Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1900-02-08
CHAPTER XVII.

We sailed from the Bay Of Matanzas
at 2 o'clock a. m, on the Sd OF April,
bound for the Cape OF Good Hope,
which we were fated never to reach.
The Eugene had been freighted for
that colony with a rich cargo Of mo-
lasses, sugar. coffee and tobacco, and
arrangements had been made that from
Cape Town she would be chartered for
London. Thus | had fair prospect OF
seeing nearly half of this terrestrial
globe before l repassed my good old
fathers threshold at Elsmere.
/ earnestly hoped that we might
encounter no more waterspouts or tor
nadoes, as they were not at all to my
taste; but from other causes than phe
nomena or the war of the elements it
was my fortune, or, rather, my mis-
fortune, to undergo such peril and suf-
fering as were far beyond my concep-
ton or anticipation.
BY 8 o'clock on the morning OF our
departure the light on Piedras Key
was bearing south by east, sinking into
the waves astern. and going out as we
babe long farewell to the lovely
shores of Cuba.
Three Of our men had died of yell
low fever In hospital, so we sailed from
Matanzas with ten able-bodied hands,
exclusive OF three ship boys, the cap
tain, first and second mates.
In the waters. after the rainy sea-
son, the sky is so cloudless in the fore
noon that the heat OF the sun becomes
almost insupportable: thus we we're
soon glad to resort to the use of wind
sails rugged down the open skylight to
an awning over the quarterback for
coolness and to skids for the proven
ton Of blisters on the sides of the brig;
but In the starry night the land wind
which comes off these fertile isles,
laden with the rich aroma OF their
spice growing savannas, is beyond de-
scription grateful and delicious.
Without any incident worth record
ing, we ran through the sea of the
Windward Isles, thence along the coast
of South America, and when we ap-
preached the calm ATTITUDES as that
tract of the ocean near the equator is
named, we became sensible of the over
powering increase of heat, while the
breezes were but tanning ones" as
the sailors term those which, under the
double influence of the air and motion
of the hull, are just sufficient to make
the lighter canvas collapse and swell
again.
We were soon aware OF other an
noyances than mere heat, for now il
seemed as II there was an evil spirit
on board the Eugene, and that nothing
went right within or about her
The crew sulked and quarreled
among themselves as il the demon of
mischief lurked in the vessel, and daily
unfortunate occurred. Hal
Yards or braces gave way, by which the
Yards were thrown aback and in one
Instance the brig nearly lost her main |
mast. Standing and running rigging |
we're found to be mysteriously fretted.
md even cut as II by knife: and
hen the crew whispered together of
antonio el Cubano-that horrid, dark,
mysterious fellow, whose character
lone of us could fathom.
Twice our compasses went wrong,
nd remained so for days. and before
he cause was discovered the Eugene
ad drifted far from her course.
This varying was inexplicable. until
Iislop. who set himself to watch, and
frequently saw Antonio lowering near
he pinnacle at night, unshipped the
box and found there were con-
called near II an iron marlinsplke on
ne side and lump of tallow on the
ther, either OF which was sufficient
D affect the magnetic needle.
After their removal the compass
'orked as well as before The crew
'ere strictly questioned; all vowed to-
Al ignorance OF the transaction, and
ntonio summoned every saint In the
parish calendar to attest his inno-
ence. but none. however appeared.
he crew now felt convinced that. in
pired by some emotion OF malice or
lischief. he alone was the culprit: and
not loud, their wrath was deep
sainst him.
These variations of our compass set
le busy brain OF Marc Hislop to work,
nd in a day or two he declared that
e had discovered plan for prevent
* tHt ItpCtlhloh vi hIlihS 81 uahbtI~
is by insulating the needle SO as to
-otect the compass from attractions
Use or dangerous.
am uncertain whether he perfected ]
lis experiment, but Antonio soon
ent to work another way; for one
ly, when he was supposed to be busy
the maintop he shouted. Stand l
ON under!' and ere Hislop, who was '
st beneath. could give the usual re- 7
'onse, Let go" a heavy marlinspike, =
e same which had been found in the Il
nnacle. slipped from the hand OF An I
MO and fell crashing through the a
pgratlng.
The iron bar crashed into the deck
the feet of Hislop; whether this oc-
rred by inadyertence or design we
lew not. but the Scotsman thought v
G latter. 4
That raseally Spanish picaroon will
ork us some serious mischief before
, overhaul our ground-taekle or see s.
e Cape" said Weston. who was en- a
ged by this new incident, apd the J e