Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-03-24
"a
ROD
o., The Adventures Of
An Eton Boy.
ny II. JAMES GRANT.

Nil LlOH DO s.s =
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schooner, but l felt too feeble and sick
at heart, and now with the coming OF
the shadow Of night ghost story OF
the Dutch skipper required to me.
Thirst was now becoming an agony,
and / inhaled the dewy atmosphere In
vain, for it's property was saline, and
seemed to make my suferings greater;
but happily 1t induced a drowsiness. !
crept below, and seeking the bed in the
captains berth, drew the clothes over
me and strove to sleep-and 50 weary
was I that sleep came. 5s
How long I slept ! do not know, but
L was suddenly reused by violent
lurch Of the schooner. s!2 s..
On reaching the deck, | found that
a 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 q cold,
weird light between the black masses
OF flying scud, upon the tumbling bill
lows and the empty schooner, which
yet floated buoyantly enough. But she
now careened fearfully oport. fore
saw that unless the masts were cut
away capsize was inevitable, for the
wild wind howled over the waste OF
SETTLING water, and the schooner
groaned and trembled 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 foresaii: but how vain
was the attempt! The moment I 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. It tapped with q
sound like thunder In the blast. and
in 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, az I
rose painting and almost breathless and
struck out to prolong existence. The
sea repealed and buoyed me up, for 1t
Ia nv M means 40 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. I knew she must
soon All and go down; yet so strong Is
the instinct of self-preservation that I
soon reached the foremost, climbed
into the now horizontal rigging, and
seated myself on the row Of dead eyes,
through which the shrouds are rove,
clutching them with wild tenacity,
while drenched, cold, and Departing.
The spray few over me. thick as
rain, but bitter, heavy and binding.
How long I could have survived !
know not; but l felt as one in q dread
full dream and acted with the decision
and firmness with which We often seem
to acquaint ourselves amid the most
fantastic situations created by the
fancy In sleep. d
Suddenly, amid the stupor that, was
coming over me. ! heard voice and
saw large brig looming between me
and the pale. waning moon. She was
close by, with her courses, topsails, lib
and fore-and-aft mainsail set, but with
her foreyard laid to the wind as she
lay to. Then ! heard the rattle of the
blocks and tackle, as boat descended
from the stern davits with a splash
into the sea.
"Cheerily, now, my lads, give way"
cried the voice I had heard before:
''pull to windward round this craft, and
overhaul her"
There's man in the fore-rigging!"
cried another. H..
Then stand by In the bow with the
boat hook"
strove to speak, to shout: but my
voice was gone.
Spring into the sea-" cried q voice;
do you hear me, you sir-you In the
fore-rigging there? Jump in; we can
not sheer alongside craft that pitches
about like a cork in such sea as
this"
Don't fear. my lad" cried others;
well pick you up"
But was powerless, blinded by
spray; and though unable to respond,
clutched the rattlins with fatuous en-
ergy. Then strong hands were laid
upon me, and I felt myself dragged into
the boat.
Shove off. shove off--give way! this
craft will sink in a minute" cried some
one; give way for the brig!" and just
as they turned the head of the boat to- ]
ward their vessel, the. Dutch schooner
appeared to right herself; there was
crash as her deck burst up, and then a
sob seemed to mingle with the air
that was expelled from her hold as she
filled and went down like a stone. M
Though l. had been so long unseen,
! afterward learned that at this time
there were not less than fifteen sail
in sight Of the vessel which picked me
up.
CHAPTER ".
The Eugenie.
After being conveyed on board, hot
SN,,,, r,o