The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-01-27

n fallen overheard to lee
ward. So l soaked the moldy biscuit
IN the brandy, ate it, and went on deck,
in time to see the sun set at the watery
horizon, from whence it cast a long
and tremulous line Of yellow splendor
along the dancing waves, to where the
schooner floated in her loneliness,
Night followed, and one by d. the
stars appeared in the mighty blue dome
overhead; there vas NJ moon as yet,
and l thought of hosting a light at the
mainmast head, but where were a Ian
tern and matches to be found?
l thought also of lifting the fore
hatch to explore the forepart of the
schooner, but l felt too feeble and sick
at heart, and now with the coming of
the shadow of night a ghost story Of
the Dutch skipper required to me.
Thirst Was now becoming an agony,
and l inhaled the dewy atmosphere in
vain, for its property vas saline, and
seemed to make my sufferings greater;
but happily it induced a drowsiness. l
crept below, and seeking the bed in the
captains berth, drew the clothes over
me and strove to sleep-and so weary
was l that sleep came.
How long l slept do not know, but
l vas suddenly reused by a violent
lurch of the schooner.
On reaching the deck, I found that
a gale had again come on, and that the
sea was whitened with foam, amid
which the seabirds were blown wildly
hither and thither; that the moor was
now on the wane, and shed a cold,
weird light between the black masses
Of flying scud, upon the tumbling bA-
lows and the empty schooner, which
yet floated b%uoyantly enough. But she
now careened fearfully to port. I fore
saw that unless the masts were cut
away a capsize was inevitable, for the
wild wind howled over the waste of
seething water, and the schooner
groaned and trembled as wave after
ave Numbered on her empty and re-
sounding hull.
Notwithstanding my weakness, I en-
deavored to tighten the brailing of the
fore and aft foresail; but how vain
was lIlC dlLc11lpL. Int IuOll1CuI L It.
moved the rope from the Delaying pin
it was torn from my hand; the whole
sail fell heavily loose, and swelled out
upon the wind. 1t Tapped with a
sound like thunder in the blast, and
in a moment the deck seemed to pass
from under my feet, and I was strug-
Cling alone in the midnight sea.
To the horror of being drowned was
now added that of being devoured by
the fishes.
A cry to heaven escaped me, as I
rose painting and almost breathless and
struck out to prolong existence. The
sea repealed and buoyed me up, for it
is by no means sc easy to sink as many
persons imagine.
The schooner was lying now COM
pletely on her beam ends to port; her
masts and half her deck were in the
water. 1t had filled the body Of the
loosened sail, and served to keep her
steady, but still the waves washed
wildly over the hull. I knew she must
soon fill and go down; yet so strong is
the instinct of self-preservation that I
soon reached the foremost, climbed
into the now horizontal rigging, and
seated myself OF the row Of dead eyes,
through which the shrouds are rove,
clutching them with wild tenacity,
while drenched, cold, and despairing.
The spray flew over me, thick as
rain, but bitter, heavy and binding.
How long I could have survived I
know not; but l felt as one in a dread
full dream and acted with the decision
and irmness with which We often seem
to acquaint ourselves amid the most
fantastic situations created by the
fancy in sleep.
Suddenly, amid the stupor that was
coming over me, I heard a voice and
saw a large brig looming between me
and the pale, waning noon. She was
close by, with her courses, topsails, jib
and fore-and-aft mainsail set, but with
her foreyard laid to the wind as she
lay to. Then I heard the rattle of the
blocks and tackle, as a boat descended
from the stern davits with a splash
into the sea.
"Cheerily, now, my lads, give way!"
cried the voice 1 had heard before;
pull to windward round this craft, and
overhaul her"
"There'> a man in the fore-rigging!"
cried another.
"Then stand by in the bow with the
boat-hook."
I strove to speak, to shout; but my
voice was zone.
"Spring into the sea-" cried a voice;
edo you hear me, you sir-you in the
fore-rigging there? Jump in; we can
lot sheer alongside a craft that pitches
about like a cork in such a sea as
this"
Don't fear, my lad" cried others;
well pick you up"
But was powerless, blinded by
spray; and though unable to respond,
clutched the rattlins with fatuous en-
ergy. Then strong hands were laid
upon me, and felt myself dragged into