Los Angeles herald., 1890-12-21

ing at the chart we found that we must
have struck on the extreme northern
point of the bar. Yet Capt. Napton
could not be made to see his error nor
would he abate one whit of his wrath
He sent the old pilot below and told
him not to show his face on deck again.
we could see that his hands were clincb-
ed nervously together and could also
hear the low grating of his teeth.
The captain studied over his chart for
some time, and at length made up his
mind that he would pass between the
two Serphes, and then run up through
the strait of Silota. The wind hauled
At dark the little island Of Kalipoii was
upon the larboard beam, but in half an
hour afterward the wind died away to a
dead calm. This state of things lasted
for about half an hour longer, and then
the stars began to disappear from the
southern heavens and the atmosphere
began to grow dull and oppressive.
Il smell blow" said the mate, walk
ing aft to where the captain and myself
stood.
81 hope it may not be such one as
we had in the .Egina gulf year ago."
said 1, shuddering as my mind ran back
to the gale l rode out in the old sloop-of-
war Fairfield at that time.
''This is hard place for storms" said
the captain half interrogatively, and at
the same time, as thought, exhibiting
little trepidation.
"You had better believe it," said l.
Hadn't we bettN call the pilot?' sug-
gested the mate.
"Nor' thundered Napton.
Ere long the heavens were black as
ink, save a little streak in the south,
where it seemed as il d dull fire were
moldering and dying. 1t was so dark
that we could hardly distinguish the out
lines of man half the length of the
ship. All haste was made to get the sail
off, and the ship was soon left under a
close reefed maintopsail, fore storm
staysail and storm mizzen. Hardly had
this been done when we heard low,
rumbling sound from the southwark,
accompanied at short intervals by sort
OI ulSSlllS, SCIcSCaiuS uOlSS.
In few moments the gale burst upon
us. 1t came at first in low puffs and
spits of spray and then the full armed
monster leaped upon US. For while
the captain let the ship dash on before it.
He knew exactly where he was when he
started, but he dared not run too long,
and at length he brought the ship to ON
%Io o,.1>o o,.J 10 l,o,. I,oo1
west At 10 o'clock the sea ran so high
that the staysail and mizzen became of
no use, and they were taken in, and the
ship now lay to under nothing but the
close reefed maintopsail. The wind
howled through the rigging with fright
full power and the sea broke over the
ship in drenching floods. The matches
were battened down fore and aft and
life lines rove.
At midnight the gale seemed to have
increased, and the ship was surrounded
by rustling mountains of white crested
seas. The crew were all upon deck, and
they held on upon the life lines without
speaking. Sometimes the captain moved
about the deck, and when he stood by
the pinnacle could see that he was pale
and excited. For three hours the ship
had now been lying to, and it was evi
dent that she must have made consider
able leeway. Beneath the fearful power
of the driving gale she must have swept
swiftly off-but how swiftly none could
tell There was no use in heaving the
log, for the seas would "bring it home"
At length-it was near 3 oclock-the
sea had risen to such height that it
threatened every moment to engulf the
ship in its deep cold grave, but yet the
strained and groaning craft stood nobly
up. But could she stand so much
longer? The men could see the face of
the captain as the rays of the pinnacle
light fell upon it, and they must have
noticed how pale it was. | will not at
tempt to describe my own feelings.
only remember that I thought of my
home in far distant land, and that l
wondered if should ever see it again
if ever again should hear the voices of
those who had loved me in childhood
The mate left the spot where he had
been standing and went to the wheel.
"We can't stand this much longer"
said he to the captain.
But the captain made no reply, and
soon the mate spoke again.
SIS it best to trust our fate and put
her before the wind? We shall certainly
go down if we keep on in this way"
"No, no." gasped the captain, seeming
to force his words out; ''to put her be-
fore it would be certain death, for we
are locked in to leeward by snug chain
of islands. The topsail yet holds. We
may stand it till daylight"
II am afraid not"
"Then we must pray-that's ALL"
1t must have been some kind power
that held our ship up through that long
night, for the water mountains broke
their fury upon her, and the mad wind
bent her down till she almost groaned
with physical pain.
At length the first faint streak of the
coming dawn appeared in the east, and
yet the gale was unabated. The captain
was just upon the point of leaving his
stand by the wheel when there came a
noise that spoke louder than the tempest.
1t was a rumbling, roaring, crashing
noise that came to US like the lnell of
death. All knew in moment what it
was Our ship was upon lee shore!