The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-10
THE LAST PLANK.
BY NED BUNTLINE.


Twas frst-mate Of the ship Triumph, bound
from Boston to New Orleans, with an assorted
cargo Of great value The captain, Rabbit by
name. was an oddly IN every way. He always
struck for new courses, took all tracks Dut
those prescribed by custom and thought no.
body knew anything but himself.
For instance, he insisted that cOunIer-cur-
rent ran southwark inside me 6uII suenn,
aud that the only way 70 make quick voyage
10 New Orleans was TO hug close III on the
shore side Of II all the way out, despite the
danger of capes rocks and reefs. the where
abouts of which he sad he knew TOO well not
so avoid them.
Who could gainsay him? lie was captain
of his own sbip-mOnarch of it and all aboard.
so, sailing with stiff nO-wester on our quar-
ter. we sped swiftly on, passing all the dangers
of the coast successfully, such as Barnegat,
Hatteras &c. and found ourselves on morn
ING suddenly becalmed OflCape Florida, close
IN with the land. but soon drifting northward
despite the captains "sOutherly current
IL was very cleaT-nOt . cloud IN sight
warm and close, though it was September,
and the time for an equlnoctial gale TO be
upon us. 49,,
captain to me. " and see if it IS shOal enough
10 get an anchor to hold"
! sounded, and forty tathOms was gwen.
Bend two hawsers together and drop our
heaviest kedge, was his next order. Then
close turl every SAIL but the tore-stOrm-stay
sail and nce-reeted-spanker. send down
all the light spars from alOft, and get ready
20 house topmasts and secure lower yards;
get up preTenter-braces and secure ali below
and aloft."
"Ay. ay. sSr.' And it was done.
We we're now ready for "a storm, but !, old
as | am in sea matters, could see no token OF
it anywhere.
We're going to have tough time Of it,
0lr. II. =" said Captain Rabbit TO me.
why, sir" said |, the sky Is as clear as my
loves dear eyes, and the water Is as smooth as
a mill-pond / see no sign of wind"
WAIT about TWO hours and you'll sing an
other tune" he replied. "1ve been IN these
ATTITUDES before The worst of this will be
that it will cOmedead of shore and II We must
scud Cuba and her reefs will be under our lee.
If we bump our heads there II Will be the last
of the old Triumph and us. too"
made no reply, for / thought 1t only one of
his fancies, and leaving the second mate in
charge of the deck. went below TO take nap,
for I'd had the mid-watch and felt rather
snOozish. | went TO my state-rOOm and threw
myself on my bunk, and soon was dreaming
of blue-eyed angel ashore, whom | hoped to
be sphced TO at a. nOt-far-dlstant time A
heavy tramping overhead and the shout Of
"All hands ahoy" brought me out OF sleep,
and TO my feet in an instant. / hurried
N
scene. of sky and sea, from the calm beauty
in which | had left 1t when | went below.
Now black clouds were rolling up TO the
northward, coming on III great blotchy
waves, like crags of ebOn mountain. over
hanging and about to fall upon rs. The sen
was black under the shadOwy wing of the
storm, and the roar of the tempest, like a.
hoarse, angry voice came to our ears from
the distance.
up with the fore-storm-s taysail-
mind the spanker," shouted the captain.
'You two mates take the helm: men, lash
yourselves TO the rigging, 1t will wash as fore
and aft before we get headway." And selling
an axe from the beckett he boundedcforward
and cut away the hawser which held us at
anchor.
AS he did this looked off on our starboard
beam and saw the water apparently rolling in
a huge white breaker towards us. The next
instant the wind struck us, and for moment
/ thought all was over. for the ship keeled
until her lower yard-arms were IN the water.
Hard up-hard up the helm," shouted the
captain in my ear.
i could but Just hear him. and pointing to
the wheel he saw that his order had been
anticipated.
Just then away went our mizen-mast close
by the deck. and that alone saved US, for now
her head paid off before tho wind, and the
ship rghted. Then the staysail filed and
away the old craft shot like an arrow sped
from a well-strung bow. As we got out into
the gulf the sea rose literally so high that the
foam was scattered in cloudy mist through
the air.
How does she head?" asked the captain.
who stood forward of the wheel.
Sou SOU west, sir / replied in a shout,
for the gale drowned all common tones
IF she goes at this rate and holds that
course we will strike Cuban rock inside of ten
hours" he cried.
why not try to heave to?" I asked
in such a sea and gale we would be keeled
up IN minute were we 10 try 1t; all our hope
is in n change of wind, or a lull which will let
us put the mainsail on her.
This looks rough, but what is 10 be will
be. There is no rubbing that OUT / replied;
and then did my best to steer as nicely as
] could. so that no broaching 10 should hasten
our fate
On. on-once passing hapless vessel drift
ing bottom up, with her sales and spars along
side Of her-we swept, until the night was
upon us. Then the captain and a good sea-
man relieved us from the helm and | had time
10 think went below and looked at the
chart. made an estimate of our speed, and
20 my horror saw we could not be over
twenty. or, at most thirty miles 10 windward
OF the rockiest part of the Cuban coast
i went on deck sick at heart for sea and
gale seemed higher than ever. / told the cap
tain how near the last peril was, but he did
not seem 10 heed me. He stood with his
shoulder TO the wheel. and the ship flew
madly ON. Never had she sailed with such
speed before.
II went forward, and while looked at the
phosphoric flame flashing from beneath the
the bow thought of home, of my own loved
Ella-and groaned in bitter agony / never
before had feared death, but now-now so
near it was terrible.
An hour, may be more, and then heard all
too plain, even above the wild roar of the
storm the sound so sullen and deep of the
surging breakers. | rushed aft and shouted
the fearful tidings in the captains ear.
God help us.-God help us" was all he
said.
An instant after we were in white. seething,
Kissing water, and then. lifted skyward on a
naOant2in roller. we were dashed down with q