The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-06-30

I stood ~. and with great di1Iculty |
ciawed my way as before 70 the com
panion-etepe. and, opening the cover.
rot into the hatch and stood looking AZ
the picture Of my yacht and the sea-
There was no one at the helm the
filler wac dashed 10 leeward, The shock
/ i re.efx.,d % observing no one AFT. nnd-
ing tile helm abandoned, az itseerhed %
me. I shall nsvcr forget. The tiIlcr was
tie first obiect sa,e rs ! r,se through
the hatch. and nay Instant belief was that
al my people had heen swfspt over
board On looking forward. however. ]
spled G tideI and thesuiPrs Of the nleif
at work about the iEa-t a nhss Of
cordage uttered the deck, the head %
the mast showed In splinters. whilst the
spar itself looked withered, naked.
blasted. as though struck by lightning.
| The decks were full Of water, which was
flashed above the rail. where 1t was
instantly swept away by the gale In q
smoke Of crystals. A large space Of the
bulwarks on the port side. abreast Oftle
mast, was smashed level with the deck.
Candel ON seeing me came scrambling
Ito the companion. The salt OF the flying
wet had dried in the hollows OF his eyes,
land lay in sort OF white powder there
| tnsomuch that he was scarcely recogniz-
able. II was impossible to hear him
amidst that roaring connection, and
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 curl in the set OF his mouth
that neutralized the efforts OF his eye.
/ He entered into nautical explanation Of
our condition, the terms OF which
forget.
/ / inquired Surely this wild tossing
must he straining the vessel frightfully.
/ Does she continue to take In, waterW
II must not deceive you, sir" he
| answered; she do. But ashort spell at
the pump sarves to chuck 1t all out agin,
and so there's no call for your honor to
be Uneasy.
He returned to the others, whilst /,
heart-sickened by the intelligence that
the Spitfire had sprung leak, for that,
] / felt, must be the plain English OF
| Caudel's assurance continued standing
a few momenas longer in the hatch, look
i ing around. Ugly wings ofvapor, patches
and fragments Of dirty-yellow scud, flew
fast, loose, and low under the near gray
wet stoop Of the sky; they made the
only break in that armament Of storm.
Grace was awake, sitting upright, but
in listless, lolling, helpless posture. /
was thankful, however, to find her
capable Of the exertion even of sitting
erect. / crept to her side, and held her
to me to cherish and comfort me.
oh. this weary. weary motion T. she
cried, pressing her hand upon her
temples.
1T cannot last much longer, my
darling" said: I" the gale Is fast blow
ing itself out, and then we shall have
blue skies and smooth water again.
Can we not land, Herbertf" she
asked feebly In my ear, with her cheek
Upon my shoulder.
Would to God that were possible
within the next five minutesl" an
swered.
Whereabouts are WEI"
Il cannot tell exactly but when this
weather breaks we shall find the English
coast within easy reach.
"Oh, do not let as wait until we get to
! Mounts --ayi" she cried.
Ny pet, the nearest port will be ouI
port now, depend upon 1t"
The day passed. day of ceaseless
storm, and Of such tossing as only 9
smacksman who has fished in the NORTH
} Sea in winter could know anything
, about The spells at the pump grew
| more frequent as the hours progressed
: and the wearisome beat of theplied brak,
ffected my Imagination as though 1t hat
, zen the tolling of funeral bell.
J hardly required Caudel to tell me thu
condition of the yacht when some tim'
: between eight and nine O'Clock that nigh
} he put his head into the hatch and mo
( toned me to ascend.
It's my duty to tell We, Mr.. Barclay,
he exclaimed, whispering hoarsely int,
! my ear in the comparative shelter OF tn
! companion-cover. that Grace might no
! overhear him, that the leak s aga ininl
upon US.
Ihad guessed as much, yet this con
: firmatiun of my conjecture affected M
7 as violently as though l had had no pre-
vious suspicion OF the state of the yacht
2 l was thunder struck / felt the block
t forsake my cheeks, and for some mo
ments could not find my voice.
, You do not mean to tell me, Caudel
r that the yacht is actually sinking2"
mo, sir. But the pump'll have to b
, kept continually going il she's to remail
afioat. I'm Altered when the mast Wen
over the side that blow from it starte
!, butt, and the leaks growing worse an
worse, consequent OF the working Of tn
9 craft.
Il rs it stiil thick?"
AS mud, SIR
5 why not fire the gun at intervals?
said /, referring to the little brass can
i non that stood mounted upon the quar-
9 terdeck.
5 I'm afeeredr-" He paused, with
. melancholy shake of his head
t course, Mr. Barclay, ne went on, & If it.
: your wish, sir--but it'll do no more,
allow, than brighten the lady. tbs, bu
+ pea-shooter, sir, and the gales lik
thunder"
e I'VE are in your hands, Caudel," sal
i i, with feeling of despair ice-cold at m
Il heart, as / reflected upon the size Of GU
q little craft, her crippled and sinking cor
y dition, our distance from land, and fel
the terrible weight and power of the sea
U | which We're tossing US, and as / though
of my sweetheart.
9 "Mr. Barclay he answered, If tn
weather do but moderate shall have n
;, fear. Cur case amt hopeless yet by
0 lony way Sir The waters To ha ken