Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-03-18

port quarter Ihe ship was a queer one,
but 81 was soon proved that, however odd
IN appearance, che was Rn uncoinmnnly
swift and graceful sailor. She carried three
mHsts, lateen sails and iib The fore and
mninmasts were without tops or topghl-
lnnts, and OF course without caps or cross
trees The long, slender hull was jet black,
and, what was strangcst Of all, the upper
deck was sharply convex. with level graf.
ings running round the sides. Thecouyox-
fly, rs | nfterwnrd discovered WINS meant
TO make a ready way for water to the scrup-
pAfs. or In times of stress for blood, while
the gratinga, by obvinting the slant, rnnde
the footing firm, a matter Of importance ia
storm or action. She carried no colors, nor
did any inscription. such as ships usually
bear, give hint Of her port or nationality
Finally though light she was well armed,
t'Ihe vessel was the dreaded Xebec, the ter
Tor Of the high seis when Algerino corsairs
fiourished, and still Of evil repute on tho
coasts Of Arabia
Every stitch Of her ochcrous canvas was
crowded on, and beautifully abe swept
along, keeling and dipping under the belly
lug sails, the bright green water swishing
from her cleaning sides and the suowdrift
Aging from her fore foot IN n way that
would have made pleasure seekers dance
for Joy. Even l felt tho gadness OF tho
rushing nrrowy motion, though, ON tho
whole, the speed was mora omnous than
inspiring. seeing what doubtful dance
might end tho trip,
The strain VI dark uncertainty VIA some
what relieved by tha diversion OF studying
the CROW, who were living epitome Of the
fashions, past and current, Of pretty nearly
iul tue nations OF tho earth. Probably no
company Of equal size ever displayed like
variety Of costumes Assurrdly none could
be on more distant terms with tailor and
laundress II was impossible To say which
gave the greater dEtinctlon---the diversity,
the dirt or the tattcrs
There were Afnb shirts reaching 20 the
ankle, Indian turbans, Syrian combazes,
European jerlins top boots, Jerseys, hats
aud frock coats, Persian gowns. hrecchcs Of
all known cuts and countries in every de-
gree Of foulnoss, In every stageo Of decay and
raggednesS- iumbled together as n some
malicious artist had tried what effects Of
inoonguiity and Erutesqucness, what out
RACES on taste and deoenry. he was capable
Of achieving
The captain, a. the chief pcrsunago on
board, oas naturally tho most conspicuous
example o. tho ridiculous Ho was elab-
orntely arrzyed IL a stssple beaver. strongly
suggestive 81 tho defunci missionary in
spite o. It's iaanty ostrich plume aud tar
nished silver band: a CO. " wooden shirt,
Hmenrd Ike hog N autumn; leathern
Girdle, from which depended sword, a
brace Of pistols and crooked dagger full
Of significant purple sthins. Turkish trou-
sers that had originally been crimson, hut
wore now OF mors huea than the maker Of
Josenh's coat ever dreamed Of pair OF
red boots that must once have shed their
splendor on state assemblies and gather
ings Of grandoes, and sashes enough Of va
rloua eolors 10 furnish a regiment Of sheiks.
The decorations wcre thickcst in tho rear
Indeed when the gallant captain turned
his back II might seem he was clad ia p0r-
Gus plasters patched with canvas stepped
In pitch, NJ heavy were the incrustRtons "
tar, grease, paint aud other adhesive sub
stances. No sense Of Rhsurdity, however,
disturbed his serene self consequence. lie
paced the deck with as proud step ashigh
and keen a look, ~ II he were an admiral OF
the fleet in fnultlesA uniform and the evil.
dence Of IA hundred victories blazing on his
brpast. seldom oondoscendlng TO any famil-
inrity with those about him, never with
INC, huddlcd in my corner,
We tore along at an Incredible rato and
were soon beyond sight Of land, though for
good while the smoke Of the burning
brig showed our starting point Whittier
we were bound / could not guess and burst
not ask. ! was free TO conjecture, II |
pleased, that our course was forsome happy
haven not far OF, though appearances
rather suggested we were securing the sea
Tor prey.
by and ny We hauled our wind and hogan
TO fetch in n backward direction. But wa
had not gone league whom we bounded OF
on another tack, and for tho next hour or
two we tackled and changed 40 frequently,
running close hauled as Il forour lives and
dropping oG ne n in sheer perverslty, that
completely lost my reckoning.
IL was wonderful how chat strangely
built ship behaved, how sensitive she was
to tho gentlest pressure of tho holm, how
clean, quick ard graceful were all her
movements and how abe rushod on her
course when she got her head, In spite OF
rather ROACH seamanahip only once did
she make a mistake. Through a too hast y
luff she happened 20 come dead into the
wind's eye. and for the space Of a second
she hung In irons with loose sails She
seemed TO shake herself with veKAtlon, like
highly spirited horse thrown on ia
launches without reason, turned quickly
half round, caught the wind agnin, and
then, with her yellow wings spread 60 theiI
utmost, went skimmlng along like sea
bird
II was now well on In the afternoon. TIL,
sun, thongh ronrchinsly hot, wns near our
level, and tho water WAS deepening in pur
pie and crimson. ] was beginning to think
we weN TO have n nignt at sca, when tbs
enrtAin gave the orsler u put the helm
hard down. We swung round and sped on
a landward course. sailing free and yer,
nwift
I'VE shall make land good hour er,
sundowni' aid tho captain 70 his chief Of
hcrr giving me the arst authentic ihforma
ton Ok the day.
BY this un,e my faculty OF curiosity hal
lost is rduc. but nt the mention OF land
nat up 70 keep a lookout, and in less thar
an honr We sighted tho ahore Its genera
character reasnlhlel that Of the part W,
he'd left earlier IN the day, though soor
nav we were not returning to the dealt
Hcen0 Of the luckless Bird Of Paradise. In
stead Of y shaliaw beach the water pan clos,
20 high rocks, penetrsiea by rugged notres
Into which bhe sea fowed No port. tosl
or human habitalien was 70 ho seen. Bt1
that, all thinse considered. was not snrpss.
ing,
We rkot hte y narrow opening under III,
davkening broasil Of lofty clitIa, and i,nne
d,atoly the saiis fell togfther With a nnn
Almost before they ecascd huttesina thu,
wsra "a and fnrled rhen hent was low
cred, hall doncn steel sineavcd men ~
If4tf. Il Ha.l ...a.sa1 r...llt.sr ~. AL"