Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-09

terest IN either ran high; friendship Tor one
and love for the other had fallen with my
nerve force into latent state, and bare.
ly responded to their needs-to my own
responded not at all. Mechanically went
to the deck, only to meet the same lead
overhead and the same towering majesty
of water, neither of which impressed ME
than / have since been by fiat calm The
pitiless rain in my face and eyes would
rouse in me dull sense of discomfort, just
as a sleeping child unconsciously resents dis
turbance, but that was all. would go be-
low, meeting the lackluster eyes of the sail
ors, who had also sought shelter in the
cabin, and the deathlike forms of the two
on the floor, and feel that we were all sink
ing into the languor of starvation and pro.
longed strain.
By the end of the third day the Phan-
tom was practically a floating wreck, though
for all could see not line had parted, nor
a spar, other than the topmast, been dis.
placed. But there was no longer buoyant
lift to her bows, and the seas ran danger
ously near the level of the deck-a fact that
plainly spoke of water in the hold, it hav.
ing drained from above or leaked between
her strained planks. There had been no at
tempt at pumping, for no man could have
stood at the brakes in the deluge that came
aboard, and now we were settling, helped
nightly by the nature of our cargo. But
the knowledge of it gave me no trouble, nor
was there a comment made on the fact,
though to three of us at least the condi-
tions were clearly apparent.
On the night of August IA I went below,
fully expecting that but few hours would
elapse ere we went to the bottom. Once
H. IL
and quick apprehension, living sensibil-
flash of driving sparks in burned-out tin.
der, but without enough heat or force to
rout me to action. / slept heavily, as one
sleeps in the fumes of burning charcoal,
dead to harm or happiness, and was walked
from dream of feasting by the sound of a
report like that made by bursting sail.
Half conscious I crawled to the deck to
see what had happened. The dawn was
well forward, a strip of bright sky of pearly
clearness heralding the sun which was al
ready scattering the clouds aloft. Patches
of the deepest blue, fecked with fine vapor
like clothed cream sailing far above the rap.
idly dissolving storm wrack, foretold fine
weather. The wind had sunk to almost a
calm, and was blowing soft warm breath
from the west. The sea was vast series
of hills and valleys, their crests no longer
like teeth, and so rhythmical was their run
that the half-submerged vessel swung with
the regularity of pendulum, only at times
swollen surge brmming over the bows,
sending cascade to the deck. Just Wis.,
ible to the north was clear, dark, indigo
colored lift of land, which instantly knew
to be Mentauk point, and even my dull
senses responded to the knowledge of the
wonderful drift we had made.
noted these details with slow, dreamy
satisfaction, but on turning my gaze south.
ward, became fully alive to the fact that
the awakening day had put period to our
misery. There on our larboard quarter, two
cable lengths away, lay schooner twice the
| size of the Phantom, her sides pierced for
guns, and forward of her foremost the brine.
| furnished brass of her pivoted rifle stood
| out against the horizon. She had luffed
| into the gentle breeze, and all her sails were
| shivering and swinging as she bowed to the
swells. From her main peak blew out the
| flag of the United Colonies and over her
| tatfrail was drifting the tawny smoke of the
shot that had aroused me.
| For a space ! stood like man of stone,
my look fixed on the ensign SO long stranger
to me. AS gazed at the gorgeous bunting
my heart rose in my throat, the tears welled
from my eyes, the frost which had long
bound me suddenly thawed, and, putting all
my remaining power to my voice, gave vent
to wild shout, threw both arms above my
head, and staggered below.
That night, under her own remaining can
vas, the Phantom sailed into the harbor of
Holmes Hole and dropped her spare anchor.
We had been rescued by the American pri-
vateer Jenny, of New London, out of that
port bound home with prisoners and booty
after four months cruise.
With my story told, there had been
enough help offered to equip me for voy-
age to the Indies, but asked for only pro-
visions, water, fuel, and couple of hands,
determined to gather to myself the glory
which had well-ngh slipped my grasp. We
were freed from the load of water taken
in during the storm, the Jenny standing
by and lending men to the work until the
pumps sucked" and then, promising not to
lose sight of us until we entered Vineyard
sound, stood for her home port.
Not word did say about the two sail
ors whom l had captured, and who had
served me well. The doctor had found half
dead from fright, the effects of his debauch,
starvation and seasickness, and deter
mined to hold him myself still as prisoner
on parole. had no idea of transferring
Ames or his sister, for l doubted Il the
Jenny, crowded as she was, would prove
more comfortable than the Phantom. The
remainder of the trip would be short; at
my own home there would be the best OF
nursing, and my surgeon prisoner would
make fair attendant, if he could be kept
sober, matter l would take in my own
hands.
There were other reasons why would not
consent to be separated from my friends
even had they been willing (Which they
were noD, the weightiest of which not being
the danger of transshipment, but one l
deemed unnecessary to mention, and which
as vet would not fully acknowledge to NV.