The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1896-07-03

miles from the coast 1t was Christmas
eve Old QuillcaSh thought of this ana
they talked of Christmas ewes gone by and
of what happy days there had been This
was too tender a chord, and they were
soon silent once more, Then, while the
waters lay cold and clear and still and the
sun was sinking in the west, there came
floating to them from the land through
the breathless air the sound of church bells.
1t was the last drop in their cup. The rude
men could bear up no longer. More than
one dropped his head on to his knees and
sohbed aloud. Then Quilleash, in husky
voice and coarsoly, as if ashamed of the
impulse, said, Some one pray, will your"
Aye, said another. AYE, said third.
But no one prayed
"YOu, Billy" said one The old man
had never known prayer.
"You, Davy." Davy shook his head
None could pray.
Only the faint sound of the bells was
borne to them as mellow whisper.
Then Danny rose silently to his feet
No one had thought of asking him With
that longing look in his big eyes he turn
ed to the land and began to sing He was
thinking of Mona All his soul was going
out to her. She was his anchor, his hope
his prayer The lads voice, laden with
tears, floated away over the great waters
This was what he sang;
Her brow is like the snawdrift
Her neck is like the swan,
Her face it is the fairest
That e'er the sun shone on.
That e'er the sun shone on.
And she's a the world to me,
And for bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doom and dee"
The boys eyes We're bright with ra-
diant brightness, and glistening tears ran
down his face in gracious drops like dew.
The men hung their heads and were mute.
All at once there came breath Of wind.
At first it was as soft as an angels wills
per Then 1t grew stronger and ruffled
she sea, Every man lifted his eyes and
looked at his mates. Each was struggling
with painful idea that perhaps he was
the victim of delusion of the sense. But
the chill breath of the wind was indeed
among them. Isn't it beginning to puff
up from the so'west?" asked one in a
hoarse whisper
At that Davy Cain jumped to his feet.
The idea of the supernatural had already
gone from him at least. Now for the
sheets and to make sail" he cried
AS mate formerly, Davy constituted him
self skipper now.
One after one the men got up and bus
tied about Their limbs We're well nigh
frozen stiff
"Heave hearty, menl Heave and awayw
All was stir and animation in an in
slant. Pulling at the ropes the men had
| begun to laugh-yes, with their husky,
grating, tear drowned voices even to laugh.
Bear hand, menl We're drifting fast
into the down stream to Contrary" cried
Davy.
Then a grewsome sense of the ludiCrous
took hold of him. 1t was the swift reac-
ton from solemn thoughts.
Lay on, Quilleash, my mani Why,
you're going about like a brewing pan
What are your arms for, eh?"
The old fellows eyes that had been dim
with tears q moment ago glistened with
grisly mischief
"Who hasn't heard that a Manxman'
arms are three legsY" he said, with hun.
cry smile.
How the men laughed What humol
there was now in the haggard old sawl
"Where are you for, Davy?" cried one.
Scotland-Shetlands answered Davy
indefinitely.
"Hooraal Bold fellow Ha, ha, ha,
! hel"
1--WE been there before today Davy, u
said Quillcash. They're all poor mer
there, but it's right kind they are. Aw,
yes, it's safe and well We'll be when we're
there What's it saying When one pool
man helps another poor man, GOD
laughs.
How they worked In two minutes
mainsail and mizzen were up, and they
fllcd away and stood cut But they has
drifted into the down stream, though they
knew it not as yet
From tho shores of death they had SAILED
somehow into the waters of life. Hope
was theirs once more.
They began to talk of what had caused
the wind at was the blessed St. Pat
rick " said Killip. st. Patrick was the
patron saint of that sea, and Killip was 6
Catholic and more than half an Irishman
"St, Patrick be- cried Davy Cain
with a scornful laugh They got to higf
words and at length almost to blows.
Old QuilleaSh had been at the tiller
His grizzly face had grown CHASTITY again
Drop it, menu he cried in voice Of
fear Look yanderf Dye see what's
cOmin2"
The men looked toward the west The
long, thin cloud which Danny knew as
the cats tail was scudding fast in the line
of their starboard quarter.
MAKE all snugl" cried Davy.
A storm was coming. 1t was very near
In ten minutes it was upon them. 1t wa.
a terrific tempest, and they knew now thai
they were in the down stream.
The men stared once more into each 9th
er's faces. Their quips were gone; theil
hopeful spirits had broken down. God
it's runnin ten knots tide" shouted
Quilleash
And we're driving before it-dead OF
for Peel, " answered Davy, with an appall
ing look of fear toward the west whert
the wind was seen to be churning the Ions
waves into foam
Danny saw it all, but there was NJ
agony in his face and no cry of dread OF
his lips Il think at whites I'd like TO di,
in a big sea like that" His despair wa.
courage now
(CoRtinued.)