The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-05-31
stationed himself lust abatt the fore.

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gan to rattle.
"Loosen sail!" followed, and the men
sprang into the rigging. Everything
was cleared to let go, and all hands,
except a man on each yard to stay the
bunt, scampered back to the deck.
"All ready aloftP" hailed the mate.
"All ready!" answered the fellows on
the yards.
"Let go!" and the ship flashed out
white, and stood clothed in the waves of
loose canvas. Then the chief topsails
were set, the yards trimmed, and the
anchor finally brought to head. She
steadied quickly to her work, and as
she climbed away the light canvas was
rapidly put out.
In n short time the watches were ap-
pointed, and the business of putting the
shipin order and otherlike things of the
beginning of a voyage attended to, and
after that had little breathing space
and slipped down to my cabin. had
small berth in the aftermost part of the
tween decks, and here found my
clothes-bag and other effects, and pro-
ceeded to sling hammock (preferring
it to either of the hunks the berth con-
tained), and sat down to have brief
smoke.
Mysmoke over, Istrolled for bit into
the forecastle, and then went again on
deck, where l found the wind rather
gathering strength and quite stiff sea
running. We reefed the topsails, and
by that time supper was called. The
rest of the evening passed without in
cident. l turned in early, as my watch
was to be called at eight bells, and,
when the time came, crawled out
mighty sleepy, but full of zeal, and so
kept my four hours. At daylight all
hands had to be called, Az there was
heavy wind, which was verging on half
a gale, and we whipped down the main
sail and the great lateen, and before
we were done had to be satisfied with
a reefed main topsail, bit of foresail,
and reefed sprit-topsail.
"Marry, but this is something bois-
ferrous for the narrow seas" said a
high-pitched voice behind me, as l
stood holding on by the lashings of the
big gun and watching the turmoil.
l turned and saw the little super
cargo, who had just come out of the
cabin. He was balancing himself fear
lessly on his straddled legs, n long sea-
coat whipping about him, and his hand
clapped upon his hat to keep both that
and his great curly wig from blowing
away.
"Aye, sir" I said, "this is rough
weather for the channel"
81 saw worse once!" he shouted, with
kind of chuckle, and then Immediate
ly sucking in his lips, which l found
was way he had.
"And how was that?" I asked, will
'lg to forget the weather for a mo-
ment if could.
"Why, it was matter of above 20
years ago" he replied. Things so fell
out with me on that occasion that
put to sea on day even worse than
this in only smsll fishing sloop."
ut was beyond account rash," l
commented. at must have been
strait, indeed, to bring you toit."
at was to save my neck" he an
swered, speaking this time close to my
ear, that he might talk with less strain.
"You see, it was in the days of old
Noll, and had ventured into my ma
tive SUSSEX had forgotten to say
that the old tyrant had set price on
my head-and was forced to get speed
lily out. Luckily, fellow-royalist was
at hand and lent me horse, and on
that reached the seaside and thence
boarded this fisherman, upon which
put out, as l said"
"But the master of her." queried,
little puzzled by that point in the
story, chow did you prevail ON him to
take such risk?"
How? Why. to be sure, with a pis-
tol at the head. He would listen no
otherwise"
"And the crew? Had you no trouble
with them?"
"Nay. not a whit. I Ibid but point an
other pistol at them-I had two hands
in those days-and they became most
tractable."
"You deserved to escaped" I cried,
admiringly. "But what then? Did
you come TO close straits before you
made the other side?"
"Yes," he answered, shaking his
head, "and at last we had to cut away
the mast. 1t is too long to dwell upon,
but the wind-up was we fRally made
France. 1t was hard by Calais, and we
had started from Eastbourne. There
was much tedious pumping to do, and
right slow progress under such sail as
we could put upon jury-mast.
"Is not that sail out yonder?" He
broke off, and pointed to white speck
on the northwestern seaboard, which
hung with such steadiness that soon
decided that it was, indeed. sail. It
was nothing surprising or unexpected,
Of course, here in the channel, and
gave no more heed to it at the time.
Mr.. Tym shortly retired again to the
cabin, and the hard weltering of the
ship through the heavy seas went on.
The forenoon wore away, and il was
about seven bells when, happening to
think of the sail had seen, went to
the rail tolook for 1t. It was now about
on the lee bow, and much nearer, and
soon l could make out a large ship
close hauled on the starboard tack.
continued to watch her, and presently
saw that she had altered her course
md was now steaming directly toward
Is. l happened to glance toward the
poop where the captain and mate we're
and saw that the skipper
vas pulling out and pointing his glass.
lie took long observation, and then,
% my surprise, shook his head ener-
yetically and passed the glass to the
nate. Sellinger looked in turn, and al
most at once lowered the instrument
md began bawlinp somethinU in the