News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-12-11

the old pilot below and told him not
to show his face on deck again.
Midas obeyed without a word, though
we could see that his hands were
clinched 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 be-
tween the two Serphos, and then run
up through the strait OF Silota. The
I and blew fresher At dark the little
island of Kalipoli was upon the lar
board beam, but in half an hour af-
terward the wind died away to a
dead calm. This state ofthings last
ed 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 a blow" said the mate,
walking aft to where the captain and
myself stood.
Il hope it may not be such a one
as we had in the Egina gulf IA year
ago." said |, shuddering as my mind
ran back to the gale rode out in the
old sloop-of-war Fairfield at that
time.
This is a hard place for storms" :"
said the captain half finterrogatively,
and at the same time, as | thought,
exhibiting a little trepidation.
You had better believe" said l.
Hadn't we better call the pilot?"
suggested the mate
"NoF' thundered Napton.
Ere long the heavens were as black
as ink, save a little streak in the
south, where it seemed as if a dull
fire were moldering and dying. 1t
was so dark that we could hardly
distinguish the outlines 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, rum
bling sound from the southwark, ac-
companied at short intervals by
sort of kissing, screeching noise.
In a few moments the gale burst
upon us. 1t came at first in low
puffs and spits of fray, and then the
full armed monster leaped upon us.
For a 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 atlength
he brought the ship to on the lar
board tack, with her head nearly
west. At 10 O'Clock the sea ran so
high that the staysail and mizzen be
came of no use, and they were taken
in, and the ship now lay under moth
The wind howled through the re. 10.
ging with frightful 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 sur
rounded by rustling mountains of
white crested seas. The crew were
all upon deck, and they held on up
on 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
|
ship had now been lying to, and it
was evident that she must have
made considerable 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 o'clock
the sea had risen to such q height
that it threatened every moment to
engulf the ship in its deep cold grave,
but yet the strained and groanin9
craft stood nobIy up. But could she
stand so much longer? The men
could see the face of the captain as
the rays of the bipnaele light fell up
on it, and they must have noticed
how pale it was. | will not attempt
to describe my own feelings, | only
remember that | thought ofmy- home
in a far distant land, and that IwOn-
dered if | should ever see it again-i1
ever again | should hear the voices
of those who had loved me in child
hood,
The mate left the spot where he
had been standing and went to the
wheel.
eve can't stand this much long
er," said he to the captain.
But the captain made no reply,
and soon the mate spoke again.
lis 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 before it would be certain
death, for we are locked in to leeward
by a snug chain of islands. The top
sail yet holds. We may stand it til
daylight.
Il am afraid not.
Then we must pray-that's all.
1t must have been some kind pow
er that held our ship up through
that long night, for the water noun
tains broke their fury upon her, anC
/ the mad wind bent her down till sh'
almost grQaned with physical pain.
At length the first faint streak o
the coming dawn appeared in th
east, aud yet the gale was unabated
: The captain was just upon the poin
OF leaving his stand by the whee
when there came u noise that spOk
louder than the tempest. 1t was
t rumbling, roaring, crashing nois
e that came to us like the knell c
: death. All knew in a moment wha
it was. Our ship was upon a lie
shorel The morning came, and
found US with blanched cheeks an
i trembling limbs, and it found some
too, upon their knees in prayer
t What a scene burst upon us! Righ
e under our lee and not more than tiv
: miles distant was u rugged, roc
bound coast.
s What power should save us now
q To wear ship would be of no use, an
5 to tack was impossible unless W
k could make and carry sail enough t
C stand off. The captain staggered t
), the weather mizzen rigging and pas
t ed the order for loosing the toFetol
d sail. The yard was pointed to tt
IF wind. and the lee sheet was haule
.e safely home, but on the emOment thu
le the weather sheet was started I'll
sail split and in a few moments MOI
e, it was in ribbonsl
II 1--WE are gonep uttered the mat
1t "Where are we?" asked the mate
W But the captain could not tell,