The Bourbon news., 1899-04-21

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black dot, which could only be a sail!
My heart gave great jump, and
could have shouted, but in the end
contented myself with saying two or
three times profoundly: "Thank
God!" and with that stood quietly on
my straddled legs, waiting for the next
rise of the raft. My companions had
given over their talking, and seemed
to be holding themselves in patience,
as L was, only that. think, Mr.. lynn
spoke to me as I stood about for my
balance, and so drew his notice. The
raft swung to the top of the crest, and
as it tipped for the next slide we all
looked eagerly for the black dot.
There it was, as distinct as ever, and
beyond any manner of doubt the mar
row-wise view of ship! We cried out
in kind of cheer, and then fell to
asking with eagerness how long she
had been in sight.
Il raised her but a moment since"
answered the captain. ''She showed
first as you see her, and must therefore
be bows-on. But, pray you, pass me
my glass. and / will see what further
can be made of her"
FASTENED TO fetch his glass from his
box of instruments, and when the next
lift Of the raft was he brought it to
bear.
Mr.. Tym and I hung on his words
for it was an anxious moment, and
presently felt a vast relief when he
broke out:
"Yes, large ship, and bows-on. She
can scarce be above four or five miles
away. and so she does not change her
course should fetch up to us within an
hour"
could not restrain step or two of
sailors shuttle at this, so great was
my delight. and Mr.. lynn smiled.
Let us have down the SAIL pur-
sued the captain, for now it does us.
no good, and puts us to the labor of
steering"
l perceived with this that the wind
had indeed hauled much to the north,
and was therefore driving us cOntin-
ually to leeward. [ jumped to the
sail and Shut it up to the mast and
whipped the sheet round it. BY this
time quite sharp airs were blowing,
and the heads of the seas had come up
in a sort to fling the spray in small
showers over us. We did not much
heed this, and drew together in the
middle of the raft, and while we kept
an eye out for the ship, continued our
discourse.
Il mistrust she is a Spaniard," said
the captain. ''She may well come from
| the Florida coast"
Il wish you might be wrong" said l,
''for the Spanish have no love for us at
this time. There has been too much
doing by the buccaneers"
Yet we could speak them fair" said
Mr.. Tym. land if pushed to it COM
pound with them in some small man
ner of ransom. I could raise a sum,
given d little time"
Marry" said I, quite with a light
heart. for the prospect of escape had
flown like wine into my head, Il am
for them. ransom or no ransom. Bet
ter living slave than dead sailor"
We continued to use the glass by
turns and to discuss the thing, till at
last we had raised the ship to her hull.
She was standing fairly toward us, all
her sails, including tOpgallant sails,
| spread, and looked to be a large, light
! floating craft.
She has bow ports" said the cap
tain, who had the glass, though they
are scarce visible, as she is painted.
| Nay. but we must lose no more time.
let her be what she may. Take a
piece of this canvas, Master Ardick,
and display it from the mast"
l speedily had a distress flag flying.
"She sees u.s." cried Mr.. Tym, who
| had the glass. There is a line of
heads along the forward bulwarks,"
he went on, land fellow with a tele-
scope is climbing the fore rigging"
She came along fast, her yards all
but square, and studding sails hung
| out alOft. Her tall bows sent up a
great boiling of white, which sheared
smoothly right and left as she came
nearer, though with many plumes Of
spray, and in this gallant style she
stOrmed down till, at last, being but
a gunshOt off, she clewed up some sail,
| put down her helm, and, with her long
J broadside swung around, came drift
| ing down upon us.
a man in dark attire, with trumpet
in his hand, climbed few feet up the
main rigging.
"Now we shall know what nation she
is" said Capt. Sellinger; but from
that steeple of poop and the poor
awkward ordering of those yards she
should be Spanish"
So, indeed, it seemed to prove. The
man presently hailed, and the speech
was Spanish.
! Raft ahoy!"
BOARD the ship!" beloved back
the captain. Nay, but I can go no
further" he said, with laugh. 81 have
scarce any Spanish. Do you finish the
| business"
He addressed me, and I sprang up
and stood in his room. The ship had
rapidly drifted down and was already