The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-12-17

long and dreary watch Is noting down q
list of all the provisions and necesSaries
that would have to be packed up into con-
venient parcels for stOwage on the frail
raft on which we might so soon be obliged
to take refuge.
During the night the wind chopped and
changed continually, never blowing from
one quarter for more than half an hour at
time, and in consequence was more than
ever in the dark as to my position, and at
last | even gave up attempting to guess
where we were.
you are looking very ill.," said Celia to
me when, after ] had slept short and
restless sleep. she gave me my wel-earned
breakfast. "If we are not saved to-day |
must watch tonight. L have had two
nights sleep since we knew what had hap
pened to us; you have been only a few
hours in YOUR cabin. and | am sure you
have hardly shut your eyes for anxiety"
l smiled sadly. Instead of getting more
rest" l said, Il must take less now. l
don't want to brighten you, but to-day we
must try to make a raft l find that the
vessel leaks terribly. | have just been
down into the hold. The water there is
nearly foot higher than it was twelve
hours ago and we cannot prevent its rising.
You can see for yourself that the ship is
settling down."
Don't despair" she said. "See how well
we have got on so far! We shall see a sail
to-day, | hope"
"Ahl hope is feeble reed for us. We
must work. We must do our best to make
raft and. above all. we must waste no
time"
land for how long" she ventured tim
idly. 'do you think that the ship can
hoat?"
II can't say. Perhaps for two days, per-
haps not for one. Now let us begin"
| had already dragged up from below
two cylindrical baIks of timber. / had de-
fnr., a Nlar II -
In case of need they might serve US as
rollers to aid us in launching it. Empty
barrels and cases were not plentiful. Such
things are generally thrown overheard as
useless. But l had the good fortune to
find some casks of Madeira, which had
benefit by one or two ocean voyages. and
knocked out the bungs of these, drained
away the generous wine. and hav-
ing rendered them water-tight, hauled
them with much difficulty on deck,
and dashed them together as buoyant
unGerstructure for our new craft. But to
breach six heavy casks, and then by sheer
main force to hoist them out of a vessels
hold are operations which, when there is
but one man to perform them, take great
deal longer TO carry out than describe;
and it was already growing dark when the
last of the SIX reached the deck. / con-
tented myself for the nOnce with tying it
firmly to the others and lashing the whole
mass securely TO the stump of the main
mast; but my ultimate design was 10 over
lay the casks with the wooden coverings of
the hatchwav. and SO 10 make a kind of
deck upon which to stow provisions and
baggage.
Alto o'clock | went down into the hold.
The water there had risen more than foot
since the morning. When, therefore, Celia
implored me to go TO bed and to let her
watch at least during the earlier portion of
the night dared not agree to the proposal.
Watch il you think you are able" |
said, but must watch, too. We must go
on with the RAFT. Time presses. We can
rot be certain now that the ship will be
afloat in the morning. Tell your maid to
bring up your things on deck. We must
be ready"
All that l valued / had with me-mY
money and the tin cylinder which con-
tanned the dispatch.
By the sickly light of the lanterns we
worked nearly all through the chilly night.
The matches were lifted on and fastened
with ropes and wedges 10 the casks; and
two chests, to serve both as lockers and
seats, were nailed upon the matches. At
D O'Clock. seeing that good progress had
been made, l sent the women to bed, but
two hours later | felt so utterly incapable
OF keeping my eyes open that had TO re-
call them and 90 to my own berth, direct
Ing them before / went TO collect all the
Ituultu oAUI6S on ucCh anu W Wdkc Illt dt
the first sign of danger.
The last morning dawned cold and gray,
Between waking and dreaming | was toss
ing in my bunk unable in spite of my IA
tigue TO rest peacefully even for minute.
The ripple of the waves against the ships
side was luliing me off for the third or
fourth time when, with cry, Celia's maid
burst inso my cabin.
I'VE are sinking. sir! Comet Come, for
Gods sake! Quick!
When, startled by this exclamation, l
leaped, ready dressed. from my berth, my
feet splashed the water that already COW
cred the floor OF the cabin to depth OF
more than an inch. for the subtle enemy
had silently crept in upon me while l
doZed.
Hastily sezng one or two things which
/ thought might be Useful l rushed on
deck. Celia was t0lerably calm, but the
maid was again wild and hysterical, and
she was of no assistance In launching the
raft; indeed she was rather a hindrance
than otherwise. Fortunately the sea was
almost still, and therefore there was but
little difficulty and no danger In pushing
the impTOvised craft overheard TO leeward.
AS soon as II was afioat | helped the two
women 10 get upon it and hastily handed
to them the stores and Decessares which
had been accumulated in readiness, The
craft gave perfect satisfaction. being both
buoyant and steady; and when apparently
everything had been piled up and secured
upon its small deck. and felt that dared
no longer remain with the ship, / Joined
the others and reluctantly pushed off.
We soon spread little sail by means of
an oar and boat hook and the raft in
spite of her clumsy construction, drifted
away eastward at the rate. l dare say, of
two or three knots an hour. The motion,
slow though it was, was relief 10 us : and
for the first hour or 50 the spirits of Miss
Vanhoof and myself rose considerably.
But tile maid was taciturn and strange In
her manner.
For some time we watched the vessel
which we had left under such terrible cir
cumstances, and we had almost begun to
wonder whether, after all, her cargo would
not keep her afoat. when at about 10
o'clock her stern suddenly canted ND into
the air and she sank head foremost, leav-
ing no perceptible trace of herself upon
the bosom of the sea. We looked in solemn
silence toward the spot which had so nearly
been our common grave. | was sad and
tears glistened in Miss Vanhoof's eyes, but
she brushed them Indignantly away.
81 am afraid" l said at last, that our
prospects are black. We have now only
provisions and this wretched raft to de-
pend upon. The least rough weather NAV
II of ~ ho,b