The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1901-08-16

small fraction that It became a
seemingly useless task. Time enough
to take their bearings when there was
breeze enough to render them valuable
they thought. But they forgot or they
did not know the influence of the coun-
ter currents which make through the
Coral sea, influenced by sudden and
| fierce teinpests and by subterranean
commissions which abound in that re-
gion.
| Experienced sailors both, everything
on board was prepared for emergen-
| cies. Axes were dashed within easy
reach of the halyards, where they
might be seized upon and used at a
moments notice should one of those
sudden tempests descend upon them
unawares. Even the topsail halyards
were spliced and led to the deck. and
the stayforesail and the two jibs were
furled and housed; also, despite the In
tense heat, they battened the matches
for rough weather and so had every
thing in readiness for a hurricane.
"We could take her into Liverpool,
where she belongs, Grad" said the con-
fident Norwegian one evening when
they were smoking their pipes on ting
after deck. There was not a breath of
air stirring and had not been for weeks,
and already they were more than three
weeks out from Batavia.
eve caAnot take. her three fathoms
rx,ith
tily.
''But that will come after awhile"
laughed Thorgensen.
'Aye, that 1t will-toO much of 1t
when it does come, L fear, Ralph! The
devil has been in this voyage from the
start. During all the 20 years that we
have shipped. together we have never
had such an experience as this one 1t
all comes of our giving up steam and
taking to wind jamming again, because
we thought that we could make for
| tune with the Schuylkill and quit the
sea. The sea will never permit us to
quit her, Ralph; mind that. We are
under life contract to her. The burn
ing of the bark proved that"
ThOrgensen laughed aloud.
"1n the doldrums, eh, Grad? Cheer
UP, mate; we're together, anyhow. We
have plenty to eat and drink, place
to sleep, the weather is warm, and-I
say. Craddock, when did you take an
observation"
Il don't remember. A week or more
ago. 1t is on the log"
1--WE have drifted some since then"
Naturally. I'll take another tomor-
row."
"Well, it's your watch on deck. and
I'll turn in"
The Norwegian nodded and, whistling
gayly, for nothing seemed capable Of
dampening his spirits, went below
At midnight Craddock called him and
took his trick in the cabin
The Norwegian nodded at his post.
He threw himself upon coil of rope
near the wheel, yawned sleepily and
with one last glance at the starlit sky
closed his eyes in slumber. He had
done 1t night after night. What use
was there in keeping watch over that
deserted sea where never sail nor a
puff Of wind was evident?
Two hours later away off toward the
southeast, seemingly out of the sea,
appeared cloud. 1t rose and spread
and grew, becoming denser and blacker
as it scared toward the zenith, driving
onward In the direction of the becalm-
ed schooner with frightful rapidity,
muttering ominously like huge beast
charging upon suddenly discovered
prey.
With rush and q roar 1t descended.
The schooner heeled over on her beam
ends. The Norwegian was flung like o
puff ball into the lee scuppers. stunned,
bleeding, senseless. There came snap.
ping and then crashing like the boom
ing Of heavy guns, and the three masts,
one after another, went by the boards.
Huge seas which had leaped up out of
the ocean at the call of the tempest
came tumbling and pounding and beat
ing over the Ill fated craft, tearing
away the wreckage, by fortunate cir
cumstance and thus permitting the hull
to half right itself
Then out through the confused mass
of ropes and spars and stays and
shrouds leaped Craddock. He seized
an AK and felt his way through the in
tense darkness from place to place,