The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1906-09-22
CHAPTER XVIII

Inc GOluen Rou Speu MefrllE upon ner
way, with every sail drawing allow and
aloft, so that by the end of the third
week Amos and Ephraim Savage were
reckoning out the hours before they
would look upon their native land once
more.
Tomorrow we should make land by
my reckoning" said Captain Savage.
"Ah, tomorrow. And what will ii
be-Mount Desert. Cape Cod, Long Is
land?'
Nay, lad: we are in the latitude Of
the st. Lawrence and are more likely
to see the Acadia coast Then. with
this wind day should carry us south,
or two at the most. a few more such
voyages. and l shall buy myself fair
brick house in Green lane Of north Bos-
ton. where | can look down on the
bay or on the Charles or the Mystic
and see the ships comm and goin' So
would end my life in peace and
quiet"
The mates watch that night was
from Il to 4. and the moon was shin
ing brightly for the first hour of it. In
the early morning, however. it clouded
oyer, and the Golden Rod plunged IN
to one Of those dim, clammy mists
which lie on all that tract of ocean.
So thick was 1t that from the poop one
could just make out the loom Of the
foresail, but could see nothing of the
foretopmast staysail or the jib. The
wind was northeast, with very keen
edge to It, and the dainty brigantine
lay over. scudding along with her lee
rails within hands touch of the water
1t had suddenly turned very cold-so
cold that the mate stamped up and
down the poop. and his four seamen
shivered together under the shelter of
the bulwarks. And then in moment
one of them was UP, thrusting his fore
finger into the air and screaming
of the darkness at the very end of the
bowsprit. and the ship struck with
force which snapped her two masts
like dried reeds in wind and changed
her in an instant to a crushed and
shapelesS heap of sparS and wreckage
The mate had shot the length of the
poop at the shock and had narrowly
escaped from the falling mast, while
of his four men two had been hurled
through the huge gap which yawned
in the bows, while Il third had dashed
his head to pieces against the stock
Of the anchor. Tomlinson staggered
forward to find the whole front part
Of ha 11ivnf, I'm a ri an1 n Gin
gle seaman sitting daZed amid splin
tered spars, fapping sails and with
ing. lashing cordage. 1t was still as
dark as pitch. AMI, save the white
crest Of leapng wave. nothing was
to be seen beyond the side of the yes
sci. The mate was peering round him
In despair at the ruin which had come
SO suddenly upon them, when he found
Captain Ephraim at his elbow, half
clad, but as wooden and serene as
ever
"An iceberg" said he. shifting at the
ch.l air. Did you not smell it, friend
To:llinson:"
Truly ! found it cold. Captain Say
age. but | set it down to the mist"
There is a mist ever set around
them. though the Lord in his wisdom
knows best why. for it is sore. trial
to poor sailor men. She makes water
fast. Mr. Tomlinson."
The other watch had swarmed upon
deck. and one of them was measuring
the well. There is three feet of wa
ter" he cried. ''ahd the pumps sucked
dry yesterday..'
Hiram Jefferson and John MOreton.
to the pumps cried the captain. ''Mr.
TomlnSon, clear away the longbOat
and let US see if we may set her
rightr'
The lonGboat has stove two planks!"
cried Il seaman.
THE jolly boat. them
''She is in three pieces"
where is Amos Green?'
Here. Captain Fphraim. What can
I do:"
And II" asked De Catinat eagerly.
Adele and her father had been wrap
ped in mantles and placed for shelter
IN the lee of the roundhOuse.
Tell him that he can take his spell
ct the pumps. said the captain to
Amos. And you, Amos, you are 8
handy man with tool. Get into yon
der longboat with lantern
For half an hour Amos Green ham,
nered and trimmed and calked.
you've not much time, Amos lad"
said the captain quietly.
Shell float now, though she's not
quite water tight"
Every good. Lower away. Keep up
the pumping there. Mr.. Tomlinson, see |
that provisions and water are ready. !