Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1899-12-16

would float, az the y Ind and sea vess
evidently rising together, and to re-
main on board was almost as danger
Gus and hopeless. l had the risk OF
drowning by her capsixing, or lying on
her beam ends In the water. and so
laundering and going down.
A plank might start In her sheatbipg
she might even then be filing by
some uncaulked leak. had no idea
OF the state OF her hold, and for many
reasons feared she might sink before
daybreak, and before my perilous SIT
uation could be discovered from the
shore.
The waves were black as ink; the
sky was moonless overhead, but the
pale, white stars winked and twinkled,
and were reflected in the trough of the
ocean. Now. ! could perceive foam
cresting the tops OF the waves, and
knew that the breeze was increasing
TO a gale-a gale that was blowing
from the land
This added to my despair. for the
lights ] had seen soon disappeared. aud
the dark outline OF the coast seemed
TO sink lower and 10 blend with the
sea. Clutching the weather rigging,
could scarcely keep my feet, so slip
4 perry was the now wetted deck, and so
cold and benumbed we're my hands and
arms by the chill atmosphere of the
ocean. and by the salt spray which
ever and anon flew over me in bitter,
| briny showers.
! ! shouted. but the mocking wind bore
| my voice away to seward. With de-
spairing eyes | swept the dusky water,
In the hope OF seeing a vessel, fishing
boat. or the light OF steamer near
but gazed, with haggard glance, in
/ vain
bad no hope now but to wait for
dawn OF day. and when 1t came, where
might ] and the empty schooner be?
Fortunately, her topmasts were struck,
her foreyard was lowered. and all hex
gear made tolerably snug. Her can
vas. however, was only in the brails
and portion of the fore and AFT
for~sail having got loose, Il
was swelled gu; by the blast
and kept her head partially be
fore the wind. thus accelerating the
rate at which she was borne from tn.
land. and being without trimming Of
ballast. she danced over the waves
as ! have said, like a cork, but in mo
mentary danger OF capsizing and foun
dering. A dawn drew near, the COLI
increased so much that. though at tn
: risk OF being passed unseen by som,
coaster. ! Was fain TO creep on m,
: hands and knees to the companion
hatch. and descend into the -1l~,.
II Was darker ncs sAGn ever, for tn
lamp had gone out
"0h. e - ashorei" ] exclaimed pan
esor~tsrr. with elasped hands: ashore
and free from this floating prison,
thought of my gentle and lovinI
mother. and my soul seemed to di
within me. The schooner would b
missed by daybreak-the alarm woul
be given: her alarm would rapidly be
come irrepressibie anxiety. whie
would soon turn to despair tina
J nothing could alleviate.
Sounds like thunder. or like tremeR
dous blows. at times made me star
These were caused by billets OF woot
or pieces of pig-iron pitching about |
the hold of the schooner as she role
g and lurehed and righted herself TO TO
and lurch again.
l. For time | covered miserably
: the dark cabin. until my childish feal
overmatched reason. and | crept ono
: more upon deck.
A regular gale was blowing now, an
. the schooner careened fearfully b.
u meath It on her starbosrd side. whit
the bellying Of that portion OF the fol-
! and aft foresail which had got LOOT
y aided in hurrying her faster out to sc
The light OF the coming day WI
e spread In dull gray over the sky, In
partins the same cold tint to the viii
e enIng waves. Land was still visibl
y hut IL seemed like dark bank at Il
Ie horizon. supposed 1t to be about Il
miles distant, but what part of Il
II coast. or how far from Erlesmere.
knew not.
10 ITO be continued.)