Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-06-15

halyards and quietly lowered that canvas,
putting it in stops only that 1T might not
blow out, but, as for the furl, 'twould have
made landlubber laugh to see the bulge of |
the bunt. The shot from the Sprite had |
reduced the head cloths to jib and staysail, |
and yet so impressed was I that we were face |
to face with impending disaster that low |
cred and, after fashion, slowed the jib.
The more I worked the more felt the |
necessity, and, though was on fire to re-
turn to the cabin, I held away and turned |
my attention to the great mainsal which |
was hurtling to and fro, the subdued thun-
der of its thrashing bunt and quick patter
of its reefng points playing out of the mys
terious darkness overhead like the sounds
of distant storm. Alone I double reefed
that canvas, though remember very little
of it, the only thing coming to my mind be-
ing the horrible smooth inkiness of the
water beneath me when crawled out on the
boom to pass the earring and haul taut.
Though my hands worked on deck, my 6eart
was below, and it with deep breath
of satisfaction that | saw the last of more
than an hours hard labor. Casting off the
main sheet, that I might not be taken
aware, l gave glance at the light on the
| Sprite, still lying our quarter, and then
| went below, filled with mixture of hope
| and dread.
IL McCary was sitting by the side of the girl
as 1 entered. He looked up before I was
| fairly off the steps, and said in a surly
| voice:
| "Ye had best be no niggard with the
! whisky; pass it out!'
hat do you fnd?" I asked.
| "Shock," he answered shortly.
'And naught else?'
| "Be not so d-n quick" he replied.
'There may be enough else inside, 1 know
| not. Outside there's nasty bit of blow
the mob and fractured clavicle. There's
| the shock to nurse, but if ALPS well within
| she'll mend in a few days. 1t was a narrow
escape she has had! How came she here?"
/ "'Tis a long story, and one with mighty
| little to fatter your side of the fight, my
! friend" 1 answered. Let that pass. If
you can save both these children, and will
| settle down ashore and swear by congress,
I'll see that your fortunes made as doctor.
| You will be rare hand!"
''Pll see ye and yer congress ID frst!"
he returned with an ugly scowl. What
lay hand on, be it rebel or loyal, I do me
best with. I'll do it here. I have little
against the like of Gertrude King She is a
true lass"
That's well,'' 1 answered as went to the
locker for the whisky. but Gertrude is
flying like myself from Clinton; her loyalty
is to her country, and not, as you think, to
George III. The title of rebel is one to be
proud Of" And with this I handed him
the bottle which he took with dogged air,
pouring therefrom a dram which would have
been more than respectable for a man. I
watched him closely as he put it to the
girls lips. He held it there until small
quantity had disappeared, then, though
no longer able to restrain himself, he lifted
the remainder to his own and drank it in
single gulp.
I was about to jump on him, when down
the open companion way there came faint
wailing followed by roar that grew into a
shrek appalling in it's intensity. 1t was the
first howl of the great tempest of rs, and,
turning, [ made for the companion. Ere
l was halfway to the deck we were laid over
to larboard in manner that for moment
prevented my further progress. mighty
gush of damp wind struck my face as
hung on to the rail, and before could grip
my way hand over hand up the ladder the
schooner righted and hung on an even keel,
trembling like suddenly afrighted animal.
In instant [ was at the wheel. As
| quickly the squall came it passed, but
knew the weight that must be behind it.
Well it was that 1 had reduced sail and let
| go the sheet, for in such sudden blast we
would have been thrown so low that the
cargo would have shifted and the end come
in the twinkling of an eye9
As near as 1 could guess the first rush of
air had been from out the southeast, but the
whole gale that followed struck us fairly on
the bow, and, in spite of my tanning the
helm hard over, l think for a space the
schooner made direct sternway. Without a
sail drawing, the din of the thrashing canvas
drowned all other noises, and in this fashion
we hung in irons until it appeared that the
mainmast would be shaken out of the YES
sci. I could not man the wheel and staysail
sheet together, and the former I dared not
leave; but the wind settled my dilemma, for
7 after time, and when l was getting des-
perate, it whipped point to larboard, and
l | in the half glimmer that now came from the
: sea, which looked like dish of froth, I saw
: the foot of the staysail streaming over the
starboard bow.
How dashed the wheel with the helm up
: and got forward, l hardly know. 1 remem
Der it was like dragging against a stone wall
, to get the sheet half way in, but did it, and
S ran back again before were fairly paid
e off. Now l dashed the helm down and put
my weight on the main sheet, but twas past
e my power to move it foot. As had nc
wish to lose time by running toward South
5 America, bawled to the doctor to come up.
He did so in a hurry, but demurred when
told him to lay hold of the line and haul
5 The sudden tongue flashing gave him and a
' sight of my face in the light which poured
: from the cabin made him think better of his
5 ! manner, for he gripped the sheet and fell
! back with it like born sailor. 1t was an
/ almighty tug as best, but grew easier as we
1 hauled into the wind, and when the line was
Delayed 1 commanded him to take the wheel
+. | while sheeted home the staysail.
e The ,veriest duffer cannot follow the sea
e for year in and out without learning some
f thing of the handling of ships, and, though
5 McCary had probably never laid hand on
t spoke from necessity, he may have done sc
j. for pleasure, as he seemed to know how tt
r hold the Phantom somewhere near the
4 | winds eye. There was no difficulty, then
il, | in getting proper trim to the head cloth
! and by the time the sheet was Delayed and
: we stood off on the starboard tack the