El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-10-07
PAGES 9 TO IL.
before the breeze.

before the breeze.
Yet how was it, we all asked. that
there was not a breath of wind with
us?
Perhaps she brings it with her."
suggested His1op.
And how it came to pass that she
appeared right in the offing and out
side the bay all at once?' asked Tom
Lambourne.
'tShe must have rounded the high
bluff while we were all palavering,"
said Probart.
It is impossible for me to describe
the blank establishment, 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 poor
fellows rallied sufficiently to speak on
the subject; and meanwhile, there
flashed upon my memory some strange
and weird old Celtic tales, which a
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 Morven with equal ia
cility.
IL Is d Sulp-OT rather the repre-
sentation of veritable ship-which
cannot be far off the island. and is
making for it at this moment" said
Hislop, emphatically.
How far do you think she is, sir?"
asked Hugh Shute, mockingly.
Perhaps twenty miles-perhaps
hundred-it is impossible to say
So thoroughly were our companions
hv
ance, which they connected in some
way with the dreadful character of
Antonio ell Cubano, that they at once
commenced with alacrity the prepara-
tons for putting to sea.
1t may be that somewhat of the pro-
fessional restlessness of sailors con-
firmed their resolution.
They were already tired of their So
journ 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 lfnger long
enough before they were taken off by
a passing ship-quite as long as if they
remained on the Isle of Alphonso-and
where for subsistence they would be
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 if cast there they would die of
starvation. Moreover, without char;
or compass, how could they hope to
steer with certainty in any direction?
They all mignl perish in detail by
the most dreadful deaths in their open
boat, gasping with unquenched thirst
under the blaze of a tropical sun. He
said much more; but they would listen
to nothing save their own fears and
restless impulses.
l. too, was weary of the island: and
though feeling all the despondency
that follows severe disappointment
on the disappearance of the illusory
ship, 1 in no way shared the wild and
ill-regulated wishes of the crew.
though assured that 1 would be com
PEELED to follow their desperate for
tunes
Hislop and 1 still fingered; so we
were told peremptorily that if we did
not come on board at once they would
shove off without us. Thus compelled
we stepped in most reluctantly and
seated ourselves in the stern, and he
assumed the t1ller. The oars were run
through the rowlocks, and Lambourne
was about to shove off, 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,
1 jumped ashore, and was proceed
;vc ~
denly 1 was confronted by Antonio.
who from a 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 a due effect upon the
boats crew at this crisis
'Shove off-shove off, 1 heard sew
eral voices cry in the boat; here
comes that dog of Cubano."
l 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
within him.
The whole crew saw this, and 1 per-
ceived that Marc Hislop made an at
tempt to rise up and spring overheard
to my succor; but as all their hopes of
reaching Tristan da Cunha depended
entirely upon his skill and knowledge
of navigation, he was seized by War
rem, Chute and others, roughly thrust
down in the stern sheets and forcibly
held there
COW, Now