The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1901-03-08

bcnk. dipping her stem into the green
Ouik and 'ndinS great masses OF
foaming wn-er curling over the fore.
castle deck. All our bulwarks had for.
tunately b"cn torn nway-elsc we
mus: have ioundered with the sheer
weight OF .er they held-and | found
IT 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 a gun. and. strainIng nv
eyes into the bowling darkness ahead
whenever the interval between the
waves left my poll uncovered. Now
could feel that we were rushing up a
liquid hill, now tearing down into a
raging valley; now the galley, bad sea
boat that she was, would rip through a
crest and settle down sluggishly, now
she would shake herself clear and race
forward afresh, but not fathom in
front could see. We sped Sus of inky
night astcrn Into inky night ahead.
The darkness Of Achcron was on us. l
must trust to my ears alone.
But 1t was very Babel of sounds
that TILED the SpCme sown air-the
groaning Of timbers like to part with
their stralnlng, the fury Of the wind
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 Il din indescriba-
bic. might just as well have been aft
Tor all the good l could do, but while
Alec stuck to his post ut the tillcr
would stick to mine at the bows.
Heavens, what n turmoil there wasl
The spirits of the storm were out and
busy, taking vengeance on us for dis
regarding the old mans words when
he bade US surrender the Spanlartls to
their grasp, and In their heavy anger
they tossed our crazy bark about among
the waves like a chip Of wood In
sluice run. l feared much that Alcc's
chivalrous generosity would cost the
lives Of more than one of those under
him.
But avast moodlng! What Is that?
Surf? Breakers? A reef? A sen
broke over me. and its crash drowned
all more distant sounds. 1t cleared
away. Yes. the shore Is close aboard
us!
1 had just opened my mouth to hail
when down plunged the gallcy's head
again, and souse went under in full
cry.
The next minute. when that wave set
me free, yelled as ! had never yelled
before. Down went the helm rs far
as Alec dare press 1t. and over heclcd
the galley's lee guuwale till the wave
heads came pouring In among the ter
rifed slaves.
Breakers still ahead! My God. they
are all round us!'
All hands could hear them now. We
saw their white. curling crests bcckon.
Ing to us. and in moment we were
rolling among them.
There Is one clear spot on the Ice
bow.
"Hard-a-larboard. Keep her way.
Alec, for your life!"
Now we are through the channel and
heading to the next line OF surf. The
water Is smoother. Can we round to
for IN anchorY No: she would only
drift into the rocks broadside on. ~
them. then. straight. and. please God.
we may be carried over somehow.
Crash! She struck upon the reef.
and then crash again and crash!
Every timber shivercd. and the fore.
mast came down within an ipch of my
arm.
The terrified soldiers below burst up
the fore hatch and streamed on to the
deck. The waist was full OF foaming
water and struggling men. The heavy
seas were making q clean breach over
the poop.
Crash, crash, crash!
We ground and bumped upon the
cruel rocks. and, for aught we could
see in the gloom, the reef might be n
hood washed rock In the midst Of
Aaoarx oooor