The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1906-08-09
CHAPTER XXI.

Blunt, recognizing the meteoric her
aids of danger, began to regret his OBJ
stinacy. He saw that hurricane was
approaching.
Along the south coast of the Austria
Ian continent, though the usual wess,
erly winds and gales of the highest lafi-
tudes rrevail during the greater portion
of the year. hurricanes are not infre-
quent. Gales commence at N. W. with
low barometer, increasing ct w. and
S. W., and gradually veering to the
south. True cyclones occur at New
Zealand. 1t was one of these rotatory
storms, an escaped tempest of the trop-
les, which threatened the Lady Franklin.
Rufus Dawes, exhausted with the ex-
element through which he had passed.
ha:. slept for two or three hours, when
he was awakened by the motion of the
vessel going on the other tack. He rose
to his feet and found himself in com.
plete darkness. Overhead was the noise
of trampiing feet, and he could distin-
guisa ~ hoarse tones of Blunt below
ing orders. Astonished at the absence
of The moonlight which had so lately
silvcred the sea, he flung open the cabin
window and looked out. The caSin al
lotted to North was one of the two stern
cabins, and from it the convict had
a full view of the approaching storm.
The sight was one of wild grandeur.
The huge black cloud which hung in
the horizon had changed its shape. In
stead of curtain. it was an arch. Be-
meath this vast and magnificent portal
shone a dull phosphoric light. Across
this livid space pale flashes of sheet
lightning passed noiselessly. Behind II
was a dull and threatening murmur.
made up of the grumbling thunder. the
falling of rain, and the roar of contend
ing wind and water. The lights of the
prison-island had disappeared. SO rapid
had been the progress of the schooner
under the steady breeze, and the ocean
stretched around, black and desolate.
Gazing upon this gloomy expanse, Ru.
fus Dawes observed strange phenom-
enon--lightning appearing to burst up
ward from the sullen bosom of the sea.
At intervals, the darkly rolling waves
flashed fire, and streaks of flame shot
upward. The tone of woman's voice
recalled him to himself. Cautiously I'M
locking the cabin door, he peered ont.
The cuddy was lighted by swinging
lamp which revealed Sylvia questioning
one of the women concerning the storm
Locking the door, he proceeded hastily
to dress himself in North's clothes. He
would wait until his aid was absolutely
required, and then rush out. In the dark
ness Sylvia would mistake him for the
priest. He could convey her to the boat
10 rk -
dered necessary-and then take the haz-
ard of his fortune. While she was in
danger his place was near her.
From the deck of the vessel the scene
was appalling. The clouds had closed
in The arch of light had disappeared
and all was a dull. windy blacknes,. Gil
gantic seas seemed to mount in the hori.
zon and sweep toward and upon them.
1t was as though the ship lay in the
vortex of whirlpool, so high on either
side of her were piled the rough pyra-
midical masses of sea. The vessel lay
almost on her beam ends, with her helm
up, stripped even of the sails which had
been furled upon the yards. Mortal
hands could do nothing for her. By :
o'clock in the morning the gale had
reached its height.
The sea, pouring down through the
burst hatchway, tore the door of the
cuddy from its hinges. Sylvia found her.
self surrounded by a wildly surging tor.
rent which threatened to overwhelm her
She shrieked aloud for aid, but her voice
was inaudible even to herself. Clinginl
to the mast which penetrated the little
cuddy. she whispered a last prayer fol
succor. The door opened. and from Out