The Chanute times., 1899-03-24

we gere now left to our own exertionA
and had no other warnings but those
tho appearance of the heavens gave
u.s."
"And they warn us now" observed
Hlllebrant. "See how that bank OF
clouds has risen within these fve min
utes-the moon has escaped from 1t,
but it will soon catch her again-and
see, there Is fash of lightning in tho
northwest"
"Well, my sons, can brave the ele-
ments as well as any man, and 90 my
best. / have cared little for gales or
stress of weather; but / like not sucn
warning as we have had tonight. MY
heart is heavy as lead, and that's the
truth. Philip send down for the bot
tie of schnapps, If it is only to clear
my brain a little"
Philip was glad Of an opportunity to
quit the poop; he wished to have rev
minutes to recover himself and collect
his own thoughts.
Philip remained below not more than
hale an hour. On his return to the
deck. what a change had taken place!
He had left the vessel floating motion
less on the still waters, with her LOFTY
sails hanging down listlessly from the
Yards. The moon then scared alcft in
her beauty, rejecting the masts ana
sails of the ship in extended lines upon
the smooth sea. Now all was dark;
the water ripplod short and broke IN
foam; the smaller and lofty sails had
bean taken in, and the vessel was
cleaving through the water; and the
wind, in fitful gusts and angry moan
ings. proclaimed too surely that 1t hau
been awakened up to wrath, and was
gathering in strength for destruction
The men were still busy reducing the
sails. but they worked gloomily and
discontentedly. What Schriften, the
pilot, had said to them, Philip knew
not; but that they avoided him and
appeared to look upon him with feel
ings of ill-will was evident. And each
minute the gale increased.
It was an interminably long and ter
rible night-they thought the day
would never come. At last the dark
ness gradually changed to settled
sullen, gray gloom-which was day.
They looked at each other, but found
no comfort in meeting each other
eyes. There was no one countenance
in which beam of hope could be
found lurking. They were all DOOM
ed-they remained crouched Where
they had sheltered themselves during
the night, and said nothing.
The sea had now risen mountains
high, and more than one had struck
the ship abaft. Kloots was at the bin
nacle. Hillebrant and Philip at the
helm, when wave curled high over
the quarter and poured itself in re-
sistless force upon the deck. The
captain and his two mates were swept
away and dashed almost senseless
against the bulwarks-the binnacle
and compass were broken into frag-
ments-no one ran to the helm-the
vessel broached to-the seas broke
clear over her and the mainmast went
by the board.
All was confusion. Capt Kloots
was stunned, and it was with difficulty
that Philip could persuade two of the
men to assist him down below. Hille-
brant had been more unfortunate-his
right arm was broken and he was 9TH
erwise severely bruised. Philip assist
ed him to his berth, and then went
on deck again to try and restore or
der.
Philip Vanderdecken was not much
of a seaman, but, at all events, he ex-
ercised that moral influence over the
men which is ever possessed by reso-
luton and courage. Obey willingly
they did not, but they did obey, and in
half an hour the vessel was clear OF
the wreck. Eased by the loss of her
heavy mast, and steered by two of her
best seamen, she again flew before the
gale.
(To be continued.)
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