Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-17

in time to see the sun set at the Watery
horizon. from whence it east a long
and tremulous line of yellow splendor
along the dancing waves. 10 where the
schooner fioated in her loneliness.
Night followed, ana one by one the
stars appeared in the mighty blue dome
overhead: there was no moon as yet.
and thought Of hosting a light at the
mainmast head, but where were q Ian
tern ami matches To he found?
| thought also of lifting the fore
hatch to explore the forepa't of the
schooner. but | felt 100 feeble and sick
at heart and now with the coming OF
the shadow of night a ghost story Of
the Dutch skipper REQUIRED TO me.
Thirst was now becoming an agony.
and | inhaled the dewy atmosphere in
vain. for its property was saline, and
seemed 10 make my sufferings greater:
but happily it induced a drowsiness. |
crept below. and seeking the bed III the
captains berth. drew the clothes over
me and strove to sle"p-and so weary
was that sleep came.
How long | slept | do not know. but
| was suddenly reused by 4 violent
lurch of the schooner.
On reaching the deck. l found that
gale had again come on, and that the
sea was whitened with foam, amid
which the seabirds were blown wildly
hither and thither: that the moon was
now on the wane, and shed a cold.
weird light between the black masses
Of flying scud. upon the tumbling bill
lows and the empty schooner. which
vet foated buoyantly enough. But she
now careened fearfully 10 port. fore
saw that unless the masts were cut
away a capsiZe was inevitable, for the
Wild wind howled over the waste OF
seething water. and the schooner
groaned and tremhleG as wave after
wave Numbered on her empty and re-
sounding hull.
Notwithstanding my weakness. en-
deavored TO tighten the brailing of the
fore and aft foresail: but how vain
was the attempt. The moment | re-
moved the rope from the Delaying pin
it was torn from my hand; the whole
sail fell heavily loose. and swelled out
upon the wind. 1t tapped with a
sound like thunder in the blast, and
in a moment the deck seemed TO pass
from under my feet. and | was strug-
Cling alone in the Midnight sea.
To the horror Of being drowned was
now added that of being deVOured by
the fishes.
A cry TO heaven escaped me, as |
rose pantinG and almost breathless and
struck out TO prOlong existence. The
sea repealed and buoyed me up. for il
is by no means so easy TO sink as many
persons imagine.
The schooner was lying now COM
pletely on her beam ends TO port; her
masts and half her deck were in the
water. 1t had filled the body of the
loosened sail. and served to keep her
steady. but still the waves washed
wildly over the hull. | knew she must
soon fill and go down: yet SO strong is
the instinct of f-preservation that 1
soon reached the foremost, climbed
into the now horizontal rigging, and
seated myself on the rO" Of dead eyes,
through which the shrouds are rove,
clutching them with wild tenacity,
while drenched. cold, and despairing.
The spray flew over me, thick as
rain. but bitter. heavy and binding
! How long | could have survived
know not; but | felt as one in dread
full dream and acted with the decision
and tirmness with which we often seem
to acuuaint ourselves amid the most
fantastic situations created by the
/ fancy in sleep.
Suddenly. amid the stupor that was
coming over me, | heard voice and
saw a large brig looming between me
and the pale, waning moon. She Was
close by. with her courses, topsails. jill
and fore-and aft mainsail set, but with
her foreyard laid 20 the wind as she
lay to- Then heard the rattle of the
blocks and tackle. as boat descended
from the stern davits with splash
into the sea.
"Cheerily now my lads, give way
cried the voice had heard before
pull to windward round this craft, ant
overhaul her"
There's man in the fOre-rigging!
cried another
Then stand by in the bow with Thu
bOathoOk.
strove 10 speak. 10 shout; but m,
voice was gone.
Spring into the sea. cried a voice
do YOU lear me. Won sir-yOu in tn
rore-rigging there? Jump in; we can
not sheer alongside craft that pitche
about like a cork in such Il sea a
this"
Don't fear. my lad" cried others
well pick YOU up.
But | was powerless. blinded b.
spray: and though unable to respond
clutched the rattlins with fatuOus en-
ergy. Then strong hands were lai
upon me. and felt myself dragged int
the boat.
shove off. shove off give way! thi
craft will sink in minute" cried som
, one: give way for the brig" and jus
. as they turned the head of the boat t.
ward their vessel, the Dutch schOOne
appeared TO right herself: there was
crash as her deck burst up. and then
sob seemed 10 mingle with the ri
! .bot uac axpe1laI from her hold II,