The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1892-12-16
IN A SILENT SEA.

Years ago | was home warl bound
from the East Indies. We had
rounded the cape without getting
The usual dressing, and had picked
up the southeast trades much
sooner than we expected. Every.
Thing had so far been in Onr favor
and II was only when We had got
into the latiluis' where we ought
to have picked up the northeast
trades that, instead Of the usual
breeze. we came in for nothing
but a succession OF hight winds
and yarlables. With these we
gradually worked along until We
got into about 20 degrees north
latitude, when we had calm for
Two days. Shortly before mid
night on the second day a light
breeze sprang up from the south
ward. There was only enough
wind to keep the sails full, and
we shded along al about two knots
an hour, with lazy little bobs TO a
swell tha, came up from The east
ward. All that day the breeze
continued light. The sun beat
down with tremendous power and
toward noon the breeze died al
most entirely away, though the
swell continued with long, low,
regular undnlaiiOns. Away on our
port bow heavy clouds began TO
appear on the edge OF The horizon,
and the glass was falling rapidly.
] was at the wheel in the first
deg watch. We heading all round
The compass, the ship having no
steering way, and watched the
bank of clouds gathering olninous.
ly OIL our port quarter. The sun
seemed TO set in a perfect atmos-
phere of sulphur. leaving some
anery-looking slreaks of red and
gold that g;eaned like flashes of
lightning suddenly arrested. The
skipper paced the quarter deck,
occasionally diving below to look
at the glass, and each time return.
ing with" a more ANXIOUS cOunte.
nance, and saying TO the mate that
he had never seen he glass so low
since he had been to sea.
"We'll reef her right down at
four bells, Mr.. Jarvis" he said,
"for there's everything good, bad
and Indifferent in those clouds,
like an Irish stew"
AS soon as the watch came on
deck sail after sail was clewed up
and furled, unit! we had nothing
on her but the two lower tDpsails,
foremast siaysail and Storm stay.
sail. The ship, now denuded Of
her sails, stood out like a skeleton
against the background of copper.
colored clouds. The men began 10
get somewhat depressed. as with a
sky and atmosphere like that we
knew That it was no ordinary blow
that We had 10 expect, and l could
hear a thrill voice OF little shrivel.
ed-up seaman named Lester croak.
ling more than was his wont, and
calling to mind the time when he
was in the China seas some thirty
years ago; how the clouds had
gathered tOundered and all hands
were lost except himself.
"llere, cut That yarn," said one
oi The men. "You're regular old
Jonah !"
The watch below turned in al
eight bells, having been cautioned
10 be ready for rouseout. paced
the deck for some time. The cap
tain and the mate were discussing
the dirty appearance Of The wealth
er. The ship looked absolutely
desolate with her long, bare masls
tapering away in The darkness.
II don't like the way that stuff
hangs about" said the skipper
"when it does cnme II will come
with a run" Here and there 8
star would family show itself, anG
the sea glittered with phosphorcs
cent lights. Hour alter hour w
lay under The shadow Of these
dense clouds waiting for The storm
10 buret. The watch dragged
YEARLY on ill close on midnight
when suddenly a briaht flash o.
lightning seemed 10 part he cloud1
as,lnder: then others followed il
quick succession.
"We'lI catch it directly" pipet
the shrill voice Of Lester, and HI
was right. Scarcely were tht
words uttered when we heard (
rOnrinv sound In the distn nncc