Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-19
stood full. Lines were hastily cast Oh,

stood full. Lines were hastily cast Oh,
the tugs whistle gave short blast as
u parting salute, and, with graceful
nod of her sharp bow in return, the
bark shot toward the open water, with
every square inch of canvas pulling at
the sheets, and the captain rubbing his
horny palms with delight at the pros
pect Of fine departure.
John Avery was an old sailor, and the
motion of the vessel caused him no in
convenience, but Tom was soon
stretched in his bunk, where he re-
NAMED the better part Of two days,
while the Seabird flew along before the
not belle her name.
When he managed to get on deck
Cape Cod was more than 300 miles
astern, and already the weather was
beginning to grow milder. A few days
more made him completely well, and
long before the equator was reached
he had acquired quite professional
roll and felt perfectly at home.
OF the mate he saw very little, as the
latter stood watch and watch with the
second officer, being on deck every
other four hours, night and day. Mr..
Green, the second mate, was bright,
active young man about Toms age, and
the two became very friendly as the
Seabird sped steadily to the southwark.
1t seemed as If old Neptune had made
an extra effort to help the vessel along,
for she escaped the customary Gains
near the line and caught the southeast
trades the same day she lost those from
the northeast which had served her so
we'll. No incident of Importance &C.
Cured to break the monotony of the
voyage, and as they stood by the wheel
one noon when Capt. Coffin was taking
his observation he announced that they
were as far south of the line as Boston
was north Of it.
Then he went below to look at the
glass, cast a careful glance around the
horizon, and went below once more,
only to reappear on deck.
"There amt cloud in the sky" he
said, bluntly, 'but the glass is going
down as though the bottom had
dropped out of everything. We're go
ing to catch it, as sure as my name is
Seth Coffin. My glass never lied to me
yet"
Gradually the wind died out, until the
Seabird lay becalmed, rising and fall
ing on the swell, but the sky remained
clear. The barometer continued to fall
in an alarming manner, and after an
hour the heat became oppressive.
Then from all quarters of the horizon
mass Of white clouds arose, until they
presented the appearance of huge
mountains of snow, darkening as they
assembled, and massing together until
they formed canopy overhead, en-
tirely concealing the blue sky above,
Soon they deepened until the whole
heavens were solidly black, as if GOV.
cred with folds of velvet. In a few
! places, however, the color seemed te
vary to a dark, purplish gray, as one
edge of an overlapping cloud was ex
posed.
| Long before this time all hands were
on deck, and the Seabird was stripped
| for the battle with the elements. What
ever his other faults, Obed Rider wa.
u good seaman, and, with but few
suggestions from the captain, he hae
made everything snug, only close
reefed maintopsail and storm staysai
showing aft, while portion of thu
foretopmast staysail stood out whit
and clear against the gloomy back
i ground, in readiness to pay her head of
when needed.
There was painful stiffness, broker
only by the mournful monotone in tn,
rigging which always precedes hurri
cane, as though the craft knew her dan
! ger and tried to utter her feeble pro
test against the forces of nature.
| Suddenly, far above the mastheads
sounded an unearthly scream, as If tn
storm demons had united in sounding
the charge. Still the sails hung idly
and not breath of air could be felt.
| Then in the far distance a long
bright streak suddenly illuminated tn
horizon, increasing with marvellous ra
pidity until all could see what seemed
to be an endless line Of rolling snow
/ 1t was impossible to bring the vessel
head up to meet the danger withou
| wind, and she lay helpless in Its path
rolling uneasily about on the disturbe'
sea.
And now the roar of the storm coul
be heard as the line Of foam swept OF
| over the darkened sea with friQhtfu
velocity. Louder and louder came tn
noise, and the surface of the water be
hind the advancing line was like vas
sheet Of snow fattened down by tn
force of the wind.
Nearer and nearer came the ghastl
line, while every man stood, at his pos
in silence Suddenly the capital
roared:
\ Hard up your wheell Hard up!"
The two men who grasped the spoke
had barely time to obey the order wher
. with shrek of wind and rush of boi
!. ing water, the white line struck tn
bark and pressed her over until til
!. wards touched the surface to beware
The storm staysail and maintopsa
were rent to ribbons, but the head sa
t held, and, as the stanch bark slowl
: righted, this caused her to pay slowl
off, and she gathered Roadway at tt
{, same time. Slowly at first and the
! with increasing speed she bounde
!, along before the hurricane.
And now the sea began to rise in a
d VI L