The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-15


north Of the equator. The yards were
braced sharp up to the port tacie-as the
trade wind was well to the southwest Of
east at this season-nnd the ship heeled
over slightly and rose and fell with a
steady motion as she rushed along
through the moonllt waters. Toms
watch was on deck, and he leaned over
the lSnight-heads and watched the sil.
very foam go roaring on from the cut
water ana waste itself In shower Of
sparkling gems on either bow. It was n
beautiful night. The tropic moon. right
over the end Of the main royal yard,
cast long shadows on the huge fabric Of
canvas. The horizon was shaded in a
thick haze. as is often the case in the
tropics but the sky overhead was
cloudless. The soft hum OF the trade
Wind in the rigging ana the sWash OF
water, coupled with the steady rise and
fall Of the ship, produced soothing eff
feet on the tired body. so more than
once Tom caught himself nodding. He
felt in his pocket and took out the piece
OF plug tobacco the second mate had
given him, and bit OF a chew to keep
his Jaws moving. He did not care much
for the tobacco, but all sailors chewed.
and. although Bill had 1eered at him
and tried to take It away, he kept 1t,
and determined to be a thorough sailor.
He had been given chance to become a
man. and he would fight for It and do
the best he could. What II his mother
could see him now-on clipper ship
sometimes aloft on the dizzy yard-arm
with those same wonderful fellows she
used to read to him about in story
books before her last sickness! Then
his thoughts wandered to lonely
churchyard In the suburbs of the great
English city where he had spent many
bitter hours near low mound, Come
out O. that, you little lubber." growled a
voice in his ear. you sleepy-headed
little swab! IT'S a good thing amt the
mate, or you would learn something"
81 amt asleep" said Tom. turning to
meet his old enemy. II was Jest watch
In the water"
"None o yer CANNON ter me; eight
bells struck an yer watch gone below
half-hour ago. Gimme a chew o yer
terbacler, or I'll ask the mate what yer
doih' here"
Tom was half-afraid he would. so he
handed him his plug. Bill bit of piece
and quietly put the rest in his pocket
as he walked away.
Tom was afraid to do anything for
fear Bill would tell the mate he was
asleep while helping to stand with the
lookout on the top-gallant fo-castle, 80
without making any noise he turned in.
AS he slept he dreamed that he stood on
the edge Of preclplce and slipped and
fell over-down-down- until with a
mighty crash-"BangH'-he awoke amid
the cries Of frantic men and the thun-
dering crash Of grinding timbers. He
leaped to the deck in time to see the
forema5t go spllntering over the side,
carrying the main-topmRst and every
thing forward along with It. A great
shadow hung over the ship as she reel
ed over to the starboard, and on 1t he
recognized the forms Of men. It was
black-dark on deck. but he knew that
they had been run down. In few mo-
ments the shadow drifted OF into the
gloom, and he heard the voice Of Cap
tain Gantline calling out to clear away
the boats"
In a few minutes the men had recov-
cred from their panic and went to work
with will to get the boats ready to put
overheard, while the captain, second
mate and carpenter climbed over the
wreckage forward and tried to see what
damage had been done. Almost imme-
dIately the ship began to settle by the
head, and they came aft again.
Overheard with those boatsl Now,
DULLES, bear a hand" came the cherry
voice Of the mate, and In a few minutes
the longboat and two cutters were over
the side and being rapidly Allied with the
few passengers and crew. The cabin
steward and cook threw in what hard
bread and other food they could lay
hands on, but even as they worked the
ships head settled rapidly until the
main deck was awash amidshIps.
Come, get those boats clear Of the
ship" roarcd old Captain Gantllne, as
he stood calmly on the break Of the
poop. The men, however, needed no
urging, and they scrambled over the
rail into the boats, the mates taking
two cutters. AS the water come over
the deck, the captain called: "All hands
clear Of the ship" then. dropping into
the stern of the longboat, he showed on.
He had barely gotten clear OF the side
when two forms appeared on deck car
rylng breaker" full OF water. They
were the two boys, Tom and Bill; the
mate had sent to get the keg filled, and
they had been left behind in the excite
ment. They rushed to the port quarter,
which was now high In the air, and
leaned over the rail.
Throw line and be quick about It,"
came a deep voice from the gloom
nstern. and Tom. taking the spanker
sheet.rope. threw the end as far as he
could toward the shadow, and took a
turn on a cleat.
Come, hurry up. there!" came the
voice from below, as Tom started over
the rall-then ne checked himself
you fust. BIZ; you got er motheri"
he said.
BIZ grabbed the line and disappeared