Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1899-01-20

"Heave her short!" shouted the cap
tain. ''Heave her short!" repeated the
mate, and the pawls of the wirdlass be-
gan to rattle.
Loosen salt" followed, and the men
sprang into the rigging. Everything
was cleared to let 60, and all hands,
except man on each yard to stay the
hunt, scampered back to the deck.
"All ready aloft?" hailed the mate.
"All ready!" answered the fellows on
the yards.
LET go!" and the ship flashed out
white, and stood clothed in the waves of
loose canvas. Then the chief topsails
were set, the yards trimmed, and the
anchor finally brought to head. She
steadied quickly to her work, and as
she climbed away the light canvas was
rapidly put out.
In short time the watches were APP
pointed, and the business of putting the
ship in order and otherlik things of the
beginning of a voyage attended to, and
q fter that had little breathing space
and slipped down to my cabin. I had
small berth in the aftermost part of the
tween decks, and here l found my
clothes-bag and other effects, and pro-
ceeded to sling hammock (preferring
it to either of the hunks the berth con;
tained), and sat down to have brief
smoke.
Mysmoke over, Istrollcd for bit into
the forecastle, and then went again on
deck, where l found the wind rather
gathering strength and quite stiff sea
running. We reefed the topsails. and
by that time supper was called. The
rest of the evening passed without in
cident l turned in early, as my watch
was to be called at eight bells, and.
when the time came, crawled out
mighty sleepy, but full OF zeal, and SO
kept my four hours. At daylight all
hands had to be called, as there was
heavy wind, which was vcrging on half
a gale, and we whipped down the main
sail and the great lateen, and before
we were done had to be satisfied with
Il reefed main topsail. bit OF forcsail
and reefed sprit-topsail.
MARRY, but this is something bois-
ferrous for the narrow scas,' said
high pitched voice. behind me, as ]
stood holding on by the lashings of the
big gun and watching the turmoil.
l turned and saw the little super
cargo, who had just come out of the
cabin. He was balancing himself fear
lessly on his straddled legs, a long sea-
coat whipping about him. and his hand
clappcd upon his hat to keep both that
and his great curly wig from blowing
away.
"Aye. sir" I said, 'this is rough
| weather for the channel
81 saw worse once!" he shouted with
q kind of chuckle, and then imnediatc-
ly sucking in his lips, which L found
was way he had.
"And how was that?' ] asked, will
| ing to forget the weather for mo.
ment if could.
"Why. it was n matter of above 20
years ago" he replied. Things SO fell
out with me on that occasion that !
put to sea on q day even worse than
this in only small fishing sloop."
ut was beyond account rash" ]
commented. "It must have been q
strait, indeed, to bring you to it."
ut was to save my neck" nc an
4 swered, speaking this time close to my
1 ear, that he might talk with less strain.
You see, it was in the days of old
Noll, and had ventured into my ma
tive SUSSEX had forgotten to say
that the old tyrant had set price on
my head-and was forced to get speed
| lily out. Luckily. fellow-royalist was
| at hand and lent me a horse, and on
that I reached the seaside and thence
boarded this fisherman, upon which
put out. as said.''
"But the master of her" siaeried,
a little puzzled by that point in the
story, show did you prevail on him to
take such a risk?"
"How? Why. to be sure. with a pis-
toll at the head. He would listen no
| otherwise"
"And the crew? Had you no trouble
| with them?"
NAY. not whit. Ibid but point "a
other pistol at them-I had two hanffy
in those days-and they became NOR.
tractable."
"You deserved to escaped" ] criea,
admiringly. But what then? D:<s
you come TO close straits before yc'1
made the other :side?'
EYES," he answered, shaking hs
head. "and at last we had to cut ava
the mast. 1t is too long to dwell upo'>,
but the wind-up was we finally madn
France. 1t was hard by Calais, and VIC
had started from Eastbourne. Thefc
was much tedious pumping to do, aid
right slow progress under such sail as
we could put upon a jury-Inast.
"Is not that sail out yonder" He
broke off. and pointed toa white speck
on the northwestern scaboard, which
hung with such steadiness that I soon
decided that it was, indeed. Il sail. It
was nothing surprising or unexpected,
of course, here in the channei. and ]
gave no more heed to it at tie time.
Mr.. lynn shortly retired again 10 the
cabin, and the hard we1tering Of the
ship through the heavy seas went on.
The forenoon wore away. and IL was
abou: seven bells when, happening to
think of the sail had seen, wel't to
the rail to look for it. 1t was now ahout
on the lee bow, and much nearer, and
soon I could make out large ship
close hauled on the starboard tack. I
continued to watch her, and presently
l saw that she had altered her course
and was now steaming directly toward
us. / happened to glance toward the
poop where the captain and mate were
standing, and saw that the skipper
i L.. ella