The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-06-15
ing to catch it, as sure as my name Is
Seth Coffin My glass never lied to me

ing to catch it, as sure as my name Is
Seth Coffin. Ny glass, never lied to me
yet"
Gradually the wind died out until the
Seabird lay becalmed, rising and fall
ing on the swell, but the sky remained
clear. The barometer continued to fall
in an alarming manner, and after an
hour the heat became oppressive.
Then from all quarters of the horizon
mass of white clouds arose, until they
presented the appearance Of huge
mountains of snow, darkening as they
assembled, and massing together until
they formed canopy overhead en-
tirely conceaHng the blue sky above,
Soon they deepened until the whole
heavens, were solidly black, as if COW
cred with folds Of velvet In few
places, however, the color seemed to
vary to dark purplish gray, as one
edge of an overlapping cloud was ex-
posed. 9
Long before this time all hands were
on deck, and the Seabird was stripped
for the battle with the elements. What
ever his other faults, Obed Rider was
good seaman, and, with but few
suggestions from the captain, he had
made everything snug, only close
reefed maintopsail and storm staysail
showing aft, while portion of the
foretopmast staysail stood out white
and clear against the gloomy back
ground, in readiness to pay her head off
when needed.
There was painful stiffness, broken
only by the mournful monotone in the
rigging which always precedes hurri-
cane, as though the craft knew her dan
ger and tried to utter her feeble pro-
test against the forces of nature.
Suddenly, far above the mastheads,
storm demons had united in sounding
the charge. Still the sails hung idly,
and not breath of air could be felt.
Then in the far distance a long,
bright streak suddenly illuminated the
horizon. increasing with marvellous ra-
pidity until all could see what seemed
to be an endless line of rolling snow.
1t was impossible to bring the vessels
head up to meet the danger without
wind, and she lay helpless in its path,
rolling uneasily about on the disturbed
sea.
And now the roar of the storm could
be heard as the line of foam swept on
over the darkened sea with frightful
velocity. Louder and louder came the
noise, and the surface of the water be-
hind the advancing line was like vast
el - a. hvr<
force of the wind.
Nearer and nearer came the CHASTITY
line, while every man stood at his post
in silence. Suddenly the. captain
roared:
Hard up your wheell Hard up!"
The two men who grasped the spokes
had barely time to obey the order when,
with shrek of wind and rush of boil
ing water, the white line struck the
bark and pressed her over until the
yards touched the surface to leeward.
The storm staysail and maintopsail
were rent to ribbons, but the head sail
held, and, as the stanch bark slowly
Tighted, this caused her to pay slowly
off, and she gathered Roadway at the
same time. Slowly at first and then
with increasing speed she bounded
along before the hurricane.
And now the sea began to rise in all
its majesty. The masses of water
swept in wild waves before the hur-
ricane, their crests blowing off into
spray as they met the full force of the
wind. After several efforts the crew
succeeded in iloosing few inches Of
the foretopsail, and for awhile this held
nobly. Then came a stronger puff
than usual, and the sail was torn bod
lily from the bolt-ropes, disappearing
in the gloom like some huge white
bird.
There was nothing to be done but
run before the gale, and, after send
ing the mate and half the crew below,
the captain advised Tom and Avery to
retire, which they did, somewhat re-
assured by the collected bearing of the
skipper, who seemed to take it all as
matter. of course, especially as the
wind was sending his vessel just where
he wished to go. 49,.
In this manner three days and nights
world was made up of wind, waves and
darkness.
On the fourth morning the wind be-
gan to abate and the sun appeared, en-
abling the captain to ascertain his po-
sition. He found that the Seabird had
made II knots an hour during the en-
tire period since the storm struck her
which caused his satisfaction to show
itself in his round face Enthusiastically.
Sail was now made, and ten days later
the Seabird was sailing proudly on the
bosom of the Pacific, having rounded
Cape Horn with the greatest slant OF
wind" the old skipper had ever expert
enced. The vessels head was pointed
to the north, and Tom began to com.
pute the days before they could hope
to reach San Francisco. w
CHAPTER III. II
II GIVE MY SHARE TO YOU"
3d. !,