The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-04-05
U speak like a man familiar
with ia sea! Who are you?" / again

dSkcQ.
"Who l am, it is better tor you not
TO know. Suffice it, senior, that these
iat'Cudes are known to me, and par-
ticularly this treacherous coast on ia
winch we are now driving" Then
turning quickly to the nan at the
wheel, the stranger added in a voice
Of authority:
PUT your helm up, and let the
vessels head pay off until you bring
that light n point on the port
DOW" To me, he continues:
"Senor mate, trim your Yards to
the gale. and shorten sail down to
the tops'ls."
l hesitated and glanced ,nquiringly
at the captain. lie was evidently
impressed with the ability and conf.
dence OF the stranger for he motioned
to me to obey the order.
Half an hour was sufficient to exc.
cute the commands, ten leaving
two good men on the lookout, in com.
pany with the c mate, | re.
turned aft. Both the skipper and
the passenger stood at the wheel
while the seaman, who had been re
lleved, remained close by to lend a
hand in case his services were needed.
Already the roar OF the surf as it
beat upon the coral reefs was borne
TO our ears above the the %screeching
or the gale. and a long line of white
foam stretched across our bows
scarcely quarter Of a mile distant.
All but one spot, and here the sea
rolled on in mighty waves.
Straight for this indenture the inn
promptu pilot headed the bark.
rigid asa statue carved in bronze he
graSped the spOkes of the wheel,
while his flashing eye wandered al.
ternate y from the fright light of
n beacon to the seething pillows
which laved our side!
On, on, we few until the surging
line of surf bore amidships. Then in
a clarion voice, the stranger called:
"Settle away the top,'is! Stand
by, to let go both anchors"
| repeated the orders. as it were,
mechanically, for / was dazcd, and
felt almost as If we were under the
guidance OF Il supernatural being.
Ten minutes later the light on Key
Francis hung over our stern.
Then saw the captain and the
stranger throw The wheel hard down
and in a few moments more our YES
sci was sailing through comparatively
still water. and when the anchors
left the bow, though we could hear
tho tom nOst rruintA hnvn o1p hands
we lay safe and quiet under the lee
Of the land, which had it not been
for the skill of the stOwaway, would
have proved our destruction.
When | again went aft the captain
was wringing the hand of the
stranger, and assuring him thai his
valuable services should not 60 unre-
warded.
"Nay," l heard the other say, Il
want not your gold. But there is
one request which l will make, that
is, to give me the use Of a boat"
ut shall be yours, senOr," replied
the skipper, but not tonight.
Wait until morning when you and 1
will 90 W to CaiDarien together"
mo, no, captain. l must away at
once, for to be found on this vessel
when the spanish officers visit her in
the morning. would mean for me u
fate fully as had. if not worse. than
though the bark had gone to de-
struction upon the reefs of Key
Francis. Say, senior, shall l have
the boat?:"
.'She is yours, and l will send men
to handle her."
"Again l an compelled to refuse
your offer, emo l must go alone"
1t was with heartfelt regret that
we babe adieu to our passenger. and
as he disappcased in the darkness
the captain turned to me and asked
wond ringly:
VINO can he be-"
Before we left Cuba the question
was answered to our satisfaction.
A revolt had broken out in the
northern part of the island. The in
surgents had been Joined by a pa
triotic leader who had come to them
from the United States, but how he
hau succeeded in making d landing
the Spanish authorities were greatly
at a loss to comprehend.
Then it was that we. the crew OF
the Curlew, knew who had been our
mysterious pilot and brought us safe
ly by the treacherOus reefs OF Key
Francis and left us riding serenely
at anchor in the bay Of Caibarien.-
Yankee Blade.