Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-13

leave; but the wind settled mydTlemma, Tor
after a time, and when | was getting des-
perate, it whipped a point to larboard, and
in the half glimmer that now came from the
sea, which looked like dish Of froth, | saw
the foot of the staysail streaming over the
starboard bow.
How | dashed the wheel with the helm up
and got forward, | hardly know. IIemem-
Der it was like dragging against a stone wall
to get the sheet half way in, but did it, and
ran back again before we were fairly paid
off Now | dashed the helm down and put
my weight on the main sheet, but twas past
M power to move it a foot. As had no
wish TO lose time by running toward South
America, | bawled to the doctor to come up.
He did so in hurry, but demurred when
told him to lay hold Of the line and haul.
The sudden tongue lashing | gave him and a
sight Of my face in the light which poured
from the cabin made him think better Of his
manner, for he gripped the sheet and fell
back with it like born sailor. 1t was an
almighty tug as best, but grew easier as we
hauled into the wind, and when the line was
Delayed commanded him to take the wheel
while | sheeted home the staysail.
The veriest dulfer cannot follow the sea
for year in and out without learning some
thing Of the handling Of ships, and, though
McCary had probably never laid hand on a
spoke from necessity, he may have done SO
for pleasure, as he seemed TO know how to
hold the Phantom somewhere near the
winds eye. There was no difficulty, then,
in getting a proper trim to the head cloth,
and by the time the sheet was Delayed and
we stood off on the starboard tack the
schooner was well under way, her bows smit-
ing the seas, which had risen like magic, in
a way that threw a curtain Of solid water
INTO the air, which, catching the wind, blew
in and came aboard a doluge | was wet to
the skin before, but it was a dry wet as com
pared to the way the water shot through my
clothing, the drops singing my face like a
discharge OF small shot Even under scant
canvas and pointing as close as the schooner
would 90, she lay down to the blast until at
times the brine gurgled ID the lee scuppers
The channels sheared through the black seas
and turned up a smother of froth as they
tore along, while the noise of the roaring
wind and water was enough to deafen one.
Knowing that all now unsafe must be left
unsafe turned to get aft, when | be-
thought me of the men in the forecastle
During the past hour they had not entered
my mind, for had felt that had them Sc
cure. With the light they possessed, to-
gether with the rations | knew had been
supplied them, they were better off regard
ing comfort than though they had been
free seamen on duty. Other matters had
taken my attention, but now that | was for
ward | would give a look TO the hatch fas-
tening. 1t was right enough, and | laid my
car over the crack below the slide that
might hear if aught was amiss. Ay, there
was. a clear sound Of rasping and splinter
ing wood greeted me as ! stopped the other
ear with my hand to keep out the surround
ing racket, and had hit the spot on which
knife was at work.
Drawing my cutlass, with its Hit / smote
the woodwork The sound instantly ceased.
christening the slide, | drew it back AZ
inch Of more ana sang out through the open
ing:
Keep at it, my lads, and mAcr yc have
the hole the size q pistols barrel III put
one there and give We quick trip to Dayy
Jones. Mayhap We have heard of Donald
Thorndyke. Well, am he. Now mind
yOurseves,'
And now ! settled myself for a night Of it,
putting aside all matters save the ships
safety. was lucky to have d doctor in the
cabin to care for my sick; as for myself |
needed none. SO long as was holding cas-,
| cared little for the blow il nothing carried
away. | had hopes that the suddenness of
the storm bespoke its shortness, but never
did | dream it was affecting my destiny.
Beyond the clements | hId now little to
fear. and, as | knew my own boat as
mother knows her child, felt there was but
small danger Of her inability to weather the
gale.
But the tempest was not of usual temper
Its approach, its violence and duration were
beyond common rules, and had it held aloof
but day longer it would have doubtless al.
tered the history of the colonies, and per-
haps have put period to my own career
One has but to turn to history for the truth
Of this. The great storm which suddenly
sprang or the coast the night Of August II,
us, and which lasted for more than three
days, was Of such a nature that it has been
set apart by historians as worthy OF espe-
clal mention, both from its results and its
more than iiendish force
As | have said, the absence of the bulk Of
Lord ilowe's fleet had enabled tile Phan-
tom to drft through the fog and from the
bay in comparative safety, and this lbsence
was due 10 an attack planned against the
French who were besieging Newport by
water, as the patriots under Sullivan were
doing by aud The British General figot
was in desperate straits when Howe APP
peared OFF Point Judith, and, had the Eng
lish admiral been possessed OF the sluggish
and procrastnating nature Of his brother
(lately commander Of the British land
forces in America, he would probably have
been dav or two later, and P!e1t would