The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1901-01-25
By Wsatherby Chesney and Alick Munro.
now are we by the windward is

HOW are we by the Windward is
landsY'
Cant say. There's no chart on
board of anything east Of Margherita,
but know that the reefs in these mar
row seas are as thick as pickpockets in
the London streets. So get you for
ward, Jack, with your best eye well
skinned, and if we seem likely to pick
any of them up let me hear good
north country hail. There's dead line
in the bittacle there. Take it forward
with you and put hand in the chains
to try for sounding occasionally"
went forward. Here, Pengony and
Trehalion." cried, take the deep sea
lead to the chains. Don't let it go too
deep while we're scudding at this
rate"
AYE, ayen' cried the men, and
went forward myself to the forecastle
head.
| The galley was plunging desperately,
ripping up the seas with her keen
beak. dipping her stem into the green
bulk and sending great masses Of
foaming water curling over the fore
castle deck. All our bulwarks had for
tunately been torn away-else we
must have foundered with the sheer
weight of water they held-and found
1t no easy work to keep my post. Stand
ing was impossible, so l sat down on
! the streaming planks, holding on to the
preaching Of gun, and, straining my
eyes into the bowling darkness ahead
Z, whenever the interval between the
waves left my poll uncovered. Now l
could feel that we were rushing up q
liquid hill, now tearing down into a
raging valley; now the galley, bad sea
boat that she was, would rip through q
crest and settle down sluggishly, now
she would shake herself clear and race
4 forward afresh, but not fatllom in
front could see. We sped out of inky
night astern into inky night ahead
The darkness Of Acheron was on us.
must trust to my ears alone.
But it was very Babel Of sounds
that filled the spume sown air-thc
grooming of timbers like to part will
their straining, the fury of the vino
among the rigging, the roar of the seas
as they ground against one another
like liquid millstones, the terror shrieks
of the Spaniards, the duty bawls OF
the seamen made up a din indescriba
BILE. might just as well have been af
J for all the good could do, but while
Alec stuck to his post at the tiller
would stick to mine at the bows.
Il Heavens, what turmoil there was
The spirits of the storm were out ant
busy, taking vengeance on US for dis
i regarding the old mans words whel
he babe us surrender the Spaniards t,
their grasp, and in their heavy ange
they tossed our crazy bark about among
the waves like chip of wood in .
, sluice run. / feared much that Alec
| chivalrous generosity would cost tn
lives of more than one of those unde
him.
But avast mooding! What is that
Surf? Breakers? A reef? A Sc!
, broke over me, and its crash drowne'
r all more distant sounds. 1t cleare
5 away. Yes. the shore is close aboar'
y US!
: had just opened my mouth to hal
when down plunged the galley's hea
| again. and souse / went under in flu
: cry.
The next minute, when that wave sc
/ me free, yelled as I had never yelle
before. Down went the helm as ia
i as Alec dare press it. and over heele
: the galley's'lee gunwale till the wav
v heads came pouring in among the tel
ritied slaves.
!. breakers still ahead! My God, the
/ are all round us..'
J. All hands could hear them now. w
f saw their white, curling crests beckol
/ ing to us, and in moment we WEI
p rolling among them.
Q There is one clear spot on the lie
I bow.
: .'Hard-a- larboard. Keep her wa.
Alec, for your life!'
q Now we are through the channel an
4 heading to the next line of surf. III
o water is smoother. Can we round
for an anchor? No; she would onl
drift into the rocks broadside on. a
j. them. then, straight, and, please Go,
a we may be carried over somehow!
!. Crash! She struck upon the rec
: and then crash again and crash!
n Every timber shivered, and the for
= mast came down within an inch Of m
q arm.
v The terrified soldiers below burst i
the fore hatch and streamed on to IL
Il deck. The waist was full Of foamir
q water and struggling men. The heay
seas were making clean breach oy,
! the poop.
n Crash, crash, crash!
o We ground and bumped upon Il
4 cruel rocks. and, for aught we cou
!. see in the gloom. the reef. might be
flood washed rock in the midst of
;, desert ocean.
CHAPTER XIV.
:. A cold gray dawn at length lighte
:, = up the wreck, and as the chilly IA.
: ruddied and grew warmer the violen
y of the gale began to moderate and ii