Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1897-01-14
CHAPTER XIV.

About three weeks after the Ameri-
can captain had visited the Wellesley
that lubberly colonial brig, with her
squad boats hunched at her motherly
davits, was rolling most uncomfortably
upon a large. pea green swell, whose
lofty folds as they swung i'll stately
procession seemed to be wrinkled by a
breeze Of their own making. Tho sky
was hung with soft dark masses of
storm cloud. broken and departing. The
heavens between were a faded green,
and here and there upon the horizon
they were painted gray in slanting
patches by falling rain.
1t was about 9 O'Clock in the morn
ing. The brig was under single reefed
topsails and foresail, and the thunder
this canvas knocked out Of its heart
against the masts seemed to fetch q
faint, echoing growl from the dark cano.
pies afar. Nothing, not even light
ship. built Of wood and sheathed with
metal ever rolled more abominably
than this same brig Wellesley, becalmed
in n heavy swell. She dipped her fat
sides TO the rail. The rush of polished
brine was within hands reach. You
looked for the whole ocean to roll
aboard; then groaning shockirgly in ev-
cry timber, with yells in the wrenched
rigging, and furious beating Of help.
less canvas aloft, over she'd tumble
deep down to the other rail, leaping
half way back, rs if in alright, spring
ing her round bows ont of the heave,
while the brine roared white from her
headboards, then tumbling bodily over
again amid volleys of snaps and Jerking
and straining noises.
This had been going Oh for some
hours. 1t was impossible to walk the
deck. The scamen staggered and rushed
if they let go. Presently the command
er, tightly gripping the hand rail, rose
with a wary eye to his neck and limbs
through the little companion hatch and
stood i'll it while he looked about him.
Mr.. Hardy was hanging by the main
royal hackstay, almost abreast of the
red faced officer. The wheel leaped like
something living and vicious in the
strong grasp Of the helmsman, but even
us the commander rose the brassworL
was smitten into several stars of glory
by watery beam of the sun. Com
mander Boldock looked up to see wha,
made that light, as though surprised
then. watching his chance, came ont o,
the hatch and drove over to the side o,
Mr.. Hardy. clutching at the stay with
fingers like tishhooks.
hp-,, tlas, fn1Io,r, x,.,n Louo ,~o,~
aged to keep their ship alive during tn.
Late weather" said the commander. III
will be very vexatious should we ulti
mately discover she has gone to thu
bottom, gold and all-not that the al
will so much matter. perhaps, MS tn,
gold"
"Mr. Matthews gives a good account
OF the mems smartness as sailors, con
sidering who and what they are," an
swered Mr.. Hardy. 'Some Of then
could furl o sail as nimbly as blue
jacket. There We're ten of them, and
plus one, that's the number the shiI
sailed with out Of sydney"
The commander observed that Mr.
Hardy stopped to dodge and peer ant
bob ut the horizon, where, following
the direction of the mates stare, Boil
dock saw white CLEAN Of sail comm,
and going at the edge Of small squal
OF gray rain passing slowly.
"Yes, l see her. SIR" exclaimed tn
commander. not waiting to be address
ed. BE made bolt for the companio,
and cleverly grasped it. He was safe j,
the embrace Of that cover and took tn
long brass telescope off the brackets +
view the distant sail.
No seaman was ever more expert il
the art Of the glass than Boldock, bu
20 wild was the rolling Of the brig. s
treacherously swift the antics Of tn
distant sail, that many minutes passe
before the commander pinned her. b
then correctly judged that she was
vessel in distress, first by the circum
stance Of her having lost her fore topgal
liant mast, next by her showing not
rag Of cloth save fore topmast staysail
which looked to be very i'll set Sh
HAS o bark. and Boldock thoaRht h