The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1899-02-24

we were now left to our own eSertions,
and had no other warnings but those
the appearance OF the heavens gave
u.s."
"And they warn us now" observed
Hillebrant. "See how that bank OF
clouds has risen within these five min
utes--the moon has escaped from 1t,
but it will soon catch her again-and
see. there is flash Of lightning in the
northwest"
well, my sons, l can brave the ele-
ments as well as any man, and do my
best. / have cared little for gales or
stress of weather; but l like not such
a warning as we have had tonight. My
heart is heavy as lead, and that's the
truth. Philip, send down for the bot
tie of schnapps, If it is only to clear
my brain little"
Philip was glad Of an opportunity to
quit the poop; he wished TO have few
minutes to recover himself and collect
his own thoughts.
Philip remained below not more than
half an hour. On his return to the
deck, what a change had taken place.
He had left the vessel floating motion
less on the still waters, with her lofty
! sails hanging down listlessly from the
yards. The moon then scared aloft in
\ her beauty, rejecting the masts and
sails of the ship in extended lines upon
\ the smooth sea. Now all was dark;
the water rippled short and broke in
| foam; the smaller and lofty sails had
been taken in, and the vessel was
cleaving through the water; and the
wind, in fitful gusts and angry moan
ings, proclaimed too surely that 1t had
! been awakened up to wrath, and was
gathering in strength for destruction.
The men were still busy reducing the
sails, but they worked gloomily and
discontentedly. What Schriftcn, the
pilot, had said to them, Philip knew
not; bat that they avoided him and
appeared to look upon him with feel
ings OF ill-will was fevident. And each
minute the gale increased.
1t was an unfortunately long and ter
rible night--they thought the day
would newer come. At last the dark
ness gradually changed to settled,
sullea, gray glCom-which was day.
They hooked at each other, but found
no comfort in meeting each other 8
eyes. There was mo zone countenance
in which n beam Of hope could be
found lurking. They were all doom
ed-tbey remained ,crouched where
they had sheltered themselves during
the might, and said nothing.
The sea had now risen mountains
high, and more than one had struck
the snip abuft. Kloots was at tie bin
nacle, Hillebrant and Philip at the
helzn, when a wave curled high over
the SIuarter and poured itself in re-
sistless force upon the deck. The
caps.in and his two mates were swept
away and dashed almost senseless
against the bulwarks-the pinnacle
and compass were broken into frag-
meuts-4no one ran to the helm-the
vessel preached to-the seas broke
clear ,over her and the mainmast went
by tine board.
All was confusion. Capt. Kloots
was stunned, and it was with difficulty
that Phillip could persuade two of the
men TO assist him down below. Hille-
braEt had been more unfortunate-his
right arm was broken and he was 9TH
erwise severely bruised. Philip assist
ed Eim to his berth, and then went
on deck again to try and restore or
der.
Philip Wanderdecken was not much
Of a seaman, but, at all events, he ex-
ercisad that moral influence over the
men which is ever possessed by reso-
luton and courage. Obey willingly
they aid not, but they did obey, and in
half an hour the vessel was clear of
the wreck. Eased by the loss of her
heavy mast, and steered by two of her
best sGamen, she again few before the
gale.
(To be rcontinued.)