Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-06-20

ihViueu passenger, YET one VINO III
tends to pay liberallty for his trans
portation from land of liberty to
a country whose people have been
nearly stamped from existance be-
meath the heel of tyranny, l am
such. But come, the day is wan
ing See cen now the bright light
upon Key Francis streams out up
on the waters, and look, your course
is two points out Of the way and
the speaker extended a hand to-
ward the flaring beacon.
but | dare not attempt the pas
sage by the reef tonight, and in
this blow. | shall haul her on the
wind and strive to "claw" off shore,
and wait for a lull, or daylight"
"Know you the nature of the
storm that is growing upon us,
senor?"
"By the action of the barometer
and the look of those copper-tinged
clouds | am prepared to expect
norther," returned the captain.
"Nor will you be disappointed,
senior. Ere midnight the elements
will be fully aroused and like
mighty giants in their wrath will
destroy such poor mortals as may
be so unfortunate as to cross then
path. Your bark is strong and
able, yet were you to persist in YOU
present intentions her ribs anc
spars would strew the coral ree1
and the rising sun would shed it''
rays upon the lifeless and mangle(
bodies of your crew."
"You speak like a man familia
with the sea! Who are you?"
again asked.
"Who ] am, it is better for yol
not to know. Suffice it, senoi
that these ATTITUDES are known t
me, and particularly this treacherou
coast onto which we are driving.
Then turning quickly to the ma
at the wheel, the stranger added i
a voice of authority;
"Put your helm up, and let tn
vessels head pay off until you brin
that light one point on the POI
bow" To me, he continued:
"Senor mate, trim your yards
the gale, and shorten sail down [
: the tops'ls."
hesitated and glanced inquil
d ipgly at the captain. He was ev
t IDENTIFY impressed with the abilit
= = and confidence of the stranger fl
q he motioned to me to obey the o.
J. der.
/ Half an hour was sufficient to e!
e. ecute the commands, then leavin
E, two good men on the lookout,
rs rs company with the second mate,
), returned aft. Both the skipper al
20 the passenger stood at the whe
l. while the seaman who had been r
n lieved, remained close by to lend
q hand in case his services were nee,
,e ed.
Z Already the roar of the surf as
y beat upon the coral reefs was borr
a to our ears above the screeching {
's the gale, and a long line of whit
J, foam stretched across our bow
scarcely quarter of mile distan
E. All but one spot, this was dark, an
here the sea rolled on in might
waves.
Straight for this indenture tn
impromptu pilot headed the bari
Rigid as statue carved in bron1
he grasped the spokes of the whee
while his flashing eye wandered a
ternately from the bright lights {
the beacon to the seething billov
which laved our side!
On, on, we flew until the surgin
line of surf bore amidships. The
in a clarion voice, the strange
called:
. "Settle away the tops'ls! Stan
. by, to let go both anchors!"
y repeated the order, as it wer'
d mechanically, for | was dazed, an
|, felt almost as if we were under til
S guidance of a supernatural being.
Ten minutes later the light o
. Key Francis hung over our stern.
/ Then | saw the captain and tn