Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-07-07

My heafJ gave a great JuiHp anu L
could have shouted, but in the end 1
contented myself with saying two OF
three times profoundly: THANK
Cod" and with that stood quietly on
my straddled legs, waiting for the next
rise of the raft. My companions had
given over their talking. and seemed
to be holding themselves in patience,
as 1 was, only that. think, Mr.. lynn
spoke to me as l stood about for my
balance, and so drew his notice. The
raft swung to the top of the crest, and
as it tipped for the next slide we all
looked eagerly for the black dot
There it was, as distinct as ever, and
beyond any manner of doubt the mar
row-wise view of ship! We cried out
in a kind of cheer, and l then fell to
asking with eagerness how long she
had been in sight.
Il raised her but a moment since"
answered the captain. ''She showed
first Is YOU see her, and must therefore
be bows-on. But, pray you, pass me
my glass. and I will see what further
can be made of her"
Ihastened to fetch his glass from his
box of instruments, and when the next
lift of the raft was he brought it to
bear.
Mr.. Tym and 1 hung on his words,
for it was an anxious moment, and
presently felt a vast relief when he
broke out:
Yes, large ship, and bows-on. She
can Scarce be above four or five miles
away. and so she does not change her
course should fetch up to US within an
hour!"
I could not restrain step ortwo OF
sailors shuttle at this, so great was
my delight. and Mr.. lynn smiled.
Let us have down the SAIL" pur-
sued the captain, for now it does US
no good, and puts us to the labor of
steering"
[ perceived with this that the wind
had indeed hauled much to the north,
and was therefore driving us contin-
| ually to leeward. / jumped to the
sail and shut it up to the mast and
whipped the sheet round it. By this
| time quite sharp airs were blowing,
| and the heads of the seas had come up
| in sort to fling the spray in small
| showers over us. We did not much
heed this, and drew together in the
| middle of the raft, and while we kept
an eye out for the ship, continued our
discourse.
81 mistrust she is a Spaniard," said
| the captain. She may well come from
! the Florida coast
81 wish you might be wrong said [.
| for the Spanish have no love for at
| this time. There has been too much
doing by the buccaneers
yet we could speak them fair" said
| Mr.. lynn, "and if pushed to it com
| pound with them in some small man
ner of ransom. I could raise a sum,
! given little time
Marry" said I, quite with light
heart. for the prospect of escape had
| flown like wine into my head, Il am
for them, ransom or no ransom. Bet
| ter living slave than dead sailor"
| We continued to use the glass by
turns and to discuss the thing, till at
last we had raised the ship her hull.
She was standing fairly toward US, all
her sails, including topgallant sails,
spread, and looked to be large, light
! floating craft.
She has bow ports" said the cap
tain, who had the glass, though they
are scarce visible, as she is painted.
| Nay. but we must lose no more time,
let her be what she may. Take a
|
] and display it from the mast
[ speedily had a distress flag flying.
'She sees u.s." cried Mr.. lynn, who
| had the glass. There is line of
heads along the forward bulwarks,"
he went on, land fellow with tele
scope is climbing the fore, rigging"
She came along fast, her yards all
but square, and studding sails hung
| 40
| great boiling of white, which sheared
smoothly right and left as she came
nearer, though with many plumes of
spray, and in this gallant style she
stormed down till, at last, being but
gunshot off. she clewed up some sail,
put down her helm, and, with her long
J broadside swung around, came drift
ing down upon us.
y man in dark attire, with a trumpet
in his hand, climbed a few feet up the
main rigging.
NOW we shall know what nation she
that steeple of a poop and the poor
| should be Spanish
| So, indeed, it seemed to prove. The
man presently hailed. and the speech
| was Spanish.
J Raft ahoy!"
| BOARD the ship" beloved back
the captain. Nay, but can go no
further" he said. with laugh. 81 have
scarce any Spanish. Do you finish the
| business
He addressed me, and I sprang up
| and stood in his room. The ship had
rapidly drifted down and was already
!
fifty yards. The man in the rigging
shouted: eff you would board US, take
to your oars. Be speedy, or you will