Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-03-09

would float. as the wind and sea were
evidently rising together. and to re-
main on board was almost as danger
GUS and hopeless. l had the risk OF
drowning by her capsizing. or lying on
her beam ends In the water. and SO
foundering and going down.
A plank might start In her sheathing
she might even then be filling by
some uncaulked leak! had no idea
OF the state OF her hold. and for many
reasons feared she might sink before
daybreak. and before my perilous sit
uation could be discovered from the
shore.
The waves were black rs ink; tho
sky was moonless overhead, but tho
pale. white stars winked and twinkled.
and were reflected In the trough OF tho
ocean. Now..I could perceive foam
cresting the tops OF the waves. and
knew that the breeze was increasing
TO a gale-a gale that was blowing
from the land.
This added to my despair. for tho
lights had seen soon disappeared. aud
the dark outline of the coast seemed
to sink lower and to blend with the
sea. Clutching the weather rigging.
I could scarcely keep my feet. SO slip
perry was the now wetted deck. and SO
cold and Eenumbed were my hands and
arms by the chill atmosphere OF tho
ocean. and by the salt spray which
ever and anon flew over me In bitter,
briny showers.
shouted. but the mocking wind bore
my voice away to seaward With de-
spairing eyes swept the dusky water.
in the hope OF seeing vessel. a fishing
boat. or the light OF steamer near;
but gazed, with haggard glance. In
vain.
] had no hope now but to wait for
dawn OF day; and when 1t came. where
might ! and the empty schooner be?
Fortunately. her topmasts were struck,
her foreyard was lowered. and all her
gear made tolerably snug. Her can
vas. however. was only In the brails.
and a portion OF the fore ard aft
foresail having got loose. II
was swelled out by the blast.
and kept her head partially be-
fore the wind. thus accelerating the
rate at which she was borne from the
|
ballast, she danced over the waves.
as ! have said. like n cork. but in mo-
mentary danger of capsizing and foun-
dering. AS dawn drew near, the cold
increased so much that. though at the
risk of being passed unseen by scme
coaster. was fain to creep on my
hands and knees to the companion
hatch. and descend into the cabin.
1t was darker now than ever, for the
lamp had gone out
"Oh, to be ashore!" / exclaimed pas
sionately. with clasped hands; ashore.
and free from this floating prison!"
:, l thought of my gentle and loving
mother. and my soul seemed to die
within me. The schooner would be
missed by daybreak-the alarm would
be given; her alarm would rapidly be-
come irrepressible anxiety, which
would soon turn to despair that
nothing could alleviate.
Sounds like thunder, or like tremen-
dous blows. at times made me start.
These were caused by billets of wood,
or pieces OF pig-iron pitching about In
the hold OF the schooner as she rolled
and lurched and righted herself TO roll
and lurch again.
For time I covered miserably in
the dark cabin. until my childish fears
overmatched reason, and l crept once
more upon deck.
regular gale was blowing now, and
the schooner careened fearfully be.
ncath 1t Oh her starboard nide, whilo
the lellying CT that portion 3f the fore
| and rft foresail which had got loose
aiTcd in kurrying her faster ont to sea.
The light CT the coming day was
spread in dull gray over tha sky, i'm
rar,irg the same cold tint tc the whit
criEg waves. Land was still visible,
but 1t seemed like dark ba1;. at the
horizon. supposed it to be bout ten
! miles distant, but what par. Gf the
coast. or how far from Erletnlere, 1
| knew not.
ITO be continued.)