The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1905-02-13
CHAPTER XIV


We must leave Anime to her solitude
and follow the fortunes of Philip. The
fleet had sailed with a flowing sheet,
and bore calamity down the zuyder
Zee, but they had not been under way
an hour before the Vrow Katerina was
left mile or two astern. Mynheer
Barentz found fault with the setting
and trimming of the sails. and with
the man at the helm. who was repeat
edly changed in short with every
thing but his dear Vrow Katerina: but
all would not do; she stil dropped as
tern, and proved to be the worst sail
ing vessel in the fleet
Mynheer Vanderdecken. SAID he.
at last, the Vrow, as my father used
to say, is not so very fast before the
wind. Vessels that are good on a wind
seldom are; but this l will say. that
in every other point Of sailing. there
is no other vessel in the fleet equal TO
the vrow Katerina."
Besides" observed Philip. who per-
ceived how anxious the captain was on
the subject, we are heavily laden. and
have SO many troops on deck.
The feet cleared the sands. and we're
then close-hauled. when the Vrow kat
erina proved to sail even more slowly
than before
When We are so very close-hauled.
observed Mynheer Barentz. "the yrow
does not do so we'll; but a point free
and then you win see how she will
show her stern to the whole fleet She
is fine vessel. .Mynheer vanderdeekeu
is she not9"
"A very fine, roomy vessel, replied
Philip, which was all that. in con-
science, he could say.
The feet sailed on, sometimes on
wind. sometimes free. but let the point
Of sailing be what it might. the Vrow
Katerina was invariably astern. and
the feet had to heave-to at sunset n
enable her to keep company: stin the
captain continued to declare thar the
point OF sailing on which they hapnen-
ed to be was the only point in which
the Vrow Katerina was deficient I'm
fortunately the vessel had other points
quite as bad as her sailing; she was
cranky, leaRy, and did not answer ths
helm we'll. but Mynheer Barentz wss
not to be convinced. He adored bis
ship, and. like all men desperately N
love, he could see no fault in his mis.
tress. But others were not SO blind
and the admiral. finding the vovare so
much delayed by the bad sailing OF ona
vessel, determined to leave her In fnd
her way by herself as soon as thew
had passed the Cape. He was. how
ever, spared the cruelty OF deserting
her, for a heavy gale came on which
dispersed the whole feet and on the /
second day the good shin vrow KAT
erina found herself alone laho-ins /
heavily in the trough OF the sea. leak-
ing so much as to require hands rom
stantly al the pumps. and drifting be- 1
fore the gales as fast to Ieeward almost !
as she usually sailed. For a week the /
gale continued. and each day did her
situation become more alarming
Crowded with troops. fncumbered with
heavy stores. she groaned and labores
while whole seas washed over her and
the men could hardly stand at the
pumps. Philip was active. and exerted
himself 10 the utmost. encouragine the
men. securing where aurht
had given way, and little interfered
with by the captain. who was himself
10 sailor.
Well. observed the captain to Phip-
p. as they held Oh BY the behaving
bins. 'youn acknowledge that she is
i fine weatheriy vessel in a gaie-is
he notg Softly. my beauty. softly.
he. speaking 10 the vessel as
he plunged heavily into the waves.
md every timber groaned softly. my
lear, softly. How those poor devils