Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-12-22
The Story Of a Wreck.
shyiuins and Romantic Account Of
. Mutiny NJ SEQ.
~ W. CLARK RUSSELL.

distinct rise In the mercury; but l die
not dare to feel elated by this .promis'
OF an Improvement Tor, as L have be
fore said, tho only thing the mercury
toretells Is change OF weather. bu
what KIND OF change you shall neVel
be sure until II comes
What most dreaded was the veer
Ing Of the gale TO an opposite quarter
whereby, new sea being set running
right athwart, or In the eye OF the al
rsady-raging sea, our decks would be
helplessly swept and the ship grow un.
manageable.
A little after eight the wind sensibly
decreased, and, to my great delight,
the sky cleared in the direction whence
the gale was blowing, so that there was
aprospect Of the sea subsiding before
the wind shifted-that Is, II II shifted
ct all
When Cornish, who had been below
resting after long spell, came on deck
and saw tho stars shining, and that the
gale was moderating, he stared upward
Ike ono spell-bound, and then, run
ming up TO me, seized my hand and
wrung 1t In silence.
/ heartily returned this muto con-
graduation, and we both went over
and shook hands with the boatswhin.
l was eager to show Miss Robertson
the change In our favor and brought
her on deck.
She looked up ut the bright stars and
exclaimed In rapturous voice:
''Oh, Mr.. Royle, God has hoard our
prayers"
But though the wind had abated, II
still blew gale.
sent tho steward forward TO sec II
he could get the galley fire to burn, so
~ TO boil some water for coffee. All
he did, however. was 10 get wet
through.
went TO the pumps and sounded
the we'll.
To my conformation / found there
were nino inches OF water In the ship.
was so much startled by this dis
oovery that for some time l stood mo-
tionless; Thinking that one OF the
plugged auger holes might be leaking
resolved TO visit the hold and exam
Inc.
Taking lamp made my way over
the cablo-ranges, STOPPING to clear the
hammocks and swung myself into the
hold.
Here found myself against the
water-casks, close against the cargo,
and just beyond was the bulkhead be-
hind which the boatswain had hidden
when Stevens bored tho holes.
Carefully throwing the light over the
walls presently perceived tho plugs
or ends OF the broom stick protruding.
and going close to them / found they
were perfectly tight that no sign OF
moisture was visible around them.
1t may seem strange that this discov-
cry vcxed and alarmed me. And yet
this was the case.
1t would have made me perfectly
easy In my mind TO have seen tho water
gushing In through one Of these holes.
because not only would few blows OF
the mallet have set II to rights, but IL
would have acquainted mo with the
cause of the small increase of water
In the hold.
Now that cause might DO sought else
where.
Was II possible that the apprehen.
sions had felt each time the ship had
taken one OF her tremendous headers
were 10 be realizodP-that she had
strained butt or started bolt in some
ungetatable placer
Here where / stood, deep In the ship.
below the water-lino, 1t was frightfu'
70 hear her straining.
Tho whole place resounded with
groans rnd cries as II the hold had beer
Tiled with wounded men.
What bolts could resist that horribl,
grinding-could hold together with
waves beating upon II the force Of
which was to be calculated by hun
dreds Of tons.
i scrambled upon deck and the boat
swain joined me.
told him found nine inches o.
water In the hold. In order TO be Ger
tain that no mistake had been mad,
we went together and held the lamp
for him while he sounded the well.
He dropped the sounding-rod ant
holding 1t up TO the light after with
drawing 1t found that there was frac
ton over nine inches
IAN increase of three inches sine,
tho afternoon"
''Well, there's nothen to alarm us IL
that. is there, Mr.. RoyleP" he ques
toned. perhaps It's one o. my plug,
As wants hammerin'."
mo, they're us tight as new ket
ue," answered. Il have lust com,
from examining them"
'Wcll, all we've got to do Is 10 pumT
the ship out, and, II we can, mako the
pumps suck all right. That'll show u,
II any things wrong"
This was just tho proposition | wm
about 10 make; SO went into tho cud.
dy and sung out for the steward; but