Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1904-02-13

HoN ing In November, bound
10. s"n Francisco. Three days had
passed since then, and on this dull fore.
noon she tumbled wildly in jObble OF
sea somewhere Off the Oregon coast,
the crew knew not where. In her
cramped saloon the skipper and mate
We're asleep, asleep beyond the power
OF the frightened sailors to awake. The
chief engineer had come up 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 a
couple Of sots," he explained TO the
drawn faced bos'n. 1.-THE old man
started lushing before we were across
the bar, and the mate amt been sober
for a week. l don't believe those two
seacooks have even got their departure
chalked down. know they amt
wrote Il line in the log since we passed
TillamOok a-belowing in the fog
Drunk! Drunk" and the engineer
and the bos'n lifted up their voices in
sea blessing, deep, vociferous and
mighty.
II reckon We're off Cape Blanco
somewhere" suggested sailor who
had stamped in. ITS running an ugly
sea. too Thinhor'n pea soup, and the
glass way down. Whatll we do, sir?'
The engineer grunted with the wrath
of two sleepless days. Then he STUN
bled up the companiOnway to the deck,
and the bos'n shuffied after him. For
ward in the wheelhouse they found
grim-visaged seaman clinging hungrily
to the jerking wheel, and peering out
from the compass to the gray, frOthing
ocean that seemed to have risen like
cloud of Kissing steam about the Ora
Gle jackson. There was no twinkle Of
the sun, and the bowling wind drove
the vapor across the plunglng decks in
huge pillows. A boat crushed and bro
ken, lay wabbling under the weather
rail. Aft the humming funnel spun
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 challled tentative reckonings
on Ii and the barometer and log read
ings. There was no attempt, however,
to fix the position of the steamer on
the chart pinned beneath. The engi-
neer swOre gruffly, and then abruptly
departed by the lee door, to return
holding In his hand copy Of his own
iog. The bos'n Joined him, and they
puzzled, and tSgNyad, and cursed till
noon. ITS no use" said the engineer.
after a final wrestle. 1--WE can't get
bottom with the lead; we amt an OBJ
servation of any sort to go on; we
amt even got an approximate distance
the Sahara Desert SO fairs 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"
II reckon" continued the helmsman.
slowly II reckon we're about Off
Blanco. How much coal we got:'
sixteen hours this gait"
There was long pause, filled only
with the harsh noises of the ocean
and the laboring vessel. Then the
man at the wheel, as lie eased the
Oracle over crested surge, muttered
an oath and besOught his Creator to
show no mercy to the stupored men
In the saloon.
"We've got to do something" said
the bos'n, practically. Il guess Capn
Flint amt coming to to-day, and the
mates worse off yet We got to get
sail OIL her to steady her and fetch
somewhere mighty quick. When
we're short Of coal the foresail and
staysail ought to- take us along
The engineer thought awhile, and
then turned brusquely to the bos'n.
"I'm in command here" he said. "Pui
some sail OH her and get out to sea
somewhere. We amt going to risk it
inshore this weather. I'll save my
coal for pinch. You take command
on deck, and I'll keep watch with you
soon as I shut my hampers and get
all snug below
The bos'n nodded and slipped out on
deck. He took his chance and ran
forward and disappeared. When he
emerged again from the tiny fo'c'le
1t was with three men at his heels.
They regained the pilot house and re-
ceived their orders. We've got to
fetch in somewhere" finished the
bos'n, sourly. ITS up to us to do it
by dead reckoning. At least we can
keep Off lee shore. Maybe by to-
morrow they (he pointed scornful
thumb over his shoulder will be wise
enough to take 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 untutored crew, and
while the skipper and his mate SUM
bered on the saloon deck the thread
Of smoke ceased to blow from her
slender funnel and two sails were set
to give her steerage way. Thus she
swung drunkenly on her unknown
course, staggering, pitching. Keeling
through the beaded seas. Afternoon
dimmed into dusk; swirling fog and
wind wreathed her and smothered her
till the men at the wheel craned their
necks in vain to catch glimpse of
the waves that roared in the darkness,
or foamed over the rail and beat her
dumbly down till the crew chung diz.
zily to each other, and swOre blasphe-
mOusly that they had seen their last
dawn.
Night blanketed the ocean and
Knocked the scanty beams of the lights.
The water stream poured hOarsely
through the whistle as the b0s'n pulled
the cord in dread of an answer from
the invisible. The gale rose and thun-
dered in the sails till the rigging taut-
ened to the breaking point The en-
gineer stood by the helmsman and
prayed that he might be spared again
to hear the throb of his engines in
the ships bowels. Other times lie
exhorted his assistant to keep up
steam enough for the whistle and