The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1900-06-05
by JAMES GRANT.

iail, be sure II will become tvphoon
and then, with a short-handed craft
heaven help US! But assure Tom II Is
only as yet trade-wind gaie-to take
as much canvas off her as he can, and
to make all snug aloft. Wen have
thunder directly, Diek-such thunder
as you can only hear in the tropics"
he sank back. exhausted even by
these few words, while l hurried on
deck with his orders.
/ mad scarcely conveyed them to
Lambourne. who was keeping a look
out forward, when. amid the dusky
obscurity Of sea and sky, there burst
sudden CLEAN of wondrous light.
The men, who were spreading some
old, wetted ssils over the sheet and
working anchors; the steersman at
the wheel, the watch and all hands
who were crouching to leeward. or
holding on by ropes and Delaying pins
to windward, seemed for a moment to
become white-visaged specters amid a
sea Of pale, blue 1ame--a sea whereon
the nying brig, with her brailed courses
and reefed topsails, her half-naked
masts and black cordage, were all dis
tinctly visible as at MONDAY, while
the polished brass on funnel, pinnacle
and skylight all flashed and shone, as
ship and crew, with all their details
OF form and feature,
Were instant seen and instant lost"
For a broad and binding sheet of
electric fame burst upon the darkness
of the night, and passed away aS rap
idly, when the liyid brand barst in
the welkin or in the wave, we knew
not which
Then came the roar OF thander-
the stunning and appalling thunder OF
the tropics, every explosion Of which
seemed to rend earth, seq and sky, as
they rolled like a palpable thing, OF
like the united salyo of a thousand
echoes at the far horizon.
After a sound so mighty and be-
wildering, the believing of the wind
through the rigging, the hiss and roar
/ of the sea as wave broke against wave;
4 the tapping of the brailed courses;
the creaking and straining of the tim
bers, seemed as nothing-the very ST.
lence of death-while the Eugene tore
On, through mist and spray, through
darkness and obscurity, with the foam
flying white as winter draft over hel
bows and martingale.
Again there was a pale-green CLEAN
overhead, right above the truck of the
mainmast, where the chambers of the
sky seemed to open. The clouds divid
ed in the darkness of heaven, and ou
of that opening came the forked light
ming, zigzag, green and CHASTITY.
There was a dreadful shock, which
knocked every man down, except Carl
ton, who was at the wheel, and al
exclamation of terror escaped US ALL
A thunderbolt had struck the Eu
genie!
With all its wondrous speed-instan
taneous as electric light could be-
glided down the main top-gallant mas
rending the topmast-cap and tbs fran
ed grating of the top to rlvces; theme
it ran down TIC mainmast, burs
through the deck and spent its fur
in the hold.
At that moment the main-topmas
with all its yards, gear and canvS
fell about the deck in burning brand
and the brig was hove right in Il
winds eye, while the sea twitched II
helm out of the hands of Ned Car
tod, who became bewildered on fint
ing the compasses lose all their pola
ity by the influence of the electric flui
. the north point of one heading soutl
, east and of the other southwest.
Almost Immediately after this the
: was a cry of "Fire!"-that cry &c te
, rible, so appalling on board ship; al
] then thick white smoke was seen
) issue from the crevices Of the batten'
main-hatchway.
3 All hands rushed to this point. tt
I long-boat was unshipped from
J. chocks and dragged aft; some stood
I with buckets of water, while othe
4 struck off the psdlocks and iron bar
t the tarpaulin was torn away-tl
= hatch lifted-and 10!
: A column of fire assembled in
n straight line from the body OF &
p hold-lurid, red and scorching, as L
\ casks of molasses and bales OF cote
I burned and blazed together. A &C
E umn that rose up between the mas
: scored through the mainstay, all c
+. braces of the foreyards, and filled l.
V whole vessel with light, announc
e that ell was over.
e at is a doomed ship!" cried 10
Lambourne; I'VE must leave her
r last. Clear away the longboat.
a cool, lads; be cool and steady! 70
: lives depend upon your conduct no
II and YOUR obedience to orders!"
= CHAPTER XIV.
: Cast Away.