Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-12-30

oDodfu. IL ires1eneQ. Inc Idk0e0 seas
split in thunderclaps against the diving
and straining ship, and the darkness
was made visible whiteness BY the
foam that burst of bow and beam. At
in the morning it was blowing hur.
rlcane. The sea was running in black
hills, and the face of it was frightful
with the light of the storm. The slant
OF the deck 1t each leeward roll was
steep as q roof. The helmsmeu were
lashed to their posts. The captain stood
under the shelter Of a square of canvas
in the mizzen rigging belted to Delay
ing pins. The mate hung to leeward,
where the pitiless shrek and roar some-
times few high enough above his head
to yield him the sensation of lull.
In the gray Of the morning the wind
slackened, yet it still blew q living
gale. The discomfort was shocking. The
main deck was drowned and the cuddy
awash spitc-o Of the secured doors. The
ladies lay in their beds, speeches. with
Sickness and terror. Mr.. Dent, with
cilEched teeth. wrote an account Of their
condition and thrust the paper into q
bottle. which ne carefully corked; then,
with reeling head and flying legs, he
gained the companion steps, rose upon
them to the height Of his head, and,
watching his chance, flung the bottle
at the sea with such dexterity that it
struck the rail and went to splinters up
ON the deck at the instant his wide
awake few cleveriy overheard. The
captain, holding by the rigging and
leaning in his girdle like man heav-
ing the lead, reared some words into
the wind at the colonial merchant, who,
catching no meaning and fearing for
his life if he trusted to his legs, slid
down into the cuddy and regained his
cabin.
This happened shortly before the
breakfast hour. The ship was then la
boring heavily, and the stewards pre-
pared IA meal at the risk of their lives
They were constantly thrown. They
stumbled and tripped and reeled with
their hands full of crockery. Some of
the ten emerged and cheerfully helped
them. By the time breakfast was ready
the whole of the ten gentlemen had left
their cabins and were seating them
selves in their accustomed places as the
old skipper came BELOW
Giving his Spray soaked hat to one of
the stewards. he took his chair ut the
head Of the table. a few of the gentle
men, catching his eye. bowed. He in
clined his head gravely and inquired of
tie steward after the ladies and Mr..
Dent and Mr. S;orr. They wanted moth
ing. he was answered. The name Of
s..
key and two or three others seemed de-
| sirous, by the locks they cast at the cap
tain, to propitiate him. Captain Troll
| 1ope sat grim ard hard faced as q figure.
head.
The table submitted a poor show of
dishes, the cook could do nothing with
| the galley fire, ard the ten gentlemen
| and Captain Benson-the mate did not
| appear-drank beer or wine.
1T blows strong gale of wind. sir, +"
said Mr.. johnson politely. He sat near
est TO the captain.
''It blows hard. SIR" answered old
Benson, arresting the hand with which
| re was about to cut a slice of some kind
of sausage while ho watched the stew.
| ard crawl OH his hands and feet to lee
ward TO pick up piece of ships beef
| that had sprung from the table.
Il presume there is 10 danger?" said
Mr.. Masters.
| The captain let his little eyes dwell
upon the man fer minute. He then
answered, with a significant look, with
| one of those slips which will make old
fashioned English of old mems talk,
WAS you never at sea before?"
| "Oh just little" answered Mr..
Masters airily. bat with mind Of eau.
ton that betrayed itself in the fingers
he fddled his tumbler of beer with.
But / was never in such q hurricane
| as this"
| Gentlemen said the old skipper
firmly. you are all Of you very fortu.
nate in possessing good sea legs. There
are not many landsmen who could SIT
and eat at this table with SO much cour'
age and coed spirits and with SO nice q
trick OF fitting themselves to the heave. .
After this no man spoke for some
time. The long pause was filled with
the dull thunder of shattering seas. The
cabin was loud with the shrieks and
! &Ithlls u stIoiit6t idSteuluSS.
All of a sudden Captain Trollope
standing up, but holding on, addressed
Captain Benson in huge hurricane
lunsed voice, such as man would senG
across a moor at night for help, "Yor
have had time to reflect, sir, and now
| probably you will see your way to make
the voyage a pleasant one by apologize
ing for the affroIt you caused youl
mates TO put upon US yesterday"
The skipper jumped up and looked
at him. His lips worked, but no sount
was made. Then with o gesture of fren
zy he hoisted his arm and snapped hi
fingers at Captain Trollope. In thi
strange posture he remained for som,
|. time. swaying on his arched legs like I
swing tray, watched by some Of thu
men as though he had gone ont Of hi
!. mind. He then called for his hat, drew
! it to his ears, and again swapping hi
! fingers at Captain Trollope stepped Oh
deck.
A great laugh went up when the lit
. tie chap passed out, and no mans laugl
| xr,s 1oudar then TrQIlcYe's