Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-06-05

crew to be able to handle it properly, this
proceeding had no other effect than tC
carry them still further out to sea with the
assistance of the westerly wind. The
'SIoughi" rounded Cape CoIville, trav.
ersed the strait which separates it from
Great Barrier Island, and was soon in the
ocean many miles from the coast of New
Zealand
The gravity of the situation was evil
dent; Brian and his companions could no
longer hope for any aid from the shore If
vessel were sent out in search of them,
several hours must elapse before it
could overtake them, even admitting
that 1t might be possible to find the
schooner in this profound darkness AS
for eXtricating themselves from this
painful dilemma by their own unaid-
ed efforts, how were children like these to
succeed in doing that? If the wind did not
change, they would soon be Obliged to
abandon all hope of regaining land.
1t Is true that n chance remained of
meeting some vessel bound for one of the
ports of New Zealand, and slight as this
chance was, Moko lost no time in fasten-
ing lantern to the top of the forecastle
As for the smaller children, the commo-
ton having failed to wake them, it was
considered best to let them sleep on, as
their grief and terror would only have in
creased the confusion on board.
Several other attempts were made to
change the vessels course. but in vain.
The schooner still flew swiftly eastward.
Suddenly a light became visible two or
three miles away. 1t was white light
the distinctive sign of moving steamer.
Soon two other lights, one red and one
green, appeared, and as they were both
visible at the same time, the steamer must
be coming straight toward the yacht
In vain the lads uttered the widest cries
of distress. The noise of the waves and
Of escaping steam, together with the howl
ing of the wind, which was now blowing
furiously, all combined to drown their
voices.
Still, though those upon the steamer
might fail TO hear them, would they not
perceive the light on the ''Sloughif'' 1t
was II last chance
But unfortunately the rope which held
the laNtern in place had been broken by
violeu lurch of the vessel; the lantern had
fallen into the sea, and there was nothing
to indicate the presence of the ..Sloughi''
toward which the steamer was advancing
at the rate of twelve or thirteen miles an
hour
= few seconds later the steamer collided
with the yacht. which would have been
instantly sunk had she been struck amid
ships, but the steamer only grazed the
schooner's stern, demolishiug part of her
tsffrail without injuring the hull.
The shock had been so slight, indeed.
that leaving the ''SlouChi'' at the mercy
of an approaching squall, the steamer con
tinued on her course. Too often captains
trouble themselves very little about assist
ing the crews Of ships with which thew
have collided. Examples of such criminal
conduct have been numerous, but in this
ease it is quite probable that those on
board the steamer were not even aware of
any collision with the yacht which had not
been seen in the darkness.
Borne swiftly on by the wind. the lads
gave themselves up for lost. When dav
dawned. not a sail was visible In this
comparatively unfreQuented portion of the
Pacific the ships that so from Australasia
to America or from America to AustraI
asia follow more northerly or southerly
routes. Not one passed within sight OF
the yacht during the day. Night cameo \
"a night even more stormy than the pre-