Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-06-22


about, together with ScammeIrs -saBer.
broken sword, pistols and tobacco pipes,
while on the table, the cotton cover Of which
was burned to ashes were the remains OF a
leathern powder pouch rent by explosion.
No wonder they had sucoumbed. In
their tipsiness, or through the carelessness
Of desperation, they had fired their ammuni-
tion, the amount not having been sufficient
TO cause more than the muiiled blow and
flash | had heard and seen on the instant
OF our beng hailed by the Ajax This with
the smoke Of the previous firing, together
with the heat and closeness Of the quarters.
had created a smudge and foulness IN which
none but a druukard could have lived a
minute. They had evidently been deep in
some scheme to blow open the forward door
(which showed signs of attack when
spark from pipe caused the plot to harass
the plotters. Lounsbury had been the chief
sufferer, and thus was accounted for his
blackened face and his cry for air and water.
However, it could not have hit my turn
better had laid the train of events myself,
nor was it long before had the two lying
on the deck and knew the cabin was sweet
enlng and would soon be a fit retreat for
Miss King. Neither was it long before l
discovered that Lounsbury was not as dead
as he was drunk, though hardly as far gone
in liquor as Scanned, who could have been
pitched oven the rail and passed to the next
world without the slightest inconvenience
to himself. And more's the pity twas not
done.
Like bags of dunnage | took them by their
collars, hauling them amidships, and then
clapped the wrists and legs of both into
irons articles which in those days stood
somewhat ahead Of the medicine chest in
Importance, and frequently in use. With a
mingled feeling OF pity, hatred, and disgust,
| soused the sots with a bucket Of salt water,
and then left them for Nature TO bring to
life. As | moved aft caught the freshness
OF small, early morning breeze, and felt
that ere long the protecting blanket Of fog
would be rolled away. Much would have
given for a knowledge of our exact where
abouts, but as this was impossible nothing
remained but to prepare the schooner for
sailing as soon as We could get our bearings.
Twas small job to cast off the gaskets and
get loose the headsails ready for hosting,
but another matter for Ames and myself
alone to run the heavy canvas of the main
and foresails to their mast heads. / was
fearful that the rafting blocks and rustling
q the great cloths might herald our situa-
ton, but nothing came OF it, and after deal
OF hauling we got something like a slack
set to the sails which for months had been
mldewing against their booms,
Gradually a lividness came over the fog
and as the light Of the coming day strength
cncd, it showed the mist driving across US
like wads OF smoke. As the light broadened
| went to the pinnacle to see how we were
heading, but found the compass gone from
it, and, on examination, discovered that all
my instruments had been confiscated saving
the tcltale screwed into the cabin ceiling
This, like the hanging lantern, was be-
grimed by a white deposit from the explo-
sion, but on clearing it with my palm,
found we were heading north BY east or still
going stern on toward the south
SO matters went till sunrise, the wind
growing fresher as the time sped, and at
last, while Ames and myself were putting
the cabin into some shape and the girl had
gone % overhaul the pack Of provisions, |
heard her give a great cry, and rushed to
the deck to find its meaning.
IL was no alarm. She was standing by the
fore shrouds looking at the sudden trans
formation which had come over the face of
Nature. Often have | seen the sun rise,
hut never did it appear in such grandeur
Of pearl and grays The glory Of its com
ing was none the less for the lack of vivid
coloriug The fog had rolled off as rolls a
curtain. and to the east and north lay piled
IA towering masses ranging from thunder
Gus blaclsness TO the opalescent cearness Of
q scashell. Through its misty caverns shot
dazzling shafts OF sunshine, which wayered
sad played over the face of the bank like
the tremuous shifting Of the northern
lights. Astern, clear as far as one could see,
lay the ocean blank of all sail the small
sammer waves glinting back the strong
ii1ht from the east. To the west and over
our larboard beam stood out the green
heights Of Staten island, and under their
shelter | marked two heavy ships Of the
line while toward Sandy Hook lay two
others with sails furled and at anchor.
Gravesend bay also held one, a mammoth,
which | tool, to be the Cerberus, but not q
ship was alert No more were in sight, and
| marveled that we had run the ratlet of
the fleet, thinking, naturally that most Of
them had gone up the bay and lus ! NJ
lain close to our track Little lneW la.
The bulk of Lord Howes hotlla had sailed
east the day before, and thus opened the
path that otherwise would III all likelihood
have been blocked But so it was, and
later knew we had the French to thank for
having drawn them away.
Doubtless we were marked by hundred
! eyes on board those about, but the levia-
thans were powerless to harm Us, their
very size and ponderosity Stacking them
against quick action. Close aboard and on
cur starboard beam lay the white sand spit
/ Of the lower island which goes far TO make
! New York harhOr the haven it is. and once
past thus wilderness Of beach, now known as
Nortons Point, we would be on the SEA-.
| With shout Of relief almost delirinus
sprang forward and masthcaded both lib
and staysalls. while Ames jumped for the
laan sheet and drew it in 1t was the first
/ inlding | had that he was anything Of a
sailor, and the knowledge was mighty vel
come Slowly we came about until the
schooner noscd into the west wind, and then
lie ran to the helm while | caught the
Graught with the headsail to help her get
! ting past the point OF irons" then | be
! layed both iib and staysa,l sheets
/ But of what use are these details2 Enough
to ten chat presently NC were Slipping east
ward and past the Dry Bomer. the sails
Swung wing-on-wing, and an air. which
turned to a calm as we fled. pushing us
from over the taAIal and toward the rising
slR,
CHAPTER XVIII
PURSUED.
All that morning we sailed almost as
/ hlitheh as ever pleasure seekers sailed a
summer sea- True il was that measure Of
auxiety still hampered n'y spirits. but a.
compared with what we had undergone,
/ we WORE M heart rs lght As the tllmE mares,