The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-12-06
You naa perter peueve IT, sa,o i

Ink, save 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 ont
lines of a man half the length of the
shp. All haste was made to get the sail
OFT, 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 a low,
rumbling sound from the southwark,
accompanied at short intervals by sort
of kissing, screeching noise.
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
the larboard tack, with her head nearly
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 reefel 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 shin
had now been lying to, and it was EVIL
dent that she must have made consider
able leeway. Beneath the fearful power
of the driving gale she must have swept
swiftly of-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 a height that it
threatened every moment to engulf the
ship in its deep cold grave, but yet the
strained and grooming craft stood nobly
up. But could she stand SO much
longer: The inch 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 l thought of my
home in far distant land, and that
wondered if should ever see it again
if ever again should hear the voices OF
those who had loved Inc in childhood.
The mate left the spot where he had
been standing and went to the wheel.
1--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 rumbling, roaring, crashing
noise that came to us like the knell of
death. Ali knew in u moment what it
was. Our ship was upon lee shore!
The morning came, and it found US with
blanched cheeks and trembling limbs,
and it found some, too, upon their knees
in prayer, What n sqene burst upon us!
Right under our lee and not more than
five mile; distant was rugged, rock
bound coast
What power should save us now? To
wear ship would be of no use, and to
tack was impossible unless we could
make and carry sail enough to stand off.
The captain staggered to the weather
mizzen rigging and passed the order for
loosing the foretopsail. The yard was
pointed to the wind, and the lee sheet
was hauled safely home, but ON the mo-
ment that the weather sheet was started
the sail split and in few moments more
it was in ribbons.
1--WE are goner' uttered the mate.
And so it seemed! The men huddfed
aft, but not one of them knew what to
do for safety. The ship would certainly
feel none of her lower sails while ON the
wind, and the captain knew that the
mizzen topsail would be of no use with
out the fore. And every moment, too,
the ship threatened to fall off into the
trough of the sea.
"Where are WEI? asked the mate.
But the captain could not tell.
1--WE must call the pilot"
Napton looked up into the face of his
mate, but this time he made no objec-
tions, and the pilot was accordingly sent
for. The old man came up, and for a
while he gazed upon the surf bathed
coast in silence There was bitter
smile upon his lips, and his eyes sparkled
with strange light. He at length asked
for a glass, and the mate obtained one,
and having adjusted the focus he hand
ed it to him.
What coast is that asked Mr.. Saw
yer after the pilot had lowered the glass.
Andres" replied the old man.
"And there is no salvation for us
now" the mate gasped.
II can save the ship" calmly said
Marco Midas without a change in his
countenance.
'You.-save us" gasped the captain,
starting up.
Eyes"
"But howY'
"Never mind. l can save your ship
and your lives!" The old man spoke
calmly, but yet loud enough to be heard
above the roar of the tempest.
"Then do lido it, and you shall be
rewarded"
"Stop, sir! For thing of your own
doing you insulted me. You struck mel
Had you been on shore you should not
have lived; but can forget and forgive
it now. Go down on your knees, ac-
knowledge your error and You are safe.
The captain hesitated. There was
something in the old mans manner that
told of truth, but the proud man was
not yet bold enough TO confess his fault.
Nearer and nearer surged the ship to-
ward the fearful rocks. and louder and