La Junta tribune., 1899-04-29

we were now left to our own exertions.
and had no other warnings but those
the appearance OF the heavens gave
u.s."
''And they warn us now" observed
Hillebrant See how that bank OF
clouds has risen within these five min
utes--the moon has escaped from it,
but it will soon catch her again-and
see, there is flash of lightning in the
northwest"
well. my sons. can brave the ele-
ments as well as any man, and do my
best. i have cared little for gales or
stress of weather: but ! like not such
a warning as We have had tonight. My
heart is heavy as lead. and that's the
truth. Philip. send down for the bot
tie OF schnapps. II it is only to clear
my brain little
Philip was glad OF an opportunity to
quit the poop: he wished to have few
minutes to recover himself and collect
his own thoughts.
Philip remained below not more than
half an hour. On his return to the
deck. what n change had taken place!
He had left the vessel floating motion
less on the still waters, with her lofty
sails hanging down 1istlessly from the
yards. The moon then scared aloft in
her beauty, rejecting the masts and
sails of the ship in extended lines upon
the smooth sea. Now all was dark;
the water rippled short and broke in
foam; the smaller and lofty sails had
been tTken in, and the vessel was
cleaving through the water; and the
wind. in fitful gusts and angry moan
ings. proclaimed too surely that 1t had
been awakened up to wrath, and was
gathering In strength for destruction.
The men were still busy reducing the
sails, but they worked gloomily and
discontentedly. What Schriften. the
pilot, had said to them, Philip knew
not; but that they avoided him and
appeared to look upon him with feel
ings of ill-will was evident. And each
minute the gale increased.
1t was an irterminably long and ter
rlble night-they thought the day
would never come. At last the dark
ness gradually changed to a settled.
sullen. gray gloom-which was day.
They looked at each other. but found
no comfort in meeting each others
eyes. There was no one countonance
In which beam of hope could be
found lurking. They We're all doom
ed-they remained crouched where
they had sheltered themselves during
the night, and said nothing.
The sea had now risen mountains
high, and more than one had struck
the ship abaft. kloots was at the bin
nacle, Hillebrant and Philip at the
helm, when a wave curled high over
the quarter and poured itself in n re-
sistless force upon the deck. The
captain and his two mates were swept
away and dashed almost senseless
against the bulwarks-the pinnacle
and compass were broken into frag-
ments-no one ran to the helm-the
vessel broached to-the seas broke
clear over her and the mainmast went
by the board
All was confusion. Capt. Kloots
was stunned, and it was with difficulty
that Philip could persuade two of the
men to assist him down below. Hin
brant had been more unfortunate-hi
right arm was broken and he was 9TH
erwise severely bruised. Philip assist
ed him to his berth. and then went
on deck again to try and restore Or
der.
Philip Vanderdecken was not much
of seaman, but, at all events, he ex-
ercised that moral influence over the
men which is ever possessed by reso-
luton and courage. Obey willingly
they did not. but they did obey. and in
half an hour the vessel was clear of
the wreck. Eased by the loss of her
heavy mast, and steered by two of her
best seamen, she again flew before the
gale.
Ito be continued.)