The herald., 1897-08-29
Joseph co MNAD
author of HLnATERS FOLLI tie..

pointing to the clouds; while the tall
mast, inclined nearly to the horizon.
seemed to be of an unreasonable
length The carpenter let go his hold.
rolled against the skylight. and began
to crawl to the cabin entrance. where
big axe was kept ready for just such
an emergency.
Captain Allistoun managed to stand
up with his face near the deck, upon
which men swung on the end of ropes
like nest-robbers upon a cliff. One of
his feet was on somebody's chest. His
face was purple; his lips moved. He
yelled also; he yelled, bending down,
No! Mo-"
Mr. Baker, one leg over the binnacle-
stand. roared out, did you say no?
Not cut?"
The captain shook his head madly.
No! No!'
Between his legs the crawling car
penter heard, collapsed at once, and lay
full length in the angle of the skylight.
Voices took up the shout. mo! Nol'
And upon the terrific noise of wind and
sea not a murmur of remonstrance
came out from those men, who each
would have given ever so many years
of life to see them bloody sticks go
only chance; but a little hard-faced
man shook his gray head and shouted
MOI" without giving them as much as
glance. They were silent, and gasped.
They gripped rails, they had wound
ropes ENDS under their arms; they
clutched ringbolts, they crawled in
heaps where there was foothold; they
held on with both arms, hooked them
selves to anything to windward with
elbows, with chins, almost with their
teeth; and some unable to crawl away
from where they had been flung, felt
the sea leap up, striking against their
backs as they struggled upward.
Hours passed. They were sheltered
by the heavy inclination of the ship
| from the wind that rushed in one long
unbroken moan above their heads, but
cold rain showers fell at times into the
uneasy calm of their refuge. The sky
was clearing, and bright sunshine
CLEANED over the ship. After every
burst Of battering seas. Vivid and fleet
ing rainbows arched over the drifting
hull in the flick of sprays. The gale was
ending in clear blow. 1t CLEANED and
cut like a knife. Signs were heard, as
men, perceiving that they were not
to be drowned in a hurry" tried easier
positions. Mr.. Creighton, who had hurt
his leg, lay amongst us with set lips.
Some fellows belonging to his watch set
about securing him better. Without a
word or glance he lifted his arms one
after another to facilitate the opera
ton, and not a muscle moved in his
stern, young face.
They asked him with solicitude.
Easier now, sir?"
He answered with a curt, "That'll
do"
For the first time since the ship had
gone on her beam ends, Captain Allis-
toun gave a short glance down at his
men. He was almost upright-one foot
against the side of the skylight, one
knee on the deck,-and, with the end of
the wang round his waist, swung back
and forth with his gaze fixed ahead,
watchful, like man looking out for a
sign Before his eyes the ship, with
half her deck below water, rose and fell
on heavy seas, that rushed from under
her, flashing in the cold sunshine.
Confident voices were heard shouting,
"She'l do, boys!" Belfast exclaimed
with fervor. IT 'ould Civ months pay
for draw at a pipe!" One or two,
passing dry tongues on their salt lips,
muttered something about a drink of
water" The cook. as if inspired, scram-
bed up with his breast against the
poop watercask and looked in. There
was a little at the bottom. He yelled.
waving his arms, and two men began to
crawl backward and forward with the
mug. We had good mouthful all
round. Faces frightened.
We shouted to the cook. well done,
doctor!" He sat to leeward, propped
by a cask, and yelled back abundantly,
but the seas were breaking in thunder
just then, and we only caught snatches
that sounded like: providence" and
''born again." He was at his old game
of preaching.
Suddenly some one cried, where's
Jimmy?" and we were appalled, once