The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1907-10-05
A LOST ISLAND

the ship by dead reckoning" and werc
not. therefore. sure OF their latitude or
longitude.
4 The captain had gone below at eight
bells. but, feeling troubled about the
portentous appearance OF the weather.
was unable to sleep and was on deck
again. walking nervously fore and aft.
now looking on this side and then on
the other side of the quarter deck. look.
Ing anxiously out into the darkness.
then aft, then at the compass and uhen
Mt the barometer which hung in the
cabin gangway.
In vain did the eyes OF anxious men
peer into the darkness. Only inky
blackness met their straining gaze CIV.
erywhere Thus matters stood till six
bells. when the mercury began to fall
suddenly. The quick jerking voice or
the captain was then heard:
"Mr. Smalley. you may take in the
light sails"
AYE. aye. SIR" and. stepping to the
malamast. be called out. "For'ard.
therer' and was Immediately answer
ed. "For'ard. sirr' stand by the top
gallant and the Aging jib halyardsr'
In a moment he heard the report,
Ready. sir"
let go the halyards and clew down.
Let so the sheets and clew up. That1l
do. Delay all. Now jump up and fur
them. BE lively. ladsr'
While this was going on the captain
took another look M the barometer and
found the mercury still going down
fast. Thoroughly aroused now. he
caught his speaking trumpet from the
beckets and sung out
Hold on. there. Down from aloft.
every man OF you! Call all hands,
Down came the men again.
".All hands ahoyl' was called with
great strength OF voice at both the
cabin and forecastle gangways, and
then followed one OF those scenes which
defy such description as would make
IL ineligible 10 a landsman, but which
any sailor readily understands. The
topsalls were close reefed. a reef taken
IN the mainsail. the jib and dying jlb
and all the light sails were furled ana
the ship made ready for the expected
gale. But yet no breath Of air had
been felt moving, while an unnatural
stiffness and heaviness Of tie atmos-
phere were observed by all. Several OF
the seamen saw n dim purple streak
suddenly appear right ahead OF the
ship and called out, Here II comes,
sir.'
'Wherer' said the captain.
Fright ahead, sir"
Hard a-port your helm"
Hard a-port It is. sir"
"Brace round the yards!"
AYE, aye sir"
The yards were braced around. and
the ship was got ready TO receive the
expected blast on the larboard tack
That dreadful streak OF cloud grew al
most crimson, and there was heard
what they thought was the heavy roar
of the coming gale. and every man
seemed 10 hold his breath awaiting the
ors were on that ships deck. but they
shrank from the terrible onslaught like
frightened children. When God speaks
In those fearful storms his voice Is
awful TO the ear. and many strong
man has qualled before II.
Thus those men waited till the min
utes heightened into hours, and the
only change perceptible was In the
deepening color OF that lowering cloud
OF crimson light. Al length eight bells
told that 4 o'clock had arrived. AMI
daylight was looked for as those men
In the ship with Paul looked for II
when they wished for day" But the
light OF the day seemed only
TO reveal the thickness OF the darkness
TO the wondering vision.
Just at daylight their ears were stun
ned with successive quick reports. lod-
er than whole broadsldes from a hun
dred gun ship. The whole heavens
were lighted up with fiery red light
The ocean was stirred from her pro
round depths. Great waves, without
any visible cause, ran In the most aw-
tul commotion, now striking together
ana throwing the white foam and
spray high In air. then parting 10 meet
again In fearful embrace. as befoeo A
school OF sperm whales ran hwart
The ships bows. making every ., ertion
20 escape from the strangely troulded
water Within few cable ler this q
The ship an immense column OF water
was thrown masthead high aud fell
back again with roar like Nlasam
4 deep. mournful noise. like the echo
u thunder among mountain carcrns
vas instantly heard. and mono could
ell whence II came. The noble ship
vas tossed and shaken like Tfay-
hing
Great God. have mercy upon usr' a
,rled officers and men. what is thisl
What In coming nexti IL II the day of
udgmentr The royal psalmlst de-
cribed them accurateiy-'They reel 70
no FRO and Singer like drunken man
ND are at their wits end"
Soon the mystery was solved when,
isnt before their eyes, about one
eague from them. there arose thu
ough sides OF mountain ont OF the