Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-12-11

original. with q nuency that even my
old tutor at Elton might have enyied.
We were now clear OF the Channel;
and, after hard battle with the wind
and sea. we left the long roll OF the
mighty Atlantic.
On the third night after my rescue,
We encountered dark and cloudy wealth
or. with strong gale, which set all
the cabin ahoat. My watch was over,
and l had just turned in, when | heard
the voice OF Capt Weston, who was
on deck. shouting through his trumpet
to CLOSE reef the maintopsail, hand
the mainsail. foresail, and foretopsail
Look alive there, lads" he added, "or
rs sure as my name is Sam Weston,
I'll give the volt to the last man of
the deck!"
This threat, so unusual In one so
goodnatured. together with the bel
lowing OF the wind, the tapping OF the
wetted canvas, the rattle of the blocks
and cordage, and the laboring Of the
brig. which was so deeply laden that
every timber groaned. all gave such
Indications of rough night that !
sprang from my berth and proceeded
to dress again in haste.
To my establishment, at that mo-
ment / heard the hoarse rattle of the
chain cable, al 1t rushed with a roar
ing sound through the iron mouth of
the hawse hole; then / was sensible OF
q violent shock, which made the brig
stagger, and tumbled me headlong
against the panelod bulkhead which
separated the cabin from the after
hold
Hislop, who had been doing on the
cabin-locker in his storm jacket, start
ed up with alarm In his face.
Have we come to anchor?" | asked.
Anchor In more than three hundred
fAthoms OF water" he exclaimed, as
he rushed on deck, whittier l followed,
and found that very strange incident
had occurred
In the murky obscurity OF the stormy
night a large Dutch lugger, In ballast
apparently, and running right before
tho wind, with steering canvas set.
came suddenly athwart us. and hooked
the anchor from the cathead on our
larboard bow-by some unwonted neg
iect II was not yet on board, nor had
the cable been unbent-with her star
board fore-rigging, and thus bore away
with 1t, until the chain came to bear,
Several feet of our bulwark were torn
away, and two seamen. Tattooed Tom,
and an old man-o'-war's man named
Roberts, were nearly swept into the
sea, where. In such night, and amid
the confusion of such an incident, they |
would inevitably have persisted un
aided.
a crash upon the believing wind, as
the Dutchmans foremost snapped by |
the board, and then, fortunately, our
anchor tumbled from his side into the
sea, where It swung at the whole
length of the chain cable.
We manned both vindlass and cap
stan-got the anchor. which was drift
ing. reused to the cathead, hoisted it
On board, unbent the cable, and slowed
/ In the tier; but long ere all this was
lone we had lost sight OF our lubberly
friend. who, when last seen, was toss
ing about like log in the darkness,
Ind drifting far astern of us. But for
,ome defect In the pawls and notches
II the windlass collar. | am doubtful
I the chain would have run out so free
y: but as to this cannot say.
We had hard squalls and sea that
an high until daybreak; there was
lightning, too: red and dusky; 1t SEEM
d at times to MI the whole horizon
We could see for an instant the black
ummits of the waves as they rose and
ell between US and the glare; and
vhen It passed away, all again would
% obscurity and gloom.
more canvas must be taken OF the
rig. sir" suggested Hislop, looking
loft and then over the side, where the
oam- necked sea whirled past us.
well. in with the trysail, foretop-
all, and maintopsail." ordered Weston.
As the light OF dawn stole over the
ngry sea, through clouds OF mingled {
list and rain. the gale abatsd. and
II but the watch went below. S
Calm weather ana heavy rains sue
seded the gale: but the Eugene stead
y kept her course, and two days after,
hen spanking along before fne top
Rllant breeze. we picked up bottle, i
hich was described by the watch. .
oating and bobbing In the water q Z
w fathoms distant from the brig. She j
as at once hove In the wind. and His 8
p went In the stern boat to bring the b
,ttle on board. Il
Al tha most trivial incident becomes .