Rocky Ford enterprise., 1899-06-01
proceeded methodically to nsh them

proceeded methodicaily to fsh them
on board.
We procured strong lines. baited the
hooks with pieces OF pork. lashing
thereto 4 buoy formed Of a common
cork. and lowered four OF them over
the stern.
They had scarcely touched the
water. when amid a furious Tapping
Of heavy pinions. they were eagerly
swallowed: the hooks and lines began
to bear taughtly. and we soon had four
gigantic albatrosses splashing the
water into froth In their ineffectual
efforts to escape.
We towed them In. hand over hand.
and after measurement found the
smallest to be eleven feet from the tip
OF one wing to the tip of the other.
Though rank and fishy in flavor. the
flesh OF these birds was made into
sea-pies. on which the crew were re.
called for two days after. and they par
took OF 1t with great apparent relish.
But Jack Is not very particular. es-
pecially when at sen.
Though none Of the crew shared the
superstition connected with the de-
struction OF an albatross. and probably
none. save Hislop and myself. knew
the splendid ballad written by Coler-
idge. 1t would seem US II our misfor-
tunes commenced with that days wan
ton sport!
The huge sea birds became shy and
left us. The sun set amid saffron-col-
ored waves. and the western sky was
all aflame, when the sails began to
fill and collapse as the wind came In
heavy puffs. causing the masts to sway
from side to side. and the bellying
courses to crack and flap with n sound
like thunder.
At last there came steady breeze;
the courses were left fall. and with
both sheets aft. for the wind was fair.
the Eugene once more walked through
the shining waters.
Full. round. and silvery the moon
arose. and tipped with liquid light
every wave. that seemed to dance on
ward with the brig. which In half an
hour had the snow-white foam flying
in sheets over her catheads.
1t was about the hour OF In the
morning that the horrible events
which l am about to relate occurred.
was In the middle watch, relieving
Weston. who. as the tropical dews
were heavy, always ordered Billy the
cabin boy to give me glass of bran
dy-and-water before going on deck. for
fear Of ague. and then he turned in.
The sullen Spaniard Antonio was at
the wheel. Tom Lambourne, Ned Carl
ton and I were walking to and fro,
lettering at times. and looking at the
compass to see how she headed-now
| aloft to observe how the sails drew
anon over the side. where the water
bubbled merrily past, or ahead at the
patch Of blue and star-studded sky
which was visible under the leach of
the fore-course, as the briggs bow filled
every now and then. and she rolled
heavily from side to side. as all ves-
sells do when running before the wind.
All was very still, for. save the bub-
BILE OF the water in the wake astern,
or a gurgle as 1t surged up in the rud-
der case. the creaking of n block, or
the iron slings of the lower yards. not
sound stole upon the first hour of
the silent morning.
Two OF the albatrosses we had
caught were hanging by the legs from
the gallows-top abaft the foremost,
where their great extended wings
swung somewhat mournfully to and
fro in the wind and by the motion of
the ship.
Cro be coatinued)