Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1906-09-22

down the poop. and bis four seamen
F. shiyered together under the shelter OF
, the bulwarks. And then In q moment
one OK them was up. thrusting his fore
1 finger into the air and screaming,
while a huge white wall sprang out
OF the darkness az the very end OF the
hcwsprit. and the ship struck with
force which snapped her two rasts
like dried reeds in wind and changed
her in an instant 10 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 a third bad dashed
Bis head 20 pieces against the stock
OF the anchor. TOmlinson staggered
forward 20 find the whole front part
OF the vessel driven inward and sin
gle seaman sitting dazed amid splin-
tered spars. dapping sails and with
ing. lHshing cordsge. II was still as
dark as pitch. and, save the white
crest Of n i~aping wave. nothing was
20 be seen beyond the side Of the yes
sci. The mate was peering round him
IN despair az 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
chill air Did you not smell it. friend
TomlinsonGr
Truly ! found II cold. Captain Saw
age. but set II down 20 the mist"
There IS a mist ever set around
them. though the Lord Ia his wisdom
knows best why. for il is a 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. and the pumps sucked
dry yesterday"
Hiram Jefferson and John Moreton
10 the pumps cried the captain Mr.
Tomlinson. clear away the longbost
and let Us see n we may set her
rlghtr'
The longboat has stove two plauksr'
cried a seaman
THE Jolly boat. them"
"She IS IN three pieces"
Where is Amos Greenf"
Here. Captain Ephralm. What can
do"
"And y" asked De Catinat eagerly.
Adele and her IN ther had been wrap
ped To nantes and placed for shelter
In the lee OF the rourdhouse.
Tell him that he can take his spell
at the pumps" said the captain 10
Amos. And you. Amos. you are a
handy man with tool. Get into yon-
der longboat with lantern"
For half an hour Amos Green ham,
nered and trimmed and calSed.
You've not much time, Amos lad"
said the captain quietly.
shell float now, though she's not
quite water tight"
Very good. Lower away. Keep up
/ tie pumping there. Mr.. Tomlinson. see
that provisions and water are ready.
as much as she viii hold Come with
me. Hiram Jefferson"
The seaman and the captain swung
themselves down into the tossing boat
the latter with a lantern strapped to
his waist Together they made their
way until they were under her man.
gled bows. The captain shook his head
when he saw the extent Of the dam
age. cut away the foresall and pass
II over" said he.
TOmlinson and Amos Green cut
away the lGshings with their knives
and lowered the corner OF the sail Cap.
tain Ephralm and the seaman seized il
II q "a a ~aA .
huge gaping leak. How much In the
wellG" be asked.
Five and a half feet"
Then the ship is lost. I could nut
my finger between her planks as FAR
as I can see back Keep the pumps
going there! Have you the food and
water. Mr.. Tomlinsonr
Here. sir"
Lower them over the bows. This
boat cannot 1--we more than an hour or
two. Can you see anything OF the
bergf"
The mist had thinned away suddenly.
and the moon glimmered through once
| more upon the great lonely sea and
the stricken ship. There, like "a huge
sail. was the monster piece OF ice upon
which they had shattered themselves.
You must make for her." said Cap
tain Ephraim. There is no other
chance Lower the gal over the bows.
Well. then. her father frst, II she likes
IL better Tell them to sit still, Amos.
and that the Lord will bear us up II
we keep clear OF foolishness. So.
You're a brave lass for all your MIN
my piminy lingo. Now the keg and
the barrel and all the wraps and cloaks
you can find; now the other man. the
Frenchman- Aye. aye. passengers hrst,
and you have got to come! Now Amos,
now the seamen. and you last. friend
| Tomlinson"
IL was well that they had not very
far TO go. for the boat was weighted
| down almost to the edge, and IL took
the bailing OF two men 20 keep IN
check the water which leaked In be-
tween the shattered planks. When all
were safely la their places Captain
NV.f.n