The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-04-28
CHAPTER XV-Continued.)

vessel! why, what was there In ina
vessel to brighten you? She carried
too much sail, and she has gone
down"
she never goes down." replied one
of the seamen.
No! MOI" exclaimed many voices;
but we shall if We do not run back
Pooh! nonsense! Mynheer Wander
decken, what say you?"
Il have already stated my opinions,
replied Philip, who was anxious, if
possible, to see the ship one more in
port, that the best thing we can do
is to bear up for Table Bay"
And, captain" continued the old
seaman who had just spoken, Eve are
all determined that 1t shall be so,
whether you like it or not; so up with
the helm, my hearty, and Mynheer
Vanderdecken will trim the sails"
why! what is this?" cried Captain
Barentz. ga mutiny on board of the
Vrow Katrina? Impossible! The
Vrow Katrina! the best ship, the fast
est in the whole fieet!"
"The dullest old rotten tub!" cried
n of the seamen.
What" cried the captain; what do
l hear? Mynheer Vanderdecken, con-
fine that lying rascal for mutiny."
"Poohi nonsense! he's mad" replied
the old seaman. Never mind him;
come, Mynheer Vanderdecken, we wi
obey you; but the helm must be up i'm
mediately."
The captain stormed, but Philip, by
acknowledging the superiority of his
vessel, at the same time that he blam-
ed the seamen for their panic, pointed
out to him the necessity Of compli-
ance, and Mynheer BarentZ at last
sails trimmed, and the Vrow Katerina
rolled heavily before the gale. Toward
the evening the weather moderated,
and the sky cleared up; both sea and
wind subsidized fast; the leaking de-
creased, and Philip was in hopes that
in a day or two they would arrive safe
ly in the bay.
AS they steered their course, SO did
the wind gradually decrease, until at
last it fell calm; nothing remained of
the tempest but a long heavy swell
which set to the westward, and before
which the Vrow Katerina was gradu-
ally drifting. This was a respite to
the WORKOUT seamen, and also to the
troops and passengers who had been
cooped below Or drenched on the main
deck.
The upper-deck was crowded; moth
ers basked in the warm sur, with their
children in their arms. The rigging
was filled with the wet clothes, which
were hung up to dry On every part of
the shrouds, and the seamen were
busily employed in repairing the in
juries of the gale. By their reckoning,
they were not more than fifty miles
from Table Bay, and each moment
they expected to see the land to the
southwark of it. All was again mirth,
and everyone on board, except Philip,
considered that danger was no more
to be apprehended.
The sun had set before Philip had
quilted the gangway and gone down
below. Commencing himself, and
those embarked with him, to the care
of Providence, he at last fell asleep;
but before the bell was struck eight
times, to midnight, he was
awakened by a rude shove of the Shout
der, and perceiving Krantz, the second
mate, who had the first watch, stand
ing by him.
"By the heaven above US, Wander
decken, you have prophesied right. Up
quick! The ships on fire!"
ION fire." exclaimed Vanderdecken,
jumping out of his berth-"where?"
1.-The main hold"
81 will UP Immediately, Krantz. In
the meantime, keep the matches on and
rig the pumps"
In less than a minute Philip was on
deck, where he found Capt. Barent,
who had also been informed of the
case by the second mate. In a few
words all was explained by Krantz;
there was a strong smell of fire pro-
ceeding from the main hold; and, on
removing one OF the matches, which he
had done without calling for any as
sistance, from a knowledge of the pan
ic it would create, he found that the
hold was full of smoke; he had put it
on again Immediately, and had only
made it known to Philip and the cap
tain.
Thanks for your presence of mind"
replied Philip; eve have now time to
reflect quietly on what is to be done.
If the troops and the poor women and
children knew their danger, their
alarm would have much impeded us;
but how could she have taken fire in
the main hold?"
81 never heard of the Vrow Katerina
taking fire BEFORE" observed the cap
tain; 81 think it is impossible. 1t must
he some mistake-she is"
81 now recollect that we have in our
cargo several cases of vitriol in bot
ties" interrupted Philip. "In the gale
they must have been disturbed and
broken. 1 kept them above all, in case
of accident; this rolling, gunwale un-
der. for so long a time, have occa-