Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1899-03-31

CHAPTER w. Continued.)
Y. On perceiving that I was awake, q
hand bell was rung by the captain, and
hot coffee, accompanied by the last
slice Of shore-bread that remained, was
brought to me by Billy, the cabin boy,
\ and then. after q time, was requested
to state what craft that was from
which I had been taken, my name, ana
SO forth, that Mr.. Hislop might enter
all the particulars among the re-
marks" in his log book.
soon satisfied them as to! all this.
'And where am now?'S / inquired.
pretty far out upon the open sea,
my lad, replied the captain. with
smile, as he threw the end OF his che
root into the empty crate. |
''The open sea-still the open seal"
I reiterated with dismay, which ] cared
not to conceal 4.
Eyes; we saw the last glimpse OF the
rugged Start on the day before yes
terday, and this morning. just ON hour
before picking You up, we babe good
bye to old England. for the Lizard
Light was bearing-you had the dead
watch, Hislop: how did it bear!
about twelve miles of, on the
weather quarter"
"How shall Ireturn home?"
They both laughed as despairingly
made this inquiry
by the way you left It, ! suppose;
that Is by water" said Capt. Weston.
you spoke Of the Start; what is
that?"
"A cape Of the Channel, on the
southeast coast of Devonshire, about
nine miles to the southwark Of Dart
mouth" he replied, while casting cas-
ual glance at chart which lay on the
table In u.
had thus, before being rescued SO
providentially, drifted more than a
hundred miles from Erlesmere, and it
was marvellous that the schooner had
foated SO far unseen. 4 2
Well, what is to be done now?"
asked the captain. I'VE are bound for
the, West Indies, but we may put you
aboard the first craft that passes us,
homeward- bound; or you are free to
remain, II we cannot do better for
you" II Il
thought of my mother, my father,
my two sisters; and my heart was SO
full of gratitude to heaven for preserv-
ing me to the end, that might see
and embrace them all again, that I had
no words to reply. After time ex-
claimed: 5SsIl, Z
Home, home!-let me 60 home to
Erlesmere! weeping as | spoke, for
the thought of them all made me very
child again.
The captain and tmate exchanged
glances OF inquiry. a.
tits no use piping your eye now, my
lad" said the former, coming toward
my berth; "but answer me quietly. You
said that your name was Rodney?"
EYES,"
"And you spoke Of Erlesmere; are
you a son Of old DR.. Rodney. the rec
tor? J:
90 you know my father, then!" I
exclaimed.
Cant say exactly that I have the
honor of being known to him; but I
know of him, right we'll. Why, Master
Rodney, / have sailed your uncle's
ships many time, and know his
gloomy old Office in the city, as well
as the buoy at the More; so you are as
safe and as welcome aboard the Eu-
genie as II in the old rectory house at
home" ~.
This was pleasant intelligence, at all
events; but my earnest desire was to
return-a design which was not fated
to be speedily gratifled.
For several days we passed only out
ward-bound vessels, or others which
were at such a distance that the task
Of signaling and speaking with them
would have delayed the Eugene longer
than Capt. Weston could risk. Two
that passed near us, when we showed
our ensign, replied by displaying the
tricolor of France or the red and yell
low bars of Spain; so there was moth
ing for me nov but to remain content
eddy on board the Eugenie, which was
bound for Matanzas with solid cargo
Of steam machinery and coal.
The master had no doubt of getting
return freight direct for London;
thus six or eight months might elapse
before could return to Erlesmere.
I gradually became reconciled to the
novelty Of my situation; / looked for
ward hopefully to the time when the
sorrow Of those had left behind would
be alleviated, and began to enjoy to
the utmost the prospect of a voyage in
. spanking brig to the shores OF Cuba.