Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-05-18
DICK RODNEY;
Or. The Adventures of
An Eton Boy.
by JAMES GRANT

ny JAMES GRANT.
CHAPTER XIV.
The Water-Spout,


As the sun increased in heat, not
withstanding the season of the year, I
was soon sensible of the comfort of
white clothing, when contrasted with
dark woolen or broadcloth, as the lat
ter absorbs. and the former repels.
the rays of the sun.
Marc Hislop illustrated this to me
by igniting paper with a burning
glass; whenever the focus was brought
to bear upon dark places, such as
printed letters, they were instantly
consumed.
We ran along the coast CT Hispanio-
la, and saw the wavy ridges Of its
mountains that tower into the clouds:
we sighted Tortuga, a rocky island COW
cred with palm trees and sandalwood.
but surrounded by reefs and shoals:
and. rounding Cape st. Nicholas, stood
to the southwark between the great Is
lands of Jamaica and Cuba. but with
out seeing either of them at that
time.
For three days we had dark and
cloudy weather.
About 3 o'clock p. m. on the oath OF
January small speck. which appeared
to the westward on our weather beam.
grew rapidly into n gloomy cloud. and
swiftly. as II on the wings Of de-
stroying angel. 1t traversed the thick
ening air and the agitated sea, which
darkened beneath its shadow: and 80
this speck came on. until 1t grew an
awful thunder-cloud.
Bear a hand fore and aft! Hurry.
my lads!-make all snug before the
tempest breaks!' were the cheering or
ders Of Weston. Hislop and Lambourne
as the brig was prepared to encounter
a heavy squall.
The rain soon fell in torrents. I'M
peding the men Mt their work of close
rcefing. furling and slowing away some
OF the heavier canvas. and In tightly
Delaying the running rigging. for when
loose ropes are flying about In tenn
pest, and cracking In mems faces like
coach-whips, they become sufficiently
bewildering to impede the working OF
the ship.
Udcr the lower edge Of the approach
ing cloud. when about twelve miles
distant, we beheld IN object which
filled us with wonder and awe.
It was tremendous spout, or col
umn. Of water. connected with the
cloud above and the sea below (he
sea. from which n circular wind had
sucked It upwardl. that was now visi-
BILE.
This column was like solid mass of
white breakers. approaching with in
credible speed over waves that began
to rise In short and pyramIdal peaks.
Hislop was too busy Chewing up
Nr aRda
aloft, Delaying and ordering. and 30
lost famous opportunity for expati-
ating-as no doubt he would have done
ON the theory OF these spouts. for
this phenomenon filled us with the
greatest alarm. lest It might swoop
down upon the Eugcnie. dismast and
destroy her like child's toy ship.
Atomic el Cubano. being the most
powerful and muscular man on board.
was ordered to the wheel.
Across the sea this column seemed
| to pass with the cloud. boiling, foaming
and with the sound of q mighty cas-
cade pouring into a deep valley. but
yet maintaining position quite per-
pendicular. Around its base the waves
seemed In dreadful commotion, rising
and falling. secthing and glittering in
the lightning which shot at times from
the gloomy bosom of the cloud that
fioated over them.
As this terrible phenomenon ap-
preached from the westward. Captain
Weston conceived that we might es-
cape Its influence by altering the briggs
course. and so passing It. have
heard OF water-spouts being dissipated
by the effect Of heavily shotted guns.
but we had no such appliances-at
least We had no shot on board.
The breeze, which was blowing fresh
and had not as yet become a gale ito
us at leasO. vcered northwesterly; SO
we shook the reefs out OF our topsails
and trimmed sharp by the wind.
"Luf, lun-keep your luff-keep her
TO-" were the inccssant orders Of wes-
ton, and the Eugenie new through the
water like q race horse; held by the
powerful hands OF Antonio. she never
yawed an inch. and by especial Provi-
hence she got to the windward Of that
Dreadful phenomenon, which passed
,s. cloud and all. about six miles
hstern, when. as II changed color from
Erayish green to white, 1t presented
ecene 80 sublime and terrible that
the boldest held his breath for
lime" and Antonio, who was blanched
white with terror. though he had frc-
huently seen such spouts rs these In
bis native seas. assured me. with chat
kering teeth. that he had never be-
held one OF such magnitude. and II
was long before he could be certain Oh
bur safety, and ceased to mutter:
20 mala ventura-mala ventufa'
literally, bad luck.)
From white the water-spout became
husky purple. when CLEAN OF the sun
lell on 1t, and the waves at Its base
FILTERED In ali tho cOlOrs OF the rain