Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1899-07-06

cut her adrift If VIVA comes, "a; ;, ~
will drag like a sea anchor You might give
attention to the quarter boat yonder, and
get the hatch aboard"
"The hatch, yes" Belden returned; "but
the boat is stove badly Curses on the rebel;
be has cost us ten men in all, and only to
give us the slip IT'S small wonder Louns-
barry has the shakes at thought Of him!
Think Of the nerve"
damn hint" was the retort What
about the schooner? Lounsbury wants to
take her in. There's nothing gone but the
foretopmast and with three men he could
work her if the captain consents. In the
face of our being short handed, the idea is
not bad if the villain can be trusted
Hell scarce run off with the schooner T"
answered Beden, "and lead is no tempta
ton though I'd be shy Of trusting him with
anything more valuable. | know him of
"a. He was scavenger to Clinton, and to
Howe before him. Here, lad, cut away that
painter"
The last words were an order probably
given to a sailor, for presently | heard the
splash of the severed line At the same
moment boat swept by, and from the few
words could gather guessed the IRISH sur
geon had arrived and gone aboard
After that more boats passed and re
passed as time dragged on, and finally the
bulk of the vessels captors returned to their
own schooner, for, saving now and then
the sound Of single man tramping the
deck, the stiffness was unhroken
1t was with mighty satisfaction that had
heard the final order to cut the tie binding
my refuge to the schooner | gave no
thought to what might come Of n3 beng
pdrft on the broad ocean Bcyoud each
moment as it came and went seemed to
haye no interest. The future was blank
nor need consider it SO long as the wind
held off, for in the calm the dinsy and
schooner would not part company, and un
til darkness fell ! would be compelled to
remain in my present pinehed quarters.
Hooded as | was, up to the present my
hearing had been my only sense brought into
pay, but with the departure q thu last boat
load Of men | used my eyes FOR the first time
The interior of the shelter under which
hung was lighted almost entirely from be-
low, and a delicate greenish-buc tin; Played
over the planks and ribs ot the wreck
Shielded from direct light overhead, the
shell gave all the effects OF a water telescope,
for on turning my eyes downward, my
silht pierced the ocean for fathom after
tathom, the color Of the depths growing
from the most tender blue to clear and
then dark green, showing me that the bot
tom lay beyond vision and far below. 1t was
only by turning to the hole in the keel that
| could guess the hour, nor was il long be-
fore the sun had set and darkness came on
apace. BY the natural attraction OF float
ing bodies, the boat had drawn near the
schooner, and, as they struck and crunched
together, head the voice Of the surgeon as
he left the cabin and came on deck
''Well, by the powers. | suppose | must
obey orders. Ii the boy is moved, he dies
that's hat-an' by me soul, he may 90, spite
o me skill | must hide here the night,
aust /? Ay, well; send aboard a couple o
bottles, Belden, or, 10y the piper III mutiny.
Why should a dirty rebel be worth more
than our men? Is Scammell to bide with
me?"
NO, answered Bedcn he's sent for BY
the captain. I'll fix the liquor, Met AIRY.
Now, Mr.. Lounsbury, you have heard youi
instructions. Follow us as soon as the wind
rises; sou will have it ere long the glass
Las fallen. We will stand near YOU Are
You ready, Scammell?'
There was suppressed conversation after
this, and then another boat put away. In
perhaps an hour it returned and was hoist
cd to the davits, and then again there was
slcnce-a deep, brooding silence, such as is
only known in a night calm on the sea