Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-06-08
CHAPTER VII.

OF THE GREAT STRAIT WE FOUND
OURSELVES IN, AND HOW THAT
SUBTLE ROC UE, THE MATE, SEEMED
STILL TO TRIUMPH.
By this time some showing of wnat
the captain had prophesied as to a
change OF weather began to appear.
The sun was now pretty high, but it
did not strike down with its usual heat,
a thin, whitish, almost imperceptible
haze floating between, and presently
] noticed that the northern sea line
was q little darkened, so that the hori-
zon itself was not so sharply cut as it
had been. The air, too, had changed
feeling-a little damper, as | might say,
and with more of the ocean smell in 1t.
| now surmised that we were to catch
a bit of blow, though not a hurri-
cane, and that the wind would pres
emily shift to the north. What sort of
business we could make of it Heaven
only knew, and it was with no little
stirring of apprehension that | finally
gave over my studying and directed
q more general look around. The long
boat was still travelling southwest, and
no other sail was to be seen. There was
the same easy sea, not so deeply blue
as before the thin veil came over the
sun, but raising scarcely crest, and
swinging and sinking in diminishing
water hills and valleys. The raft
climbed up and slid down in the fash
ion that such a contrivance must, dash
ing bit of spray over us now and
then, but yet making some headway,
and in this sort we continued for per-
haps two hours. BY that time we had
all thought it best TO get into our oil
skins, Mr.. Tym likewise discarding his
wig, and in lieu of it drawing on little
knit cap, like a nightcap, and when at
last it was quite a bit past noon I got
out and served dinner. OF course, it
had to be eaten cold, but we added a
little brandy, and it relished well, and
after this nothing happened till early
night.
The wind had swung little into the
north, giving token Of what was to be
expected, and the sea was coming up
bit, but as yet had made nc heads
of dangerous size. The sun was setting G
red, but with a topping of gray clouds,
and the air was growing chilly, though
1T could not yet be called cold. I swept
the sea line once more for a sail, but
without success, whereupon, feeling
weary and a bit discouraged, | flung
myself down and drew piece of canvas
over me. I heard Mr.. Tym stir about
little-I say heard, for ! had covered
my head for the moment-and pres
emily knew that he had gone aft to
relieve the captain at the helm. ] had
a strange sort of quiet, secure feeling
come over me, then, in a way as though
] had no further care of this business
and scarce needed to feel fear, and In a
moment / was lapsing from that into
a browse. l was called back to myself
by loud tone of talking, and on throw
ing back the canvas found Mr.. lynn and
he captain on their feet and looking
With great seeming Of eagerness to-
ward some point II the western sea-
oard. | flung the canvas wholly from
e and sprang up.
The sea had darkened even in the
few moments | had been under the can
vas, and only pale, lemon-cOlored
streak in the west remained of the
unset. The raft canted and made its
downward slide just as | got steadi-
ness of my legs, and | could only whisk
my eye, so 10 speak, over the shoulder
of the crest, before we had dropped
trsp the duskiness of the hollow. But