what will
Marie say?"
"The chances are that we shall never
knew replied Jean.
"WhyG
Because we also will be drowned"
do you think SOP"
lit looks like il"
"But We do not know"
81 know. At all events l have an idea"
what Is itP'
"That if The smack should escape 1t
shonid take only one of us back to land"
"WhyV
because of Marie"
"Are you mad, JeanW
81 am not We are one too many, and
you know it. The occasion is good. II you
are not a coward We will profit by it."
"How?"
LET one of US follow Pere Landure."
"Whieh"
Lets leave that to fate, to the first sea
shipped If it is to starboard it's You. If it
is 10 larboard it's me. Win that work?"
at will"
The two men were silent. A minute
elapsed as long as a century. The tempest
seemed to have abated trifle. The waves
came less swiftly. AT last one of them swept
the deck.
"Larboard" cried Jean. ats mep
He stood nailed 10 his place. silent. Then
be resumed: You are in luekl Besides
the sea is growing calm. You are likely to
see Marie again" he paused once more for
an instant. You have too much luck !"
cried he at last in choking voice. Sud-
hatchway.
Where are you going2" demanded
Pierre.
OF brutal rage; Yen Will give me five
He opened the hatchway and went down.
Pierre remained above in the darkness, his
visage scourged by foam.
When five minutes had elapsed Jean re-
turned to the deck. He placed his back
against the mast and seemed to be waiting
for something.
Pierre said to him: lean, you are mad.
You surely are not going to cast yourself in
the sea?'
why not?" answered Jean. Have not
lost?"
A FIEND's FOUL WORK.
II release you. Remain on board" At
that moment Pierre listened. "What is
going on below ?" resumed he. "Is the smack
on freW
you had too much luck, my boy" said
Jean with suilen sneer. Il have fired the
vessel!
Coward p cried Pierre.
81 am no coward" replied Jean. "The
proof Of ii is that | am going to pay my
debtP And. clearing the bulwarks at a
bound. he vanished.
Pierre rushed to the hatchway and went
down three steps. He came up ehoked.
Biting smoke filled his throat Tho