The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-02-12

IOi '5dh HTdntlSfO. lIIft idSH udu
passed since then, and on this dull fore
noon she tumblcd wildly In jobblc Of
sea somewhere OF the Oregon coast
the crew knew not where In her
cramped saloon the skipper and mate
were asleep, asleep beyond the power
of the frightened sailors to awake. The
chief engineer had come mp from be-
low TO assist in the process Of rousing
them, but after half-hOur's vain at
tempt he now stood back against the
bulkhead easing his mind. They're q
couple OF sOts," he explained TO the
drawn faced bOs'n '"Thc old man
started Iushing before we were across
the bar, and the mate amt been sober
for week. ] don't believe those two
seacooks have even got their departure
chalked down. ! know they amt
wrote lire in the log since we passed
TillamOok a-bcllowing in the fog
Drunk Drunk -" and the engineer
and the bos'n lifted up their voices in a
sea blessing, deep, yocifcrous and
mighty.
81 reckon we're off Cape Blanco
somewhere" suggested sailor who
had stamped in. IT'S running an ugly
sea, too. Thickcr'H pea soup, and the
glass way down. Whatll we DO, sirf'
The engineer gruntcd with the wrath
of two slecpless days. Then he STUN
bled up the cOmpaniOnway TO the deck,
and the bos'n shufilcd after him. For
ward in the whcelbousc they found
grinsvisaged seaman clinging hungrily
TO the Jerking wheel, and pccring out
from the compass To the gray, frOthing
ocean that seemed TO have risen like .
cloud OF kissing steam about the Ora
cie Jackson. There was 10 twinkle Of
the sun, ana the bowling wind drove
the vapor across the plunginG decks in
huge pillows. A boat. crushed and bro
ken, lay wabbling under the weather
rail Aft the humming funnel spun q
sooty thread against the low cloud. All
this the engineer took in with sweep
ing glance. Then he looked back on
the chart shelf at the slate. A clumsy
hand had chalked tentative reckOnings
on il ana the barometer ana log read
ings. There was 10 attempt, howcvor,
10 fix the position Of the steamer on
the chart pinned beneath. The ongi-
neer swore gruiily, and then abruptly
departed by the lee door. 10 return
holding in his hand copy Of his own
log. The bOs'n joined him, and they
puzzled. and figured, and cursed till
noon. ITS no use said the engineer,
after q final wrcstlo 1--WE can't get
bottom with the lead we amt an oh
servation of any sort 10 20 on; we
ain't even got an approximate distance
logged We might be of San Diego or
The Sahara Desert so far's we know
How much we making now| asked
The sailor at the wheel
Seven by the engines was the re-
ply. give by the log. May be- going
astern for all that
Il reckon" continued the hclmsmau
slowly - Il reckon were about off
Blanco. How much coal we got?'
sixteen hours TINS gait
There was long pause, filled only
with the harsh noises of the ocean
and the labOring vessel. Then thc
man ut the wheel, rs hc cased the
Oracle over a crested surge, muttcred
an oath and besouCht his Creator 10
show no mercy 10 the stupored men
in the saloon.
"We've got TO do something" said
the bos'n, practically. II guess Cap'n
Flint amt coming to to-day, and the
mates worse off yet We got to get
sail on her TO steady her and fetch
somewhere mighty quick. when
were short OF coal the forcsail and
staysail ought to take MS along
The engineer thought awhile. and
then turned brusqucly 10 the hos'u.
"Tm in command here" lac said. Put
some sail on her and get out 10 sea
somewhere. We aiut going 10 risk IL
inshOre this weather. I'll save my
coal for n pinch. You take command
on deck, and III keep watch with you
soon as ! shut my dampcrs and get
all snug below"
The bosn nodded and slipped out on
deck. He took his chance and ran
forward and disappeared. when he
emerged again from the tiny fo'clc
it was with three men at his heels.
They regained the pilot house and re
ceived their orders. We've got 10
fetch in somewhere" finished the
bos'n, so1rly. ITS up 10 us TO do il
by dead reckoning At least we can
keep OF lee shore Maybe by to.
morrow they thc pointed a ecornful
thumb over his shoulder will be wise
enough TO take a sight and navigate
the ship. Keep your eyes open and
don't let her get away from you"
So the Oracle Jackson came into the
hands Of her untutorcd crew. ant
while the skipper and his mate slum
bcred on the saloon deck the threat
OF smoke ceased to blow from he
slender funnel and two sails were Sc
TO give her steerage way. Thus sh,
swung drunkenly on her unknown
course, staggering. pitching. reelin.
through the beaded seas. Afternoon
dimmed into dusk; swirling fog an,
wind wreathed her and smothered ne
till the men at the wheel craned thei
necks in vain To- catch n glimpse q
the waves that roared In the darkness,
or foamed over the rail and beat he
dumbly down till the crew clung dii
xily TO each other, and swore blasph'
- mously that they had seen their la,
dawn.
Night blsnketed the ocean an
mocked the scanty beams OF the light
The water stream poured hoarsel
through the whistle as the bos'n pullC
ha nrI In. ~ frnl