The Philipsburg mail. [volume] (Philipsburg, Mont.) 1887-current, 1894-11-29

The glass was right, and before night
set in the sea had moderated perceptibly,
and although we We're awake all night
securely lashed to the raft, drenched
with salt water and hevin nearly per.
ished with cold, hope revived at the
comm of daylight. The runnin seas
had quieted to long smooth swells, and
then the sun came up over the port bow
and put new life into us. We unlashed
ourselves from the chest where we
had been sittin back to back for eight
hours, and spread the bit Of sail and set
her course west, as there away New
Bedford lay, and Bill swore while there
was a biscuit in the locker he'd do his
best to keep his date.
"Lige Hawkins is an out and out sea
lawyer, y said Bill, "and altho' tain t
no use I'd feel more easy in my mind
to know she's headed for Bedford. y
Then we ate some pilot bread and dates
out OF the chest and took swallow Of
rum and rummaged down to the pipes
and 'bacy and took off our oilskin pa
jamers to let the sun have leeway onto
our woolens. Bein refreshed, Bill set
on the chest and tended sheet while
lay astern and held her across the swells
with long oar
Il won't say as l altogether like
this, remarked Bill between pulls at
his pipe, "but l tell you, Jack, the next
ship sign aboart 'ull be after 'zamin
her sticks. It's my opinion them as
was on the Nancy had dry rot into 'em,
not to mention the hull. -
"I'm glad you're expeotin to have the
chance to sign again, Bill, /" said.
In course, cried Bill. "I've been
shippin aboard one tub after another all
my life, and I low to keep on doin of it.. !"
After that the weather held fair, with
plenty Of wind astern, and we worked
the r:-ee--. .L 49, :.-.5 =.>1 -=-.>;. 80 =.
our regular sleep. On the sixth day
OF the cruise, which was the oath Of
the month, some wreckage hove in sight
dead ahead, and when we made it it
proved to be the two masts Of schooner
held together by the stays, with booms
and gaffs and main sheets complete and
all the halliards.
"More dry rot ., says Bill, "but
reckon we better wear ship and tackle to
it," The sea bein calm, we did so,
and Bill got off his togs and boarded
The sticks, with a line about his middle
and meat knife from the chest in his
teeth. 1t was an all days job, but with
an occasional dram to keep out the cold
we got off the sails and foated the
masts end for end and lashed one on
our starboard side with the boom across
the stern and the other to port with her
Doom across the bows, and with the gaffs
'urned up and guyed forward and rig
sed with canvas we had craft that no
sea could make under, although it
night sweep us off.
There, I" says Bill after we got her
1nder way, with the sun an hour high
'ver the port bow, "she may not be fast,
'ut she's stanch, and we're b'ilin away
or Bedford. J"
Afore sun set we sighted a ship to lee
yard beatin up against the wind, and
When she came alongside she hove to
md sent off boat.
was feelin mighty chipper at the
prospect Of seeing the American flag
gain, but Bill Marlin sat on the chest
putting away at his pipe.
Lower away the mainsail and ease
or, roared Bill.
lowered the sail, and the raft laid
Q, and by that time the boat swung
longside, eight oars up, man-o' war
lyle, and the starchiest Yankee mate in
he stern that ever sailed out of Boston
Come, tumble aboard here, men,"
ays the airy mate, "and be quick about
!. There's no room for that chest"