The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-08-14
SLAVE SQUADRON
A THRILLING TALE OF ADVENTURE
By HARRY COLLNGwOOD
CHAPTER XXI.

could be coaxed 10 do an ounce OF work.
"If" thought /. my knowledge OF
weather lis worth anything. all hands Of
us will be pretty busy before long. and
we shall be lucky. indeed, II we do not
lose some of our spars as well as an
acre or two OF those flying kites up aloft
there"
/ even forgot myself 80 far as 10 gently
insinuate such a possibility TO Mr.. Ar
mitage. but ] was so sharply snubbed
for my pains that | determined to inter-
. fere no further whilst off duty. but to
keep my eyes open and be ready 10 lend
a hand whenever and wherever required
Captain Vernon was. of course, on deck
and from the anxious way In which he.
from time 10 time, glanced, first at the
portentious sky overhead. next at the
chase, and finally at our immense spread
of canvas, | felt sure that he, 20 some
extent. shared my apprehensions.
At length. after q more than usually
anxious glance round he went to the sky
light and took a peep, apparently at the
barometer. | was watching him, and
saw him start and take another keen
look at IL. Then he suddenly dived down
the companionway into the cabin to make
a clos inspection OF IT, as | conjectured.
My curiosity was aroused. and I was
walking aft 10 take a look at the instru-
ment through the skylight on my own ac-
count, when the canvas suddenly tapped
and the next second. without further
warning OF any description. perfect tor
nado burst upon us.
The ship was taken fiat aback. and over
she went. bowing helplessly before the ir-
resistible strength OF the hurricane I
thought I heard Armitage's voice shout
Ing an order of some kind, but II such
was the case, II was impossible TO dis
tingush the words through he deafening
rush OF the wind. which completely swal-
lowed up all other sounds. AS felt the
deck rapidly heeling under my feet. l
made a desperate scrambling spring for
the nearest port on the weather side for
I somehow seemed to realize instinvtive-
ly that the Daphne's brief career
was ended-that she would never
again recover herself but would
turn the turtle" altogether. The
omnious words OF the riggers on
thatd va when, In the first flush
OF my newborn dignity, I went down TO
inspect the crafr which was 10 be my flu
ture home. REQUIRED to my mind az vivid
ly as though they had that moment been
spoken. and felt that the prophecy
lurking behind them was then in the very
act OF fulfllment I was fortunate enough
10 reach and grasp one OF the gun
tackles. and, drawing myself up TO wind
ward by It's aid. passed out through
the open port onto the upturned weather
side OF the ship, where I passed for a
moment TO glance behind, or. rather. be-
meath me / shall never forget the sight
which then met my gaze. The ship was
lying over on her beam ends. with her
lower yard-arms deeply buried In the
sea The whole OF the lee side OF the
deck was submerged; the water was
pouring In tons down the open hatch
ways the lee coambings OF which were
already under water, and the watch be-
low could be seen Intellectually endeavor-
ing To make their way up on deck
through these openings. the rush of wa
ter down which irresistibly drove them
back again at each attempt. As for the
watch on deck. they were already either
swimming about In the sea 10 leeward or
clinging convulsively 10 the rigging.
where q few had instlnctiveiy betaken
themselves when the ship first went
over. But I had time only for mo-
mentary glance; the sloop had hung sta
tionary in this position for just the bar
est perceptible space OF time; then. with
sudden Jar. she began 10 settle once
more. and had time only 20 scramble
breathlessly along her wet and slippery
sides on 10 her biige. when she rolled
fairly over and foated. keel upward
And as she dod so hideous shrek raj 9
out from her interior and became audible.
even above the awful rush OF the gale.
(To be continued tomorrow)