The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-02-25
CHAPTER V.

The blessed daylight came at last. /
| sped the weak wet gray OF it in corner
| Of the skylight that had been left uneov-
cred by the tarpaulin which was spread
over the glass. / looked closely at
| Grace. and found her asleep. 4 could not
be sure at first, so motionless had she
been lying; but when / pnt rly ear close
to her mouth the regularity of her res
piration convinced me that .he was
slumbering.
/ stood up. and with great difficulty
clawed my way as before to the COM
panion-steps, and, opening the cover,
got into the hatch and stood looking at
the picture OF my yacht and the sea.
There was no one at the helm; the
tller was lashed to leeward. The shock
received on observing no one aft, find
ing the helm abandoned, as it seemed to
me, shall never forget. The tiller was
the first object / saw as / rose through
the hatch, and my instant belief was that
all my people had been swept over
board. On looking forward, however, l
spied Caudel and the others OF the men
at work about the mast. mass of
cordage Uttered the deck the head of
the mast showed In splintcrs, whilst the
spar itself looked withercd naked,
blasted as though struck by lightning.
The decks were full OF water, which WAS
flashed above the rail. where it was
instantly swept away by the gale in
smoke Of crystals. A large space OF the
bulwarks on the port side, abreast Of the
mast, was smashed level with the deck.
Caudel on seeing me came scrambling
TO the companion. The salt OF the flying
wet had dried I'm the hollows Of his eyes,
and lay in sort of white powder there,
insomuch that he was scarcely recogniz-
able. II was impossible to hear him
amidst that roaring commotlon, and 1
descended the ladder By a step OF two to
enable him to put his head into the
hatch. He tried to look cheerful, but
there was n curl in the set of his mouth
that neutralized the efforts of his eye.
He entered into a nautical explanation OF
our condition, the terms OF which l
forget.
4" But how is it with the hull. Caudel?"
/ inquired. Surely this wild tossing
must be straining the vessel frightfully.
Does she continue to take in waterF'
II must not deceive you. sir" he
answered she do. But short spell at
the pump sarves to chuck IL all out ag'in,
and so there no call for your honor to
be oneasy."
He returned TO the others, whilst l,
heart-sickened by the intelligence that
the Spitflre had sprung leak, for that,
| felt. must be the plain English Of
Caudels assurance, continued standing
few momenas longer In the hatch, look
ing around Ugly wings ofvapor, patches
and fragments of dirty-ycilow scud, flew
fast. loose. ami low under the near gray
wet stoop OF tho sky; they made the
only break liz that armament OF storm.
Grace was awake, sitting upright, but
in listlcss. lolling, helpless posture. /
was thankful, however, 20 find her
capable of the cxertion even OF sitting
erect. crept TO her side, and held her
TO me TO cherish aud comfort me.
"Oh, this weary. weary motion y she
cried. pressing her hand upon her
temples.
1T cannot last much longer. my
darling" | said tho gale Is fast blow
ing itself out. and then we shall havo
blue skies and smooth water again
Can we not land, lIerbcrt?" she
asked feebly i'm my ear, with her cheek
upon my shoulder.
Would TO God that were possible
within the next five minutes" :" an
swercd.
Whereabouts are we?"
81 cannot tell exactly; but when this
weather breaks We sittil find tho English
coast within easy reach"
"Oh. do not let Us wait until we get to
Mounts -ayl" she cried.
Ny pet, the nearest port will lie our
port now. depcnd upon a..
The day passed. a day Of ceaseless