Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-08-11
An Eto,'n Boy,


Yet how was 1t. we all asked. that
there was not a breath Of wind With
us! Il ~ q 81
Perhaps she brings II with her.
suggested Hislop. (;
And how 1t came to pass that she
appeared right IN the oning and out
side the bay all at-once!" asked Tom
FLambourne.
'.She must have rounded the high
blum while we were all palavering.
said Probart.
Nothing more was said for . time,
but whether 1t was the effect Of imag.
nation or of an overstrained@ eyesight
i know not. she seemed to melt AZ II
were In the brightness Of the moon.
shine-to become SO sindistinct that we
could see the line Of the hori1on
through her topsails; and next It
seemed as II her hull, her spars and
rigging were edged with bright pris-
matte hues.
It is impossible for me to describe
the blank astonishment, or rather the
intense CONSERVATION, of our men on
the disappearance Of this vessel, which
was the object Of SO many hopes and
wishes.
Some time elapsed before the pour
fellows rallied sufficiently to speak on
the subject; and meanwhile. there
flashed upon my memory some strange
and weird old Celtic tales, which .
Highland boy at Elton was wont to
tell us, OF ships which in the days Of
Ossian traversed the steep hills and the
salt lochs Of Moryen with equal ia
cility. 81. 3s ts5;
st Is 4 ship-or rather the repre-
sentation Of veritable shipwhich
cannot be far OF the island. and is
making for 1t at this moment" said
Hislop, emphatically.
"How far. do you think she is, sir?"
asked Hugh Shute. mockingly.
Perhaps twenty miles perhaps q
hundred-it Is impossible to say" .5
SO thoroughly were our companions
scared by the recent spectral appear
ance, which they connected in some
way with the dreadful character of
Antonio el Cubano, that they at once
commenced with alacrity the prepara-
tions for putting to sea.
It may be that somewhat Of the pro-
fessional restlessness OF sailors con-
firmed their resolution.
They were already tired Of their So
iourn on the island, and, inspired by
the desire Of reaching Tristan da Cum
ha, which is inhabited by about eighty
families Of Portuguese. English and
mulattoes, among whom Hislop as
sured them they might linger long
enough before they were taken OF BY
passing ship quite as long as II they
remained on the Isle Of Alphonso--and
where for subsistence they would be
forced to work 40 day laborers In the
savannas and on the highways.
AS for the Island Of Diego Alvarez,
our Scotch mate, who seemed to know
everything, assured them that=it pro-
duced only moss and sea grass. and
that II cast there they would die Of
starvation. Moreover. without chart
or compass, how could they hope to
steer with certainty In any direction?
They all might perish in detail by
the most dreadful deaths in their open
boat, gasping with unquenched thirst
under the blaze Of tropical sun. He
said much more; but they would listen
to nothing save their own fears and
restless impulses.
- ~,,o w,n0 - ~ ~ = -
though feeling all the dependency
that follows q severe disappointment
on the disappearance of the illusory
ship. l in no way shared the Wild and
ill-regulated wishes Of the crew,
though assured that I would be COM
PEELED to follow their desperate for
tunes.
Hislop and still fingered: 50 we
were told peremptorily that IL We did
not come on board at once they would
shove OF without us. Thus compelled,
We stepped In most reluctantly and
seated ourselves In the stern, and he
assumed the tiller. The oars were run
through the rowlocks, and Lambourne
was about to shove OF. when Probart,
who had the bow oar. suddenly re-
membered that he had left his Ratchet
near our wigwam, and asked me to
get It.
jumped ashore, and was proceed
ing along the beach for 1t. when sud
denly ] was confronted by Antonio.
who from q thicket had been watch
ing our operations and departure.
His tawney skin-for he was naked
to the waist-his ferocious aspect, his
head Of matted hair. his colossal
strength and atrocious character were
not without due effect upon the
boats crew at.this crisis.
'Shove off-shove orr / heard sew
efal voices cry in the boat; here
comes that dog Of q Cubano." !.
struggled with Antonio; but he
laughed loudly. and drew his pistol
with the air Of one who would, enforce
obedience; besides, his eyes, which
the tangled masses Of his hair over
hung, were flashing with malignant
fire, as all the slumbering devil was
reused within him.
The whole crew saw this, and per-
ceived that Marc Hislop made an at
tempt to rise up and spring overheard
to my succor; but as all their hopes Of
~ -Ls, H. .