Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1898-01-13

| would but bounce a little, dance as If on
springs. and subside on the other side
into the trough as lightly as bird
| began after little to grow very
bold. and sat up to try my skill at pad
| ding. But even a small change in the
| disposition of the weight will produce
violent changes in the behavior of cor
acle. And l had hardly moved before
the boat, giving up at once her gentle.
dancing movement, ran straight down
a slope of water so steep that ii made
me giddy, and struck her nose, with
spout of spray. deep into the side of the
next wave.
l was drenched and terrified. and fel!
instantly back into my old position,
whereupon the coracle seemed to find
her head again, and led me softly as be-
fore among the pillows. 1t was plain she
was not to be interfered with, and at
| that rate, since could in no way in
| fluence her course. what hope had left
of reaching land?
/ began to be horribly frightened.
but kept my head. for all that, First.
moving with all care. ! gradually baiied
out the eoracle with my sea-cap; then
getting my eye once more above the
gunwale, set myself TO study how it
was she managed to slip so quietly
through the rollers.
found each wave. instead of the big.
smooth, glossy mountain it looks from
shore. or from a vessels deck. was for
oil tba ,,.orla I'LL an - ,.o 81 ra % bfi1u an
the dry land, full of peaks and smooth
places and valleys. The coracle. left to
herself, turning from side TO side.
threaded. so to speak, her way through
these lower parts, and avoided the
steep slopes and higher, topping sum
mits of the wave.
"Well, now" thought to myself. ait
is plain / must lie where | am. and not
disturb the balance; but it is plain, also,
that l can put the paddle over the side.
and from time to time. in smooth places.
give her shove or two toward land"
No sooner thought upon than done.
There l lay on my elbows. In the most
trying attitude, and every now and
again gave a weak stroke or two TO turn
her head to shore.
II was very firing and slow work, yet
did visibly gain ground, and as we
drew near the Cape of The Woods,
though | saw ! must infallibly miss
that point. | had still made some hum
bred yards Of casting. ! was. indeed.
close in. could see the cool. green
tree-tops swayng together in the
breeze. and ! felt sure ! should make
the next promonotory without fail.
II was high time. for | now began
to be tortured with thirst. The glow
OF the sun from above. its thousand
fold reflection from the waves. the sea-
water that fell and dried upon me, eak-
ing NY yesy ups with salt, combined
10 make my throat burn and my brain
ache. The sight Of the trees so near
at hand had almost made me- sick with
longing. but the current had soon car
RED me past the point. and as the next
reach OF the sea opened out | beheld
= sight that changed the nature Of my
thoughts.
hf8Hf VI liOiii VI me- AibA haAi - tAAAAN
rway. ! beheld the "Ilispauiola," under
sail. | made sure, of course, that
should be taken; but ! was so dis
,ressed for want of water that scarce
,.new whether to be glad or sorry at the
thought. and long before ] had come
10 a conclusion surprise had taken en-
tire possession of my mind and could
Go nothing but stare and wonder.
The "Hispaniola" was under her
nainsail and two jibs. and the beautiful
white canvas shone in the sun like
snow or silver. When | first sighted
her an her sails were drawing; she was
living course about northwest, and l
presumed the men on board were go
ing round the island on their way back
to the anchorage. Presently she began
to fetch more and more TO the west
ward. so that thought they had sight
ed me and were going about in chase.
At last. however, she fell right into the
winds eve. was taken dead aback. and
stood there awhile helpless. with her
sails shivering.
Clumsy fellows" said |. they must
still be drunk as owls" And thought
how Capt. Smollett would have set them
skipping.
Meanwhile the schooner gradually
fell off. and filed again upon another
tack, sailed swiftly for a minute or
so. and brought up once more dead
in the winds eye. Again and again
was this repeated. To and fro up and
down, north. south. east and west the
"HispGniola" sailed by swoops and
dashes. and at each repetition ended
as she had begun. with idly Tapping
canvas. It became plain TO me that
nobody was steering. And, if so. where
were the men? Either they were dead
drunk or had deserted her, ] thought
and perhaps if could get on board
/ might return the vessel 10 her cap
tain.
The current was bearing coracle ana
schooner southwark at an equal rate
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