Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1892-12-07

was arranged. TO make one great enort
to tow the ship away on the morning
after our return.
That night one of the sick men died
We buried him at sunrise in the same
manner as his shipmate, and then started
the work of towing. For hours we toiled,
the skipper encouraging us from the
poop.
''There she moves, my lads-that's it
keep her goingr' and SO on, though l
don't think we moved her half fathOm
the whole day, and when we returned
aboard at nightfall every one felt more
disconsolate than ever. Even the cap
tain, who had always appeared to keep
his spirits up, seemed thoroughly down
cast, and the deadly stiffness was only
broken occasionally by the cries of the
poor fevered men below.
l lay down on the main hatch to sleep,
but found it impossible. l was u good
deal distressed at the death of the man
we had buried that morning, who had
been great chum of mine, and l lay on
my back looking up at the starry heav-
ems, wondering if we were to die off one
%by one, and, if so, who would be the last
The more I thought, the more morbid
did my thoughts become. In time the
vessel would be carried out of the bed of
weeds by some storm or current, and
when picked up there would be no one
to explain how the crew had all gone
mad and died miserably, killed by the
utter silence. grasped my head with
my hands. Was I to be the next? Oh,
God, could feel my brain going! The
fearful stiffness seemed to come over me
in huge waves. l prayed hard and wept
desolate tears. had no energy to move
or speak. The sense of overwhelming
stiffness overpowered me and made me
absolutely helpless. Suddenly 1 heard
the mate shout out, 'sPort main bracer'
At the same instant gentle puff of
air swept across my face, and the sails
that had been hanging idly for so many
weeks filed out to the gentle pressure
of the breeze. This brought Inc to my
senses. The frightful feeling in my
head vanished as I joined the others in
trimming the yards. Yes, there was
breeze, but very, very light. The royals
duu UOpS1Al1uu Sdiio dppCdlCu W Dc
drawing, but we did not seem to be in
motion. Presently the captain sug-
gested putting lighted tarpot over the
side to see if we were making any way.
We were only just moving. Men dared
hardly speak lest their voices should
drive the breeze away.
When the sun rose the wind fresh
ened, and by eight bells we were per-
ceptibly moving. We brought our si.,:
man on deck, hoping the breeze would
revive him, but he never rallied, and
died that night, and as we dropped him
over the side the voice of Lester could be
heard saying: Number three gone! We
ought to get along all right now"
you're the Jonah" replied his ship
mates. eff we had put you overheard
at first, we might have been in dock two
months ago." I
In two days time we once more heard
the splashing of the sea as the waves
danced and curled around the ships
side, carrying the weeds that had grown
to her for yards to leeward. Thus, after
captivity of fifty-three days, we found
ourselves again ON the restless ocean,
and even the roar of angry pillows was
the sweetest music to US after our long
imprisonment in the ''Silent sea-
Chambers Journal.