The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-07-13

when the gale slackened bit,
beat back to our former course. 1t was
still blowing fresh enough, the sea
running high, and the clouds showinr
signs of more wind, so we had to be
sparing with our canvas. One night,
just as l was about to go below and
turn in, the man in the bows suddenly
sung out:
"'Breakers ahead!
my first impression was that the fell
lowJhad got hold of rum cask, and
had been imbibing pretty freely. 1
took no notice of the warning, but as I
stood there, the man turned and shout
ed in more startling tones:
"'Breakers ahead, sir!'
Nov if''he had said: The sea-ser-
pent ahead or a mermaid ahead,'
mightn't have been so surprised, but
breakers ahead'-in mid-ocean, mind
you-fairly took my breath away: I
rushed forward. AS l stood in the
bows, peering out over the tossing wa
tiers, could distinctly hear the roar of
breakers somewhere in front. -
1.-The moon was showing out through
the broken clouds, and just then I
caught sight of dark spot straight
ahead, round which the water swirled
and tossed. had barely time to hol-
loa out: Hard a-port! to the helms
men, in order to clear it. Without any
mistake it was rock. I could see it's
black top appear for second or two,
and then it was covered in cloud of
foam. Sometimes a big wave swept
right over it, but generally they
smashed with roar that can tell you
would have struck terror to your
heart" *
A dead silence followed this extraor-
binary story. It had been told in such
way as to convince us that there was
something in it. Even Capt. Lorton
appeared to ponder over the facts.
After long pause Moxly said: @4jG5 -
II remember once hearing an old
skipper from Dundee tell pretty much
the same story" -.
It was plain to be seen that Link
later's strange yarn had made deep
impression upon every man present.
After that last remark no one spoke.
Perhaps if it had been told under diff
ferent circumstances it might not have
taken such hold upon us; but some
how the pounding of the pillows on the
beach, the rumble of single and the
furious gusts of wind that sent the
rain dashing against the window
seemed to deepen the effect. ''
"What do you think of all this, Capt.
George?" said, at length, turning to-
wards him.
II think Capt. Linklater is right"
he answered.
'You believe in this mysterious rock,
then?"
II have seen it," & -'
"Well, if that Scotch skipper could be
found, three of us could bear witness to
the fact, at any rate" remarked Link
later.
1T may be as you say, of course"
said Capt. Lorton, doubtfully, "but how
is it, if such rock really exists, it has
remained so long unknown" v
II have my own theory as to that"
replied Capt. George.
would you mind giving us the bene-
fit of it?"
my belief is this: that rock appears
and disappears at intervals" :.
"Impossible!"
"Why so? How can you or l tell
what goes on in the bed of the ocean?
1t is sealed book to us. We are told
there are hills and valleys there, just
the same as on land. How do we know
what forces are at work in these SUBJ
marine tracts? In South America, and
other parts, an earthquake will change
the whole face of district in half an
hour. If such an alteration can take
place on land, who dare venture to say
it cannot occur at the bottom Of the
sea?"
II should be slow to believe it." said
the surveyor. ~ "..
"Look at the Pacific" continued
Capt. George, who appeared strangely
interested in this question. "rhere
you will find that not only a rock, but
whole island, will come to the surface
in single week. If you go to look for
it month later, most likely it will
have vanished. What is to prevent a
thing of this kind happening nearer
home? Why, only the other day the
hull OF brig which had been burnt
at sea fifty years ago, was thrown up
off the Farce islands and lowed into
Galveston harbor. How do you &C.
count for that?"
| The question led to pretty lively
discussion, and it was eight o'clock be-
fore the party broke up. By that time
the rain had ceased, and the wind was
dying down: Capt. George asked for a
lantern to signal the Wanderer to send
boat on shore.
Come on board with me, Lawrence
son." he said, as he was leaving. II
want to have q chat with you about
this matter we have just been discuss
ing. NJ III.
When we reached the wet, sl.ppery