Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-04-24

crest hidden In fog. With barely time for
long breath. the gasping men felt their
craft thrown to the top of this comber, aug
mented in height by the reflected water of
The liquid riot. and amid fog and foam and
numbering uproar were again hurled shore
ward Some caught q momentary glimpse
OF the disappearing knuckles Of the reef be-
low. and dfsmasted junk just above: then
the fog thickened. blotting out all but the
puhishfng water and its deafening sound;
tnen came again the nauseating sinking
Wnich told them the wave had passed; then
snock and a sound of smashing wood.
he brig had struck-on the reef or within
Ii.
But the dominant volume of sound was
transferred from landward to seaward, and
enough they could see nothing now. they
! Hnew that the third wave. as 1T crashed
aver the barrier. was the largest of all.
Up the unseen slope the half-fIled brig
Travelled. the crew ciingfrg to ropes and
deck fittings. until above the fog. and be-
lore the pitiless cataract began to smother
and beat them. they viewed the highest
hilltop OF the island. not a quarter mile
away. Then they saw no more-nor did
they breathe-until. after a succession Of
Wrenchings. toltfngs and crashings, they
found their brig surrounded by palm trees
jIbboom and bowspnt gone. mainmast
pointing one way and foremost the other-
which latter phenomena, with the open
seams In the spirally curved decks, indt-
Gated broken backbone-and looked
through thinning fog and tree trunks down
a moist slope to chaotic ocean, crossed
and recrossed by advancing and reflected
tidal waves.
Mr.. Todd. with the captain and carpenter,
dropped over the side to hold a survey of
the twisted hull. They walked around 1t in
the mud IN which il lay, probing gaping
seams with their knives. and reering into
re-and-aft assures and thwart-stip crew
Ices through some Of which they could see
the barrels Of their Cargo. The brig lay,
hS hill vurifh tho
beach quarter mile away. The water was
still draining out.
She'll never float again. Chips. will she?"
said the captain.
Yank Tate ruefulIy shook his head.
she's a ixtur'. cappen." said he. "A
dOck-head capsan couldn't bulge her, an
dock yard couldn't mend her The keers
in two pieces. three feet apart: rudder's
gone, an sternposts out o. true: port gar
boards ripped out. an there amt a sound
frame that side. She was a beauty too-a
beauty. l never saw her like 'mong work
in boats.
A man hailed who had climbed to the
main royal yard: There's the Junk up the
ail. he cried. "rfght-side up, an the yaI-
ler-back's eating supper"
supper, growled the mate; "supper-an'
orr grub must be spoiled. We were half
way to the bottom. Bill. in the last sea-"
If they have grub we'll have some toe"
said Capt; Swarth quietly. IT'S a question
| with me II the junk wasn't right to take
1t broadside. Royal yard. there" he hailed
dye see the bull-dog?' the man aIoft
stood up, looked to the eastward and called
down:
"HeadiE' south under tops'ls; everything
gone aloft an low down In the water
Portfolios amidships awash'
Well. she's afioat, anyhow. while we
and the Cinnamon are high and dry. But
| If they can't pump out they're done for,
tco: there'l be wind on top o. this"
Capt. Swarth was right Such q cata-
| clysm as had with three waves washed a
50O-ton brig over a reef and almost to the
| center of an island, could not but be fol-
lowed by atmospheric disturbance. Wind
came-a vicious hurrtcaEe-which kept them
beneath their leaky decks. listening to wall
| ings and SCREENINGS in the rigging. and to
| the crashing Of palm trunks and branches
! over their heads. feeling the sway and the
heave OF the brig on her muddy bed with
| each heavier puff Of the tempest and pass
| Ing the day ard following night thus, to
| the accC apartments Of hunger and thirst
| Provisions were spoiled-except the salt
meats. which these free lances would not
| eat-and their appetites were only increased
! by the tot Of good erog served out by Capt.
Swarth at nightfaH. while their tempers
were rufaed by his Injunction to stay below
| or get shot.
| The hurricane ended at daylight, and the
/ sun rose In q clear blue sky. Hungry
enough now, and savage a. uncaged wolves,
/ Trey ate OF the salt meat hash prepared by
the cook. after another allowance Of Grog
Then Capt. Swarth. who had taken little
| the junk lay above them In . clearing, and,
! though dtsmasted. ives doubtless sound and
tight. as her rudder was intact and no
\ noies could be seen In her. In her was food
OF some kind-Ffce. sago, curry, fish, etc.
p1d they want her? An inarticulate yell