The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-10-14


that's the cause of these here Gains nm
contrary gales, and then have locke
him up with nothing to eat until h
should have been coaxed by famine int
correcting his ill-naturc and into giyin,
us the breezes we wanted.
One black night we were ratchini
along under reefed topsaiIs and tn
forecourse. was at the wheel. TIL,
bark having her nose TO it puS spit,
into the wind, and nasty sea wa
washing past. There was nothing t,
see but the white water that woult
Hash out in the darkness alongside q
though the beams of an electric ligh
were travelling round and round, touch
ing the ocean in places as they Travelled
All ON sudden the mate, who wal
standing at the weather rail just abreas.
OF the slSylight, gives sort Of shriel
and then fell a-yelling; but there was
no time for me to catch what he said
for whilst his cries were still ringing.
/ just caught sight of a huge lump O:
blackness oozing out over the weather
bow like blacl5er night still COMING
down through the darkness upon ut
with one spark of light showing; but il
wasn't green nor red, and what it was
can't say. The next instant we were
in collision with some vessel; she caught
us on the bluff of the bow and Slowed
us clean round with such noise OF
splintering wood, of washing waters
and Of human cries that I've only got tc
recall il to feel deaf
She went clear, and vanished, leay.
ing us sinking: She had torn out our
bows and wrecked our spars forward,
but she never showed Fare, never
shifted her helm, never so much as
hailed us after she had slipped past.
She left us to our fate, and by that
token allow that she was a foreigner,
We had to feel for the boats. so black
was it, and God knows how we man.
aged. The boats were slung in the old.
fashioned style, dangling overheard al
the ends of dayits, and steadied nv
gripes. Had they been slowed as the
fashion now is, every soul Of us must
have persisted. The vessel was up in
the wind without way, rolling briskly,
and the curl of the foam off her side
to the smite Of the sea showed us men
who were standing on the starboard
side the outline of the boat as we
lowered her. We entered her in scram.
bling fashion by the tackles-fivc of us,
leaving six others of our company
wrestling at the port falls; amongst
them was the master and the two mates,
and us five were men-hands as the
term is. The moment the boat was lib.
Grated she blew away; we never again
saw the others, nor did we ever hear
of the n.
Nv Zen the day broke we were alone.
nothing in sight, the hot sun rising
nothing to drink but four bottles of red
wine, which fellow amongst us who
had acted as steward had brought along
with him, and nothing to eat but as
many broken bits of ships bread as nd
mako about seven whole biscuits.
The outlook was not very encourag-
ing, but as You know, was ALWAYS of
, very hopeful disposition and there
.ore determined to make brave fight
'or life. There was one thing that
encouraged me and that was the thor.
Dughly staunch and seaworthy CON
iition of the boat in which now found
nyseif together with four fellow crea-
ures adrift, with an ugly sea running,
say adrift, for there was no mast and
My one pair of oars in the boat, and
We hadn't strength to use them with
ny effeet. needn't tell you that this
wasn't the first time that / had made a /
ght for life against terrible odds, Tor
on know all about it. Well, the con.
equence was that it occurred I'd me !
nat | was the proper person 20 tale
Of the little party of cast !
ways, and see that fair play was the |
lie OF the day IN dealing out the scant I
lpply of broken biscuits and red wine I
hlch the steward had brought along !
it'll him. !
$50 l put the question to the men h
neither they were willing that I n
lould act as captain, and a CHEEKY:
~ ay, sir, was the answer l. got Il
om all OF them excepting Hal Yves. Y
u, huge mulatto of tremendous Il
'ength and not extra good temper h
Il was q splendid-looling fellow phvs.
lily, and put me ia mind Of one az the d
onze statoots that I've seen 'efn di0 b
OF the sand in the eastern coun- t.
es. The muscles of his arms nnd c;
est were something fearful to look at, ST
1eeially when he was out of hunor a
some trick played upon him. Then
csc muscles would knot and twist fe
his great round chest wouldsheavs tr
an ocean swell Hal and l Ind nj. "a
US got along pretty well together. a in
t which l attribute to NV pair Of of
m black eyes which, as YOU used 70 hC
; were bright enough to be seen in W
dark like cats eyes. Then, again. OF
knew that wasn't afraid Of him de
The other men were, and so he never pu
empted to brOwbeat or bully me: In /
T. he was ever ready to do me q good an
a. l always made 1t a point TO keep
liked hard and fun upon Hal's face str
IN talking to him, and the conse- up
nee was that / finally succeeded in wi
Ting the same sort Of control over cd
huge animal, for such he was 10 1nc
n words, that the trainer Rets over WI
IN or tiger. Iustinetiveiy he felt /,
was different from the usual run nv
len, which / am, as Won know fir