The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-11-24

would float, as the y Ind add sea were
evidently rising together. aud TO re-
main on board was almost AZ danger
aus and hopeless had the risk Of
drowning by her capslzing. or lying on
her beam ends In the water. and 40
laundering aud going down.
A plank might start In her sheathlng
she might even then be filling by
some uncaulked loakl had no idea
Of the state Of her hold. and for many
reasons feared she might sink before
daybreak. and before my porilous sit
uatiun could be discovered from the
shore.
The waves were black as ink; tho
sky was moonloss overhead. but the
pale. white stars wlnked and twinklod.
and were reflected In the trough OF the
ocean. Now. ] could perceive foam
crosting the tops Of the waves. and
knew that the breeze was Increasing
to gale-a gale that was blowing
from the land
This added to my despair for tho
lights had seen soon disappeared. aud
the dark outline Of the coast seemed
TO sink lower and to blend with the
sea. Clutching the weather rigging.
! could scarcely keep my feet. so slip.
perry was the now wctted deck, and 20
cold and benumbed were my hands and
arms by the chill atmosphere Of the
ocean, and by the salt spray which
al Nat In
brlny showers.
| shouted. but the mocking wind bore
my voice away to seward With de-
spalrlng eyes ! swept the dusky water.
In the hope Of seeing vessel. a fishing
boat. or the light OF steamer near;
but gazcd. with haggard glance, In
vain.
had no hope now but TO wait for
dawn Of day; and when II came. where
might ! and the empty schooner be-
| Fortunately. her topmasts were struck.
her foreyard was lowered. and all her
gear made tolerably snug. Her can
vas. however, was ouly In the brails.
and portion OF the fore and aft
foresail having got loose, IL
was swelled ont by the blast.
and kept her head partially be-
fore the wind. thus accelerating tho
rate at which she was borne from the
land, and being without trimming or
ballast. she danced over the waves.
as have said. like n cork. but In mo-
mentary danger OF capsizing and foun-
dcring. A. dawn drew near. the cold
increased 80 much that. though at tho
risk Of being passed unseen by soma
coaster. ! was faln to creep on my
hands and knees to the companion
hatch, and descend into the coi~a.
II was darker nos thLn ever. for tha
lamp had gone out
"Oh, &c ~ sshorel" exclaimed pas
S'"- a,efN with clasped hands: ashore
and free from this floating prlaonl "
thought Of my gentle and loving
mother. and my soul seemed to dic
within me. The schooner would bc
missed by daybreak-the alarm would
be given; her alarm would rapidly be-
come irrepresslble anxiety which
would soon turn to despair thai
nothing could alleviate.
uoouoH ANS ,nunaer. or nha trrmen
doua blows. at times made me start
These we're caused by billets Of wood
. or pieces OF pig-lron pitching about Il
= the hold Of the schooner as she role
and lurched and righted herself to rol
and lurch again.
% For a time covered miserably II
the dark cabin. until my childish fear
oyermatched reason. and crept ono
more upon deck.
A regular gale was blowing now. an,
, the schooner careened fearfnily be
meath II on her atarboard side. Will,
the bellying OF that portion OF the for,
and aft foresall which had got loos,
aided In hurrying her faster out to sea
The light OF the coming day wal
spread In dull gray over the sky. i'm
parting the same cold tint to the whit
enlng waves. Land was still visible
but II seemed like a dark bank at Thu
horizon | supposed Il TO be about ten
mllea distant. but what part OF IN,
coast. or how far from Erlesmero,
knew not
ITO be contlnued.)