Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-08-11
Cornish turned hastily

OhO obuA -ocdiAS lOWcTcO dS IL was HI ticipation of the breaking of the storm, and l could also make out the minute dark figures of the men in her.
 The boatswain came along and re- ported every thing safe below. Come here, l cried, 'there is the long-boat yonder." He caught the glass and took long look through it.
 It is the boat, sure enough. She is heading this way and we may have to make another fight for it. "
 No, no," I answered. ''TheY're not for fighting. They don't like the look of the weather, bosom, and would board us to save their lives, not to take ours.''
 That's it, sir," exclaimed Cornish II reckon there's little enough muti- neering among 'em, now Stevens is gone. I'd lay my life they'd turn to lay by for lem and take 'em in.'
 Neither the boatswain nor I m ade any reply to this.
 For my own part though had been perish1ng for want of hands I would not have trusted those villains. For after the storm was over l had no doubt if they found themselves on board the Grosvenor once more they would lay violent hands upon me and the boatswain and treat us as they had done Coxon and Duckling.
 Just then the steward came with big coffee-pot. He set it on the sky light, and fetched from the pantry some good preserved meat, biscuit and butter, and we fell to the repast with great relish and hunger.
 Being the first to finish, I took the wheel while Cornish breakfasted, and then ordered the steward to go and make some fresh coffee, and keep it hot in the galley, and prepare a good breakfast for the Robertsons, ready to serve when the young lady should leave her cabin
 "Boson," said I, as he came slowly toward me, filling his pipe, "I don't like the look of that mainsaii. It'll blow out and kick up a deuce of shindy. You and Cornish had better lay aloft with some spare line and serve the sail with it.''
 That's soon done," he answered. cheerfully. And Cornish left his break fast, and they both went aloft.
 The two men remained for a short time on the main-yard, and then came down, leaving the sail much more se- cure than they had found it. Cornish dispatched his breakfast, and the boat swan came to me.
 ''Do you see the long g-boat now, sir?''
 "No," replied; ''she' hidden in the rain yonder. By Heaven! it is com ing downr
 1 did not exaggcrate; the horizon steam rising from the boiling sea.
 "It'll keep 'em busy bai1ing," said the boatswain.
 Hold on here," cried, "tll get my oil-skins."
 l was back in a few moments, and he went away to drape himself for the downfall, and to advise Cornish to do the same.
 left the wheel for a second or two to close one of the skylights, and as l did so flash of lightning seemed to set the ship on fire, and immediately came a deafening crash of thunder.
 scarcely knew which was the more terrifying to see and hear-the rain, O. the thunder and lightning.
 It was cataract of water falling from prodigious elevation. It was a dense, mpervious liquid vail, shutting out all sig ght of sea or sky. It tore the water into foam in striking it.
 Then, boom! down it came upon us
 1 held on by the wheel, and the boat swain jammed himself under the grat- ing. 1twas not rain only-it was hail as big as eggs; and the rain-drops were as big as eggs, too.
 There was not 8 breath of air; this terrific fall came down in perfectly perpendicular lines; and as the light ming rushed through it, it illuminated with its ghastly effulgence broad sheet of water
 It was so dark that I could not see the card in the pinnacle. The water rushed off our decks just as it would had we shipped 8 sea; and for the space of twenty minutes I stood stunned, deaf, blind, in the midst of horrible and overpowering concert of pealing thunder and rushing rain, the awful gloom being rendered yet more dread full by the dazzling flashes which passed through it.
 It passed as suddenly as it had come, and left us still in a breathless calm, drenched, terrified and motionless.
 It grew lighter to windward, and felt small air blowing on my stream ing face; lighter still, though to leeward the storm was raging and roaring, and passing with its darkness like some un- earthly night.
 squeezed the water out of my eyes, ana saw the WlnQ come rushing toward us upon the sea, while all overhead the sky was a broad, lead-colored space.
 "Now, Boson," l roared, "stand byr'
 He came out from under the grat- ing, and took a grip of the rail.
 ''Here it comes!'' he cried; ''and here comes the long-boat atop of itr'
 could only cast one brief glance in the direction indicated, where, sure enough, saw the long-boat flying to- ward us on surface of foam. In an instant the gale struck the ship and over she heeled, laying her port bull wark close down upon the water. But there she stopped.
 Had we had whole top-sails," l cried, ''it would have been Amen!'
 waited a moment or two before deciding whether to put the helm up and run. If this was the worst of it, the ship would do as she was. But in that time the long-boat, urged furious ly forward by the sail they still kept