The Pioche weekly record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1877-1900, 1899-12-21
DICK RODNEY;
Or. The Adventures of
An Eton Boy.
BY JAMES GRANT
zee seteese
BY JAMES GRANT.

rapidity with which it approached, /
passed away into the sky; the cham
Der of the thunder" as the bard OF /
Coma names il. became again clear. |
blue and starry. though marked by oc-
easional masses Of flying vapor. The
rain ceased. and the Eugene heaved |
upon a foam covered sea, over which |
there passed, from time to time. short |
squalls, compelling us to lower the
double reefed topsails and run before
the wind.
Now a stiff glass of grog was served
round to all. and by turns we contriv
ed to get some dry clothing.
In the end OF the middle watch
about four o'clock a. m.-there was
suddenly visible upon our larboard
bow a faint and vapory light that
shot upward in the sky from time to
time, like jets of steam.
This singular appearance was high
above the horizon, and first caught the
anxious eye of Capt Weston.
"Hah! do you see that?" said he to
me
What is it,"
"The Peak of Adam-Teneriffe."
THE great volcanic peak in the For
4 tunate Isles?"
"Old Tenny Reef in the Canaries, we
/ calls it, sir said Tattooed Tom. who
i was at the wheel. 1T amt volcano
now; but it can't give over its old
/ trade of smoking altogether, and blows
/ up steam like screw propeller or just
+ as whale does water through his
spiracles.'
Tom means what the Spaniards
/ term the ventas, or nostrils, of the
peak, through which the aqueous va
pors come with a buzzing sound, and
these cause species OF light" said
Hislop.
We'll thank heaven, though we are
far out of our course, that blast has
done no more than wet our storm
jackets and scrape some of our paint
off,"
I'VE have come out of 1t uncommon
we'll, sir" said Tom, as he stood with
his feet planted firmly apart on the
deck, his hard brown hands grasping
the wheel. with the helm amidships.
as we were still before the wind, and
the light of the binacle flaring upward
on his weather. beaten face, with its
strange zebra-like stripes-at least, on
so much Of his grim visage as the peak
of his sou-wester and a scarlet cravat
that was round his throat and jaws
permitted us to see. The last time
was in such breeze was a pampero
off the mouth of the Rio de la Plata,
but then we had our foresail split to
ribbons, and the ship was canted over
on her beam ends, almost. The main
sail was blown right out of the men s
hands, and tapped in the sky like
thunder, while the craft-a five hun
dred ton ship she was and all copper
fastened-was just on the point of cap
sizing, when with a crash that made
our hearts ache, snap went the jibboom
and topmasts off at the caps, just as
you'd break 'bacca-pipe at the bowl.
She righted after that; but four of our
best men were swept away to leeward
. and never seen again. And now, Mas
ter Rodney, with all your book learn
J ing, or you Master Hislop, with all
; yours, can you tell the why such things
: as tornadoes, hurricanes. pamperos and
= the like, are sent to torment the poor
&, hard working fellows such as me?"
: Il can" said Hislop, turning his
handsome, but wet and weather beat
en- face to the steersman.
. You can, SIR" reiterated Tom loudly
and incredulously.
l Yes, in four lines. Listen:
" Perhaps this storm was sent with
healing breath,
From distant chimes to scourge diseas,
and death:
IT'S ours on Thine unerring laws t.
I trust;
With thee, great Lord whatever is, i
just"
Faith, you are right, sir" said hon
est Tom Lambourne, touching his tar
p, ry hat in respect to the mate, mingle,
! with that piety which, in his own rug
i ged way, seaman is never without.