Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1900-05-18

sufferer. and thus was accounted for his
blackened face and his cry for air and water.
However, it could not have hit my turn
better had l laid the train of events myself,
nor was it long before had the two lying
on the deck and knew the cabin sweet
en.ng and would soon be a fit retreat for
Miss King. Neither was it long before 1
discovered that Lounsbury was not as dead
as he was drunk, though hardly as far gone
in liquor as Scammell, who could have been
pitched over the rail and passed to the next
world without the slightest inconvenience
to himself. And mores the pity twas not
done.
Like bags of dunnage took them by their
collars, hauling them amidships, and then
clapped the wrists and legs of both into
irons, articles which in those days stood
somewhat ahead of the medicine chest in
Importance, and frequently in With
mingled feeling of pity, hatred, and disgust,
l soused the sots with bucket of salt water,
and then left them for Nature to bring to
life. AS l moved aft caught the freshness
of small, early morning breeze, and felt
that ere long the protecting blanket of fog
would be rolled away. Much would have
given for knowledge of our exact where
abouts, but as this was impossible, nothing
remained but to prepare the schooner for
sailing we could get our bearings.
Twas small job to cast off the gaskets and
get loose the headsails ready for hosting,
but another matter for Ames and myself
alone to run the heavy canvas of the main
and foresails to their mast heads. l was
fearful that the rafting blocks and rustling
CT the great cloths might herald our situa-
ton, but nothing came of it, and after deal
of hauling we got something like slack
set to the sails which for months had been
mildewing against their booms.
Gradually liyidness came over the fog
- e IL j.
ened, it showed the mist driving across us
like wads of smoke. As the light broadened
l went to the pinnacle to see how we were
heading, but found the compass gone from
it, and, on examination, discovered that ali
my instruments had been confscated saving
the telltale screwed into the cabin ceiling.
This, like the hanging lantern, be-
grimed by white deposit from the explo-
sion, but, clearing it with my palm, l
found we were heading north by east, or still
going stern toward the south.
So matters went till sunrise, the wind
growing fresher the time sped, and at
last, while Ames and myself were putting
the cabin into some shape and the girl had
gone to overhaul the pack of provisions,
heard her give a great cry, and rushed to
the deck to find it's meaning.
1t was no alarm. She was standing by the
fore shrouds looking at the sudden trans
formation which had come over the face of
Nature. Often have / seen the sun rise,
but never did it appear in such a grandeur
of pearl and grays. The glory of its COM
ing none the less for the lack of vivid
coloring. The fog had rollSd off as rolls
curtain, and to the east and north lay piled
in towering masses ranging from thunder
Gus blackness to the opalescent clearness of
Il seashel. Through it's misty caverns Shot
dazzling shafts of sunshine, which wavered
and played over the face of the bank like
the tremulous shifting of the northern
lights Astern, clear as far could see,
lay the ocean blank of all sail, the small
summer waves ginting back the strong
light from the east. To the west and over
our larboard beam stood out the green
heights of Staten island, and under their
shelter | marked two heavy ships of the
line, while toward Sandy Hook lay two
others with sails furled and at anchor.
Gravesend bay also held one, a mammoth,
which L took to be the Cerberus, but not a
ship was alert. No more were in sight, and
[ marveied that we had run the gantlet of
the fleet, thinking, naturally, that most of
them had gone up the bay and must have
lain close to our track. Little knew that
the bulk of Lord Howes fotilla had sailed
east the day before, and thus opened the
path that otherwise would in all likelihood
have been blocked. But SO it was, and
later knew we had the French to thank for
having drawn them away.
Doubtless we were marked by hundred
| eyes on board those about, but the levia-
| thans were powerless to harm us, their
very size and ponderosity Stacking them
| against quick action. Close aboard and on
| our starboard beam lay the white sand spit
| Of the lower island which goes far to make
New York harbor the haven it is, and once
past this wilderness of beach, now known as
| Norton's Point, we would be on the sea.
| With shout of relief almost delirious
| sprang forward and mastheaded both jib
and staysails, while Ames jumped for the
main sheet and drew it in. 1t was the first
mixing l had that he was anything of
| sailor, and the knowledge was mighty well
come. Slowly we came about until the
schooner nosed into the west wind, and then
lie ran to the helm while 1 caught the
oraught with the headsail to help her get
ting past the point of "irons;" then I be-
| layed both jb and staysail sheets.
But of what use are these details? Enough
to tell that presently we were slipping east
ward and past the Dry Romer, the sails
| swung wing-on-wing, and an air, which
/ turned to calm as we fed, pushing US
from over the taffrail and toward the rising
| sun.
| CHAPTER XVIII.