The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-06-23

show his fleeing further before the cap
tain.
$50 you know my mate?" then asked |
the captain.
81 knew him years ago. replied Tom !
land we had some trouble. 1t doesn'. !
matter what il was about. but his nose
got broken, and he hates meas hard as
do him. He may be a good sailor,
however and no doubt he is. He used
to sail with my father
\ hail from the tug saved Tom any
| further explanation. and as the captain
hustled off to reply Avery came cut Of
the cabin and joined his roommate. who
told him briefly about the recent trou-
bic, making no mention of the original
cause Of the enmity between himself
and Rider, for the charge against his
father was too sore a subject to pass his
lips.
by the time dinner was over the YES
sci was well down the harbor. When
Boston light was reached the westerly
wind began to freshen. and the sails
stood full. Lines were hastily cast off.
the tugs whistle gave short blast a.
parting salute, and, with graceful
nod of her sharp bow in return, the
bark shot toward the open water. with
every square inch OF canvas pulling al
the sheets. and the captain rubbing his
horny palms with delight at the pros
pect Of fine departure.
John Avery was an old sailor, and the
motion of the vessel caused him no IN
convenience, but Tom was soon
stretched in his bunk. where he re-
NAMED the better part OF two days.
while the Seabird flew along before the
favorable gale in IA manner which did
not belle her name.
When he managed to get on deck
Cape Cod was more than 300 miles
Ustern. and already the weather was
beginning to grow milder. \ few days
more made him completely well, and
long before the equator was reached
he had acquired quite a professional
roll and felt perfectly at home.
OF the mate he saw very little. as the
latter stood watch and watch with the
second officer, being on deck every
other four hours. night and day. Mr..
Green, the second mate. was n bright.
active young man about Toms age, and
the two became very friendly as the
Seabird sped steadily to the southwark.
1t seemed as IL old Neptune had made
an extra effort to help the vessel along.
for she escaped the customary Gains
near the line and caught the southeast
trades the same day she lost those from
the northeast which had served her so
well. No incident Of importance oc-
CURED TO break the monotony of the
Voyage, and as they stood 10y the wheel
one noon when Capt Coffin was taking
his observation he announced that they
were as far south Of the line as Boston
was north of il.
Then he went below TO look at the
glass. cast careful glance around the
horizon. and went below once more
only TO reappear on deck
"There amt cloud in the sky" he
said, b'untly. "hut he glass is going
down MS though the bottom had
dropped ont Of everything. We're go.
,ug to catch IT, as sure as my name Is
seth Coffin. Ny glass never lied to me
vet"
Gradually the wind died out. until the
Seabird lay becalmed. rising and fall
ng on the swell. hut the sky remained
clear The barometer continued to fall
in an alarming manner. and after an
hour the heat became oppressive.
Then from all quarters Of the horizon
} mass Of white clouds arose. until they
presented the appearance of huge
mountains Of snow, darkenirg as they
assembled, and massing together until
they formed canopy overhead. en-
tirely conccalng the blue sky above
Soon they Geepened until the whole
heavens were solidly black. as If COW
cred with folds of velvet. In few
places, however, the color seemed to
vary TO a dark purplish gray. as one
edGe of an overlapping cloud was eX-
posed.
Long before this time all hands were
on deck. and the Seabird was stripped
for the battle with the elements. What
ever his other faults, Obed Rider was
a good seaman. and, with but few
suggestions from the captain. he had
made everything snug. only close
reeted maintopsail and storm staysail
showing aft. while a portion of the
foretopmast staysail stood out white
and clear against the gloomy back
ground. in readiness to pay her head oil
when needed.
There was u painful stiffness, broken
only by the mournful monotone in the
rigging which always precedes a hurri'
cane Us though the craft knew her dan
ger and tried 10 utter her feeble pro-